news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- After a trip to Puerto Rico for a tournament during the holidays, the Dudley girls basketball team feels like they can compete with any team. But at the same time, the Panthers don't take anything for granted.

Dudley has taken that attitude to every game it plays this season, and it showed in a 63-26 win over Northern Guilford Friday night. The Panthers (4-0 Triad 3-A) jumped out to 28-point lead at halftime and never let up in dominating the Nighthawks (7-6, 2-2).

"We lost by one point in the title game (in Puerto Rico) and we took that lesson to heart," said Dudley coach Kris Britton. "We see every game as a challenge. We feel like every game is a big game."

Behind the backcourt play of Helen Terry and Brianna Patterson, the Panthers started fast by leading 24-6 after the first quarter. They followed that with an impressive defensive performance in the second quarter, holding Northern Guilford to two points, giving the Panthers the huge halftime cushion.

Britton liked the way her team started fast, but she was more pleased with the way it maintained the dominance in the second half.

"We're trying to put together a good four quarters regardless of who we are playing," Britton said. "When you have that kind of lead at halftime, it can be easy to rest on that. I was very pleased with the way they matched that intensity of the first half."

Terry led the way for the Panthers with 21 and Patterson added 12. Desiree Drayton chipped in nine points, and six other players contributed points in the well-rounded team win.

Samantha Coffer led Northern Guilford in scoring with nine points and Tanesha Williams scored eight, but no other Nighthawk had more than two. Britton said she thought the Nighthawks just had a bad shooting night and would expect a much different game when they play the second time.

Northern Guilford (7-6, 2-2) -- Samantha Coffer 9, Tanesha Williams 8, Sarah Apple 2, Kelly Tessitore 2, Alexis Robinson 2, Jessica Johnson 2, Molly Tahmaseb 1.

Dudley (NA, 4-0) -- Helen Terry 21, Brianna Patterson 12, Desiree Drayton 9, Ebona Goins 6, Porsha Roach 4, Kiera McIvor 4, Lesha Biegelow 3, Lakiya Rouse 2, Tonya Jackson 2.