By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

 

SPENCER — It wasn’t much consolation for North Rowan girls coach Brian Lytton that he may have the best sixth-seeded team in the history of the Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

North Rowan would’ve been the No. 3  seed had it won at home on Monday, but a 61-47 loss to high-powered Winston-Salem Prep sent the Cavaliers (3-3) into a free fall. They dropped below No. 3 South Rowan (6-3), No. 4 Mooresville (5-3) and even No. 5 Carson (5-5). The Cavaliers lost a coin flip with the Cougars for the No. 5 seed. Lytton called heads and the coin landed tails, on the floor of the North Rowan gym — to really top off his night.

North Rowan lost to Winston-Salem Prep (9-2) mostly because of a disastrous second quarter in which the Cavaliers failed to make a field goal and were outscored, 15-4. Kayla Robinson hit two 3-pointers late in the second quarter to push the visitors to a 34-16 halftime lead.

“Winston-Salem Prep was a good team but we made them look even better than they were,” Lytton said. “I just couldn’t believe how many times we turned it over.”

The Cavaliers made free throws  and scored inside in the fourth quarter to cut a 20-point deficit down to 12 with a little over two minutes to go, but Winston-Salem Prep wasn’t rattled.

Freshman Egypt Alexander made eight free throws, scored a season-high 15 points and was the bright spot for the Cavaliers. Special Washington hit two 3-pointers and scored 13 points.

Robinson was sharp at the foul line and led the Phoenix with 13 points. Jada Craig and Chrisalyn Boston added 10 points each.

North Rowan will open Christmas tournament play on Saturday against No. 3 seed South Rowan, a team the Cavaliers blistered, 78-48, at South.

 

WINSTON-SALEM PREP (61): Robinson 13, Craig 10, Boston 10, Sanders 9, Wolfe 9, Claytor 8, Caesar 2, Brown.

NORTH ROWAN (47): Alexander 15, Washington 13, Robinson 8, Blaire 4, Royer 3, Farmer 2, Pruitt 2, Allen, Mills.

W.S. Prep         19   15  15  12   —61

North Rowan 12    4    13   18 — 47