WB2k23: Africentric Dominates

It was Valentine's Day but Africentric sent its opponent home like R&B legend Brandy in 1995. "Brokenharted."

On Feb. 14, Africentric took on Horizon Science Academy in the opening round of the state playoffs in Columbus, Ohio. In the first minute and 11 seconds the Lady Nubians' Natiah Nelson scored the game's first eight points. At the 6:25 mark she scored her 10th point as they went up 13-0. The Lady Nubians continued to pour it on and before Horizon knew it, the score was 35-0 with 47.6 to play in the opening quarter.

At the half Africentric led 58-0 as Sam Thompson and Rayanna Howell scored five points each in the second quarter. Nelson stood at 14 points in the half, while Jeniya Bowers had 10, including two baskets from three.

The Lady Nubians (14-4) have terrorized many of their opponents this season. On Feb. 4, Africentric won the City Championship over Northland in a 56-13 romping. The Lady Nubians also have a dominant 89-5 win over West, an 82-13 win over Walnut Ridge and an 83-7 victory over Marion Franklin just to mention a few of their dominant moments.

After the half Horizon finally got on the scoreboard with 7:12 to play in the third quarter as Hawa Ba scored a basket making it 61-2. With 4:19 to play in the third Glory Owoyemi scored for Horizon to make it a 66-4 defecit. For the rest of the contest Horizon only scored three more points as it fell 83-7. Nelson and Bowers ended the game as the high scorers at 18 points each. Ariel Grace dropped 14 points for the Lady Nubians. She scored seven points in both the first and third quarters. Bowers hit a game-high four triples.

Africentric center Taelynn Clayborn scored eight points in the post while also blocking shots, causing disruptions and turnovers with her post-defense.

College Basketball

Jackson State 77, Bethune Cookman 52

Jariyah Covington, scored 17, Ti'Lan Boler posted 16 and Daphane White added 13 points as Jackson State improved to 15-8 and 12-1 overall in the SWAC with a 77-52 road win over Bethune Cookman (10-13, 9-4 SWAC), Feb. 13, in Daytona Beach, Florida. The home team held a 17-16 edge after one quarter but a 41-18 run over the next two quarters permanantly put Jackson State in the driver's season. Boler led her team with six assists, while also collecting three steals with just one turnover. White shot 5-7 from the field while sharing the team lead with seven boards and two blocked shots. The 6-5 center is averaging 16 points per game over her last four appearances.

Seton Hall 89, DePaul 82

Lauren Park-Lane scored 39 points with nine assists to lead Seton Hall to a seven-point home win over DePaul. Park-Lane shot 11-19 overall and 15-19 from the free-throw line. She is averaging a career best 20.4 points per game this season. Last season she averaged 18.3 points per game. The 5-3 senior guard from Wilmington, Delaware has scored at least 30 points five times this season. Her teammate Sidney Cooks posted 29 points with nine rebounds. A 6-4 center from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Cooks is averaging a career best 16.4 while also shooting a career high 51.3 percent from the field.

DePaul's top star Aneesah Morrow posted 22 points in the loss. She is fourth in the NCAA with an average of 25.2 points per game.