Published: March 07, 2008 11:54 pm         

Eagles downed by No. 2 Parkersburg South

CHARLESTON — Bernie Bostick probably hopes he never has a nightmare to match Woodrow Wilson’s 59-30 Class AAA state semifinal loss to Parkersburg South.

His No. 6 Woodrow squad trailed the second-seeded Patriots 24-7 after one quarter and continued to struggle the rest of the way.

“We weren’t as focused as we should have been,” Bostick said. “I don’t think they’re 30 points better than us, but they were tonight.”

The final score did not indicate South’s dominance.

South forward Kayla Ayers scored 17 first-half points for South (24-1) and finished with 21 on the night in addition to seven rebounds.

Every player but one scored for the Patriots, who shot 63 percent from the floor (17 of 27) and 47.2 percent for the game (25-53).

“We had pressure all over the floor, and when we get our defense going, our offense seems to flow with it,” South coach Scott Stephens said.

Woodrow shot just 15.7 percent (8 of 51) in the contest.

Standout guard Camisha Alexander, the team’s only senior, couldn’t buy a basket in the first half, scoring just two foul shots.

“I was frustrated,” Alexander said.

Her first field goal came with 4:42 left in the game. Alexander, who missed her first 14 shots, finished with six points.

“We have to look on this as a learning experience,” Bostick said. “The only thing I hate is that Camisha won’t be around next year. She’s a large reason we were here today.”

Alexander will play next season for NCAA Division I school Youngstown State.

Woodrow was 13 of 17 at the foul line — the closest thing to a bright spot for the Flying Eagles.

Although just 5-foot-5, hustling forward Charlene Diggs had eight of the Flying Eagles’ 34 rebounds. She scored seven of Woodrow’s 13 first-half points and 11 in the game.

South advances to today’s 7:15 p.m. championship game with Huntington, the only team to defeat the Patriots during the season.



WOODROW WILSON (16-10)

Staples 2-11 2-3 6, Alexander 1-16 4-6 6, Snyder 1-5 0-0 2, Diggs 3-11 4-4 11, Chipps 0-2 3-4 3, Tunstalle 0-4 0-0 0, Lillard 1-1 0-0 2, Frischman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 8-51 13-17 30.

PARKERSBURG SOUTH (25-1)

Ayers 9-13 2-2 21, Floyd 4-8 0-0 8, Morris 2-6 0-0 4, Longwell 1-4 0-0 2, Greenleaf 1-2 0-0 2, Gilkeson 2-4 0-0 5, Halbert 1-2 0-0 2, Haverty 1-2 2-2 4, Shreeves 1-1 0-0 3, Porter 0-4 0-0 0, Seagraves 0-1 1-2 1, Hicks 3-6 0-0 7. Totals 25-53 5-6 59.

WW 7 6 6 11 — 30

PS 24 17 8 10 — 59

3-point goals—Woodrow Wilson 1-16 (Diggs 1-3, Tunstalle 0-2, Snyder 0-3, Alexander 0-8), Parkersburg South 4-12 (Ayers 1-1, Shreeves 1-1, Gilkeson 1-2, Hicks 1-2, Floyd 0-1, Morris 0-1, Longwell 0-1, Porter 0-3). Fouled out—none. Rebounds—Woodrow Wilson 34 (Diggs 8), Parkersburg South 41 (Hicks 8). Assists—Woodrow Wilson 6 (Staples 3), Parkersburg South 17 (Morris 8). Total fouls—Woodrow Wilson 13, Parkersburg South 18.