Can anyone beat the North Rowan Cavalier boys basketball team?

After an impressive showing at High Point Central Friday night in a 78-61 victory, it’s obvious an almost-perfect performance will be needed.

The Bison did not have that type of night, although it was the second hottest team in the CCC coming in.

After starting the season 2-5, it had won six of its last seven and stood 3-1. It’s leading scorer, forward Alex Martin, was averaging 23 points per game. And it had the home crowd on its side.

Didn’t matter. North Rowan was simply too good, improving to 12-3 and 4-0. Central fell to 8-7, 3-2.

“They play with confidence,” sighed Central coach Matt Ridge. “You can tell they play together a lot. North Rowan is obviously a step ahead with several teams knocking on the door.”

Ridge found out what the four previous CCC victims had — you can’t concentrate on any one Cavalier.

Mario Sturdivant scored 10 second quarter points to give the Cavs some breathing room and Dre Byrd did the rest, scoring 11 of his 24 in the second half.

“We kept the tempo the way we wanted it,” said Kelly Everhart. “High Point Central looked a little winded at times.”

But Everhart also pointed to the defense as a key to the victory. Marcus Lawing, North’s burly, 6-2 forward, put the clamps on Martin for much of the game. Martin managed just four in the first half and 14 for the game.

“Before the game, I challenged Marcus,” Everhart said. “I said, ‘He’s yours. Let’s see what you can do with him.’ Marcus did an outstanding job of making him work. He had to work so hard to get the ball, it paid off late in the game.”

“I just tried to front him,” Lawing explained of his defensive tactics. “I knew I had backside help. I think we have one of the quickest defenses in the conference.”

Lawing did a little of everything, scoring 13 points, hauling in 13 rebounds and even took a charge early in the fourth quarter when the Cavs were pulling away.

North was outplaying Central in the first half but couldn’t keep a double-digit lead. That’s when the battle of the quarterbacks began in the second quarter.

Rashad Stevenson, who quarterbacked Central to a 2A state title, hit three three-pointers and the Bison were within 30-27.

That’s when Sturdivant, North’s Shrine Bowl quarterback, took over in the last two minutes. He drilled two threes and then flew in for a slam dunk after a steal for a 38-30 advantage at intermission.

“Mario certainly gives us a big lift anytime he comes off the bench,” Everhart said.

North finally gained control early in the third quarter. Up 42-34, two pull-up jumpers by Bryan McCullough were sandwiched around a Byrd bucket.

Chris Phillips sank a three-pointer and was fouled, converting a four-point play. Lawing scored off one of Byrd’s six assists and it was 54-36.

Everhart will be the first to admit that North has trouble keeping big leads. And sure enough, the resilient Bison fought back to within 65-57 with 4:19 remaining.

“That’s an awful talented team,” Everhart said. “Thank goodness we made another run that allowed me to breathe a little easier down the stretch.”

In the next two minutes, the Cavs reeled off 10 straight points for an 18-point lead.

It was impressive. Byrd hit two free throws and then fed Phillips for what turned out to be a three-point play.

“Chris and Dre love playing together,” Everhart grinned. “They love making each other look good. They’re a joy to coach.”

Leading 70-57, Sturdivant slid in for a layup. McCullough hit a free throw and Graham Hosch scored off an Eric Davis feed.

Davis then put the finishing touches on Central with a twisting, double-pump, 10-footer.

“I think North Rowan plays extremely hard,” said an impressed Ridge, a former Ledford Panther and University of North Carolina jayvee player. “You play their style and they’re an excellent basketball team. They took us out of what we wanted to do.”

And that may be why the rest of the CCC coaches are scratching their heads wondering what type of game plan can defeat the Cavs.

“I told the kids the more we can continue to put pressure on people, that will put doubt in their mind. They’ll be asking, ‘Can we come back and beat them.’ If we get past Salisbury next week, there will be a little more doubt.”

Lawing took it a step further.

“We think we’ve got a pretty good chance of winning the state,” he said.

No doubt.

n

NOTES: North has a two-game lead in the CCC. ... Ridge is 0-2 against Rowan County. Central’s other CCC loss was at Salisbury. ... Martin was playing on a sore ankle. ... Sturdivant finished with 12 and McCullough nine. ... Of his board work, Lawing smiled, “I’d rather rebound than score. Everybody can’t score so I stick with the rebounding.” ... North was 18-of-27 from the foul line. It was 7-of-9 in the fourth period.

NORTH ROWAN (78) — Byrd 24, Lawing 13, Sturdivant 12, McCullough 9, Phillips 7, J. Miller 5, Hosch 4, Davis 2, Reddick 2, Witherspoon, A. Miller.

H.P. CENTRAL (61) — Martin 14, Stevenson 13, White 10, Baker 10, Bryant 5, Warlick 4, McKenzie 3, Waugh 2.

North Rowan 12 26 19 21 — 78