Rams head to regionals

GREENVILLE — It’s taken a decade for Anna Spear to get here.

Upon taking over the Havelock girls basketball program in 1999, she went to work, whipping the Rams into shape with workout regimens that weren’t limited to winter months.

"Back in the early stages, when I first got here, they never worked out," Spear said. "They never did anything in the offseason. They weren’t lifting — getting bigger, faster, stronger."

Hard work led to results. The Rams will be making their first appearance in the eastern regional semifinals tonight against Fayetteville Westover, a team just two years removed from a 4A state championship. The winner advances to Saturday’s regional title game.

"When we came, we knew we had a program to build," Spear said. "We’ve taken it to a different level, so obviously we’re excited."

The semifinals tip off with South Central (26-4) playing Union Pines (22-6) at 7 p.m. at Greenville Rose. Havelock (25-5) and Westover (22-5) will follow. The winners will face off at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"We said all year, it’s a possession at a time," Spear said. "We’ve got to take care of the ball. Westover is very much like us. They’re very defensive-oriented."

Westover has experience with five players from that 2008 state title team, including guard Chante’ Bell, who is scoring 16 points per game.

"They’ve been through the process, so that should help them," Westover coach Gene Arrington said.

Arrington and Spear agree that their teams are similar. Both rely on defense to get offense. Both are led by experienced senior floor generals.

Senior point guard Melissa Thomas had 20 points and seven steals in Havelock’s victory over West Brunswick on Friday. She’s averaging 17 points, 3.2 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Junior Kelley McCaffity ranks second on the Rams in scoring with 12.6 points per game.

"Our green light has been our court director, being Melissa," Spear said. "And Kelley has played just really solid ball this February and into March."

Senior Terry McMillan and 6-foot sophomore Tori Nix patrol the paint for the Rams. They’ll be going up against Westover junior center Shanice Pringle, who is averaging 10 points and 12 rebounds per game.

The Rams are three wins away from a state championship, but they’re not looking that far ahead. Spear said they’re just having fun.

"My kids are so young, they didn’t realize what had happened to them last game," she said of winning the school’s first ever sectional girls title. "They just want to play."