Lady Eagles’ can’t overcome Demonettes in Crosstown Showdown

WARNER ROBINS — The Northside and Warner Robins faithful did not disappoint on Saturday for the first part of the Crosstown Showdown, which saw the Eagles’ Nest packed to the brim and then some.

This one went in favor of the Demonettes (14-3) 42-34 despite the Lady Eagles (11-6) holding them to 10 second-half points.

Some of that was of Warner Robins’ own doing. They had several wide open shots that they just couldn’t get to fall. Northside still forced them into long shots and enough turnovers to make a difference, they just didn’t convert enough on the other end.

Head coach ChoRhonda Gwaltney-Harris has mentioned turnovers being their biggest problem before, and though it wasn’t as bad in the second half, she wasn’t all that pleased with her team’s effort.

“I don’t think we played them bad, I don’t think we played great either defensively,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “They got a lot of open shots they just didn’t knock them down. Everybody didn’t come to play…we’re not good enough for our whole team not to come to play. We got to do it together…I don’t have any one-of-ones or anybody that can score 30.”

Both teams sport staunch defenses. They each pressure opponents in the full and half court, dive for loose balls and muck up offensive plays.

It took nearly the whole first quarter for the two to reach double digits, and by the end Warner Robins held a tender one-point lead.

The difference, as it has been in several games at this point, was the turnover differential.

The Demonettes were no strangers to a turnover, much to the displeasure of head coach Rebecca Ivory by the bench. But Warner Robins was able to convert more on offense even on a night where they missed countless open looks.

Northside had some solid possessions in the half court and were able to get a few good glimpses at the basket, but they didn’t fall at a high enough clip.

The Lady Eagles did make a 5-2 push at the end of the second to take a six-point deficit into halftime, 32-26, but they played too much catchup.

Northside had ample time to make a push in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Demonettes didn’t score their first point of the period until there was 1:21 left in the game.

But the Lady Eagles were not exempt from the drought. They held Warner Robins to 10 points in the final two quarters, but only scored eight themselves.

“We really didn’t have trouble in the press, and normally that’s what we have trouble with,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “It was a mess up from us here and there. I don’t think Warner Robins played great either, I bet [Rebecca Ivory didn’t] think [they] played great. They just played better than us.”

UP NEXT

Northside will return to region play on Tuesday, Jan. 13 against Veterans at 6 p.m.

Warner Robins will also return to region play as they finish a four-game road trip at Perry on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.