GRANITE QUARRY — There were only two returning starters on the floor, but the East
Rowan girls basketball team still had balance in its season-opening victory.First-year head coach Randy Bingham’s
East club downed visiting South Rowan 70-53 in a non-conference high school contest.
It was no surprise that senior
guards Nicole Loggins and Brooke Misenheimer scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, but
the three new starters and a new reserve had solid outings.
“I really didn’t know
what to expect out of the front line up there tonight. They did a good job,” Bingham
said.
Starting center Stephanie Morgan
joined Loggins and Misenheimer in double figures with 12 points. Forward Lora Williams
added eight points, a game-high five steals and several rebounds. Forward Emily Rich had a
balanced effort with six points, seven boards, three assists and several steals. Sophomore
center Michelle Hayes added seven points, six rebounds and two steals off the bench.
“Michelle came in and did an
excellent job overall tonight. She’s a good defensive player. When she learns how to
score, she’s going to a force, I think. Michelle’s a hard worker,” said
Bingham.
Despite the numbers from the
frontcourt players, it was obvious that the two returning starters off last year’s
26-4 South Piedmont Conference championship club were the leaders.
Loggins, the No. 2 guard who has
signed with Western Carolina University, wasn’t in midseason shooting form
(6-for-19), but the 5-10 senior led her team on the boards with eight rebounds,
contributed several steals and three assists, and blocked a shot. Senior point guard
Misenheimer had a team-high five assists plus several steals.
“If there’s any
experience you want to have, it’s backcourt versus frontcourt, because they do have
to get the ball down the floor. Brooke and Nicole are two of the best at doing that,”
said Bingham.
“Overall, what pleased me the
most was our attitude. I think our girls really wanted to win this game. They were excited
about it. ... I thought they played with a lot of enthusiasm, and when they needed to turn
the intensity up, I think they did a good job of it in the second half,” said
Bingham.
“We know we’ve got a lot
of hard work ahead of us, but for the first game, I was well pleased,” he added.
The bulk of South’s offense
came from its frontcourt with 5-11 senior forward Jennifer Morgan turning in a complete
game and scoring a game-high 20 points and 6-1 sophomore forward Brittney Gaddy adding 15
points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
“Morgan played like a senior
tonight,” said coach James Greene of the Raiders. “She did a lot. We
weren’t expecting her to do that much.”
Morgan had five rebounds, four
assists, four steals and a blocked shot to go with her 20-point effort, which missed her
career high by a point. She was 9-for-15 with two 3-pointers plus a third 3 that was
counted as a 2-pointer in the official scorebook.
“We’ve got a young
squad,” said Greene, who lost all his starters off a 22-5 Central Piedmont Conference
championship team. “They hung in there; they played hard. With all the young kids, I
think they did a good job. Their spirits were still good (after the game).”
n
NOTES: Both teams will be back in
action at 6 p.m. today — East at North Rowan and South at home against Mooresville.
... South outscored East from the floor, going 21-for-48(43.8 percent) with five
3-pointers to 19-for-59 (32.2 percent) and three 3s for the Mustangs. ... East had a big
advantage at the foul line, sinking 29 of 44 to South’s 7-for-15. “We
didn’t intend to put them on the free throw line so much. That’s where I think
the big difference was. We are going to have to stop fouling so much,” said the South
coach. “I was real pleased with our free throws. That’s something we work hard
at in practice every day,” said Bingham. ... South played without a key post player,
5-10 Jana Joines, who missed the game because of an inner ear infection. ... East had only
22 turnovers to 31 for the Raiders. ... Reserve point guard Katie Willett, a freshman, led
South in assists with four.
SOUTHROWAN (70) — Gaddy 15,
Morgan 20, Sheets, Blewitt 7, Andrews 2, Willett 2, Easley, Miller, Efrid, Yost 2, Khan 5,
Parker.
EASTROWAN (53) — Rich 6,
Williams 8, Morgan 12, Misenheimer 12, Loggins 16, Alexander, Shaw, Poole 4, Roberts 5,
Goodnight, Haynes 7, Ivey.
South Rowan 10 20 10 13 — 53
East Rowan 17 19 14 20 — 70 |
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