Prep roundup: North boys win again

From staff reports

North Rowan's boys basketball team maintained its hold on first place in the YVC with a 72-54 victory at East Montgomery on Friday.

East Montgomery (11-7, 9-3) entered the night one game behind the Cavaliers as the league's third-place team.

Javon Hargrave led North (15-4, 11-1) with 16 points and six rebounds. Oshon West had 15 points, and freshman Malik Ford contributed 11 points.

Pierre Givens finished with seven points and eight rebounds. Daniel Chambers grabbed eight boards.

"Hargrave was a big force inside," North coach Kelly Everhart said.

"Malik Ford really had probably his best game of the year. He was a lot more aggressive on the boards and a lot more aggressive looking to score. Tonight he asserted himself, which is what we've been trying to get him to do all year long."

West hit consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter, which ended with the Cavs holding a 19-9 advantage. They were ahead by nine points at halftime and 13 heading to the fourth quarter against a team they beat by nine points a month ago in Spencer.

North, which plays West Montgomery at home today, passed difficult road tests on back-to-back nights. The Cavs won 57-54 at North Moore on Thursday and arrived back in Spencer at about 10:45 p.m.

The team bus was on pace to get back to the school around 11 p.m. last night.

"Coming back after the snow, not having any practice and making these long trips, we're tickled to death," Everhart said.

NORTH ROWAN (72) — Hargrave 16, West 15, Ford 11, Givens 7, Starks 5, Bates 5, Bush 4, Barker 4, Sims 3, Chambers 2, Smyre, Witherspoon.

EAST MONTGOMERY (54) — Chambers 15, Mabe 12, Ewings 11, Taylor 5, Everett 4, Pegues 2, Hassell 2, Kennedy 2, Collins 1, Chapel.

North Rowan 19 14 19 20 — 72

E. Montgomery 9 15 15 15 — 54

n North Rowan girls

North Rowan's girls lost against East Montgomery one night after falling to North Moore. Scores were not immediately available.

Symphony Roberts, the Cavaliers' leading scorer, suffered a season-ending ankle injury at North Moore.

The Cavs are now 6-12 overall and 6-6 in YVC play.

n A.L. Brown boys

A.L. Brown's boys claimed a 57-48 home win against second-place Hickory Ridge in SPC action Friday.

Teven Jones led the Wonders (9-7, 7-4) with 18 points. Jaques Deese had 17 points, and Desmond Gray grabbed 13 rebounds.

"It was probably one of our best team efforts of the season," A.L. Brown coach Shelwyn Klutz said.

Jones hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter, and the teams were tied entering the fourth. The Wonders outscored Hickory Ridge by a 23-14 margin in the final eight minutes.

A.L. BROWN (57) — Jones 18, Deese 17, Rogers 7, Fesperman 7, Gray 4, Falls 2, Washington 2.

n Reschedulings

Salisbury's games at Lexington, along with the other CCC contests slated for Friday, were postponed and rescheduled for next Saturday.

West Rowan, which had its games at North Iredell postponed, will face Carson today in China Grove.