GC over South 66-48ish. Girls also

GATE CITY, Va. ? The games did not count in their respective district standings so the only thing on the line when Sullivan South traveled across the state line to Gate City Saturday night was the pride that always comes with victories.

In an earlier meeting at South, Gate City's boys were able to escape with a 47-41 victory but this time around, the wounded Rebels (7-13) were no match for the fast-breaking Devils (11-4) as the home team notched an easy, 66-48, victory.

Gate City head coach Scottie Vermillion said he thought the Rebels executed a lot better this time around but he added the injury bug certainly did not help their cause.

"We've added two kids, Nick Collette and Tyler Parks, and that helps plus we are two months into the season now,"? said Vermillion. "We are fairly young but we are starting to do some things that equate into a winner against good teams."?

Gate City used the long ball in the first quarter to grab an early 13-7 advantage. Tihlee Anderson got things started with a three-point basket and Cody Salyer followed with two more treys before the visitors' Aaron Willey scored six points in a 10-6 run that pulled the Rebels within two points at the first break, 19-17.

Willey found the mark from behind the arc with a three-pointer to open the second period and suddenly, South was on top 20-19.

But the visitors' lead was short-lived as Jamie Hackney's free throw would start a 15-3 run allowing the Devils to extend the lead to 34-23 at the intermission and South would get no closer than eight points.

Anderson led a trio of Devils in double figures with 21 while Hackney was close behind with 23. Salyer knocked down four treys to finish the night with 12 points.

A couple of areas Vermillion said he had seen improvement in since early in the season was better ball handling allowing them to get more baskets in transition.

"We're shooting it a little better and when that happens you've got chance to win,"? added the Devils' head coach. "I thought we shared the ball well tonight. Tihlee and Jamie are (always) steady and Cody can also score.

"Their kids played hard. Willey is just tough. He hurt us on the boards."?

South head coach Mark Pendleton said he thought his team competed early on but they were unable to handle the Devils physical play in the second half.

"It seemed like when they turned the pressure up we didn't handle it too well,"? said Pendleton. "We let their pressure force us into some poor play. We've got to share the basketball and screen for each other and play as a team a lot better than we did tonight."?

Willey led the Rebels with 21 points while Henry Ringley added 11 for South.

The Rebels' are playing without the services of two starters - Matthew Crowe and Curtis Tingle ? and they loss 6-8 post player Reid Powell early on Saturday night when he aggravated his back again but Pendleton says you have to play with what you've got.

"Reid played maybe eight minutes and couldn't go any more,"? said Pendleton. "We've still got to learn to play with what we've got. We like playing Gate City because they're going to get after you and are very similar to a lot of teams we see."?

In the girls contest, the rubber match between the two teams, the Lady Rebels (10-9) were sorely missing the play of point guard Ashley Johnson, as the defending Group A VHSL champion Lady Devils (14-2) raced past the visitors, 66-36.

In the first meeting between the two girls' teams, South had defeated Gate City 59-51 on their home court but the Devils would turn the tables in the title game of the Volunteer Pizza Plus Classic during the Christmas break when they defeated the Rebels 58-50.

In the rubber match Saturday night, Gate City would score the first seven points of the contest before the Rebels' Samantha Williams collected the visitors first basket on a runner as the Lady Devils shot out to a 16-7 advantage after the first eight-minute period.

Heather Odle scored her team's first seven points in the second period and suddenly, the Devils' lead was 23-9 and the rout was on. Gate City would out-score the Rebels 38-20 in the second half.

Devil head coach Hugh Godsey said fortunately his team was able to rebound from Friday's disappointing play even though they were able to dispatch Appalachia 59-34 in their Lonesome Pine District win over the Lady Bulldogs.

"Our kids played hard I thought,"? said Godsey. "They were a little discouraged even though we won last night. We didn't really play well in a lot of areas but they seemed to be ready to play tonight."?

The Odle twins, Haley (17) and Heather (12) led the Devils offensively while Ashton Bishop was close behind with 10 points. Tuesdee Woods also added eight points in the victory.

"We did a good job on a lot of people tonight but they (South) missed Ashley (Johnson),"? said Godsey. "They struggled a little bit and Samantha (Williams) had to take on a lot more roles tonight. She's a super player and anytime you can do a good job on her you're doing something right.

"I thought we got some real good minutes from some kids off the bench like Tia Vermillion and Leshia Lane. They played with a lot of energy. Those fresh legs really helped us I thought."?

Williams led the Rebels with 16 points.

Josh Tate, the Lady Rebels' disappointed head coach, reportedly told a reporter he had "?no comment' about the game before he left the building.

Girls Game -- Gate City 66, Sullivan South 36

SULLIVAN SOUTH (10-9) -- Pickwell 0 0-0 0, Hutchins 0 0-0 0, Evans 1 1-6 3, May 0 0-0 0, Collins 1 2-6 4, Mayes 2 0-1 4, Johnson 1 2-2 4, Samantha Williams 7 2-2 16, Latture 0 0-0 0, Coates 2 1-3 5. Totals 14 8-20 36.

GATE CITY (14-2) -- Heather Odle 5 0-0 12, Horner 1 1-2 4, Burke 2 0-0 4, Ashton Bishop 5 0-3 10, N. Howington 1 0-0 2, S. Howington 0 0-0 0, Woods 4 0-0 8, Vermillion 2 0-0 4, Shaffer 0 0-0 0, Haley Odle 6 5-5 17 Musick 0 0-0 0, Lane 2 1-2 5, Hill 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 7-12 66.

Sullivan South 7 9 8 12 -- 36
Gate City 16 12 24 14 -- 66

Three-point goals: SS None; GC 3 (He. Odle 2, Horner 1).

Boys Game -- Gate City 66, Sullivan South 48

SULLIVAN SOUTH (7-13) -- Dick 0 2-2 2, Ringley 4 3-5 11, McCann 1 1-6 3, Carr 1 0-0 2, May 0 0-0 0, Mynhier 1 1-2 3, Blanken 1 0-0 2, Aaron Willey 8 4-6 21, Sims 1 1-1 3, Powell 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 13-24 48.

GATE CITY (11-4) -- Johnson 0 3-4 3, Collette 1 2-4 4, Smith 1 0-0 2, Tihlee Anderson 7 7-12 23, Parks 0 1-2 1, Williams 0 0-0 0, Fansler 0 0-0 0, Bays 0 0-0 0, Cody Salyer 4 0-0 12, Jamie Hackney 6 8-10 21, Arwood 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 21-32 66.

Sullivan South 17 6 12 13 -- 48
Gate City 19 15 20 12 -- 66

Three-point goals: SS 1 (Willey 1); GC 7 (Salyer 4, Anderson 2, Hackney 1).