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KANNAPOLIS — Moriah Jones couldn’t have picked a better time to make the first two 3-pointers of her high school basketball career.
With her North Rowan team battling host A.L. Brown on even terms late in the third quarter, the reserve sophomore guard knocked in back-to-back 3s. That gave the Cavaliers momentum to win their season opener over the Wonders by a 43-39 score on Friday night.
“Moriah came through with some real big baskets, those two 3-pointers,” said coach Gary Atwell of North. “Moriah did a good job of man-to-man on (Elise) Stanback (in the second half).
Jones wasn’t the only first-year varsity player who helped the Cavaliers. Sophomore forward Danielle Suber also contributed a basket and five big rebounds in the second half.
“Suber really played well. I was very pleased with her. I was pleased with the two sophomores. If we’re going to be good, the three sophomores who are playing their first year of varsity have got to contribute. (Crystal) Craige, Suber and Jones all three have got to give us some minutes and do some good things,” said the North coach.
Three of Atwell’s experienced players, seniors Courtney Hill and Joyce Hipps and sophomore Amber Hill each scored 11 points in the victory.
“My big three — Hill, Hill and Hipps — gave me about what I expected. I figure they’re going to have to score about 15 points each game for us to be in most ballgames,” said Atwell.
Coach Doug Wilson of the Wonders knew about Hill, Hill and Hipps from last year.
“Their savvy won the ballgame. We just had a couple of breakdowns, and they took advantage of it. It was a good ballgame. I enjoyed playing them,” said the A.L. Brown coach. “Playing people like that makes us better. ... Amber did a good job tonight. She hit those big 3s to start the game. I didn’t think she could do that, but she did it.”
Hill made her only two 3s early in the game, and Hipps also made one. That gave the Cavaliers five 3s for the night.
Wilson’s young Wonders did even better than that, knocking in six 3-pointers — five by freshman guard Bettina Brown.
“I thought we did a real good job of defense,” said Atwell. “I thought they shot the eyes out of it from 3 points, because lots of times we had a hand in their face, and they still made it. The Brown girl can shoot. Without a doubt, she can flat fill it up.”
Brown made her varsity debut with 15 points the night before in the Wonders’ season-opening 55-47 victory over South Rowan, but most of her shots were 2-pointers along the baseline. She paced the Wonders last night with a career-high 17.
“They are very much improved,” said Atwell of the Wonders. “They didn’t have the element of the Brown girl being able to shoot from the outside last year. You could sag a zone against them last year and just really hurt them, because Stanback and (Kesha) Johnson couldn’t drive. If she can shoot like that all year, teams aren’t going to be able to sag a zone on them.”
North led 30-27 after Jones’ first 3-pointer and stayed ahead the rests of the way, but the Cavaliers really didn’t wrap it up until the final minute on two free throws by Amber Hill and a missed shot at the other end by the Wonders.
“For the first game of the year, the first time on the floor, I thought it was one of the best efforts of any team I’ve ever had,” said Atwell.
“It was a ballgame that could have went either way. It just wasn’t our time,” said Wilson. “We play them next week (Wednesday at North). Maybe we’ll get them next week.”
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NOTES: Point guard Hipps paced North on the boards with 10 rebounds and in assists with five. Courtney Hill added seven rebounds, and North had a 35-31 edge on the boards. ... Stanback, playing point guard in place of the injured Johnson, had her second double-double in two nights with 10 assists and 10 rebounds. ... North was 16-for-49 (32.7 percent) on field goals and 6-for-11 at the foul line, while the Wonders went 14-for-48(29.2 percent) from the floor and 5-for-14 on free throws. Friday’s game
NORTH ROWAN (43) — Witherspoon 2, A. Hill 11, C. Hill 11, Hipps 11, Bowie, Craige, Suber 2, Hendrick, Jones 6.
A.L. BROWN (39) — Morgan 4, Crosby 6, Powell 4, Brown 17, Stanback 5, Hutchinson 3, Rodgers, Similton.
North Rowan 15 4 14 10 — 43
A.L. Brown 9 11 9 10 — 39
Thursday’s game
SOUTH ROWAN (47) — Blackwood 4, Raper 3, Gaddy 17, Khan 5, Yost 4, Brown, Willett 3, Littlejohn, Miller 11.
A.L. BROWN (55) — Morgan 5, Crosby 13, Powell 5, Brown 15, Stanback 11, Hutchinson 6, Similton.
South Rowan 9 12 18 8 — 47
A.L. Brown 14 16 11 14 — 55
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