WAKE FOREST -- Every member of Wake Forest-Rolesville’s boys’ basketball team knew a victory was necessary. It wasn’t just the back-to-back losses the Cougars had suffered. This was about staying near the top of the Cap Eight 4-A conference standings.
The Cougars did get their 68-45 must-win victory over Sanderson on Friday night, and in the process, WF-R remains in third place behind Millbrook and Broughton with one week left in the regular season.
The Cougars know they’ve accomplished their first goal this season: For the first time in 10 years, they will reach the playoffs.
What’s the second goal?
Forward Tevin Barnes said hosting a first-round playoff game. After this game, the Cougars still have a chance.
Barnes was the biggest factor on offense for WF-R (14-6, 7-5). He led the Cougars with 25 points. At times, Barnes made scoring look almost effortless.
“They were really playing back on defense and I was able to get shots off,” he said. “I really didn’t work hard for my shot.”
Coach Mickey Bissette hoped his Cougars could take the early lead to help with his team’s confidence – especially after the Cougars fell 60-58 in overtime Tuesday to their rivals in Wakefield.
“I was a little worried because we had been struggling,” Bissette said. “When we started the game I felt like we were getting good shots.”
Guard Jordan Ayscue, who had 14 points, also wanted to help his teammates.
In the game Tuesday, Ayscue missed two free throws that could have given his team the win. Against Sanderson, Aycuse took care of the basketball and found Barnes.
“I think we had more intensity coming out to start the game,” he said. “We were still hungry from Tuesday night.”
Soon, Bissette’s offensive game plan changed from a balanced attack to a give-it-to-our-best-player strategy. And on this night, not one Sanderson defender could hold Barnes.
“We were getting (Barnes) the ball in good spots,” Bissette said. “It wasn’t all Tevin. It was a product of the other guys recognizing that he was hot. I didn’t see any selfishness out there.”
Barnes scored 15 points in the first half, and was also aggressive on the backboards. He grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Even in the third quarter, Barnes drifted out on the perimeter, stared down his defender and then swished a 3-pointer.
“Nobody in the Cap Eight can stop Tevin,” Ayscue said. “We knew we had to get him the ball.”
Sanderson (9-10, 5-6) was led by guard Franklin Wolfe, who had 13 points. Forward Parker Fennema also finished with 12.
After the game, Ayscue couldn’t stop smiling, mostly because he and the Cougars were out of their slump.
“We really want to get one of those top seeds in the playoffs,” Ayscue said.
