Prep Basketball: North Rowan girls 47, Gray Stone 30

By Mike London

mlondon@salisburypost.com

MISENHEIMER — North Rowan senior Teaunna Cuthbertson’s hoops career is winding down, but she still has high goals.

Cuthbertson led the Cavaliers to a 47-30 YVC win at Gray Stone on Tuesday with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

She finished the night with 913 career points, moving into the No. 8 spot on the Cavs’ all-time list. The seven ladies ahead of her all scored 1,000.

The 1,000-point milestone is going to be difficult — although not impossible — for Cuthbertson to reach, as the Cavaliers (9-12, 9-6) close the regular season on Friday at North Moore.

“That will be a very big game to decide fourth place, and fourth means a home game in the first round of the YVC tournament,” North coach Tony Hillian said.

The Cavs shot just 32 percent in Gray Stone’s shiny gym, but Demeria Robinson scored 13, and defensively, they gave the Knights fits. The 30 points allowed was a season low for North.

“We came out a little flat, but we were moving our feet on defense and we weren’t getting many fouls,” Hillian said. “We did a good job of contesting their shots.”

Gray Stone (6-13, 3-12) shot an ugly 23.6 percent from the floor and made just four field goals in the first half.

“We couldn’t buy one,” Gray Stone coach Robert Stack said. “Sometimes that’s what it boils down to.”

North forced 13 turnovers in the first half, shut out the Knights for a nine-minute stretch and led comfortably 24-9 at the break.

It looked like a laugher — or at least a chuckler — for the Cavs, but the Knights made a strong run after Stack went to a fullcourt press.

“The press really brought our intensity up,” Stack said. “If we make a few shots, who knows?”

Down 31-9 at one point, Gray Stone scratched back to 39-28, but then Cuthbertson owned the fourth quarter. She had eight points in the period.

“We just needed to control the ball better and hit the boards,” Cuthbertson said. “It was a big night. Every game now is important.”

NORTH ROWAN (47) — Cuthbertson 14, Robinson 13, Brown 8, Sells 5, Bradley 3, Vann 3, Lingle 1, Rincon, Dickerson, Carter.

GRAY STONE (30) — Allsbrook 9, Ansbro 4, Sandy 4, Cadle 3, Safrit 3, Howard 3, Deese 2, Taylor 2.

N. Rowan 8 16 9 14 — 47

G. Stone 4 5 10 11 — 30