Posted by Jami Frankenberry on 2/27/2008, 7:40 am, in reply to "“Slow Down” won’t Take Down Wilson Roundballers"
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PORTSMOUTH-JoNiquia Guilford during her four-year varsity career at Wilson High School has been known mostly as a scorer, a player to count on for a clutch free throw, key jump shot or 3-point dagger.
On Tuesday night, the Presidents needed their star for some timely defense, too.
Guilford spearheaded Wilson’s man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter, clamping down on King’s Fork star TaShauna Rodgers in the Presidents’ 45-38 victory in an Eastern Region girls basketball quarterfinal.
Wilson held the Bulldogs scoreless on their final seven possessions, with Guilford guarding Rodgers in a duel of South Hampton Roads’ top two Group AAA scorers.
Guilford finished with 17 points and Rodgers, suffering from flu-like symptoms, finished with 16.
The Presidents (23-4) play Heritage in a 6 p.m. semifinal Thursday at Churchland.
King’s Fork’s season - and Rodgers’ junior season - ended at 23-4.
“You just have to know how to play her,” said Guilford, a senior who has signed with Old Dominion. “You have to know her moves and when she likes to shoot the ball.”
Rodgers helped King’s Fork, the Southeastern District regular-season and tournament champion, rally from a 13-point first-quarter deficit.
The Bulldogs trailed 40-38 with 2:11 left following a pair of Rodgers foul shots. But on the ensuing seven trips down court King’s Fork missed five field-goal attempts and two free throws and committed two turnovers.
“We just didn’t step up,” said Rodgers, barely audible afterward because of a sore throat.
Added Bulldogs coach Garry Murphy, “We had open looks and we just missed shots.”
Wilson sprinted to a 13-point lead in the first quarter, but that led to a bizarre second period in which Presidents coach Roger Smith ordered his team to hold the ball for the final 3:13.
Wilson was scoreless in the second quarter, and had watched its lead shrink to 18-15 at halftime.
“We had to get out of that quarter,” Smith said.
Murphy was content to let the Presidents hold it, saying afterward, “Three points is no problem. We were able to rest.”
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