By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
STATESVILLE ó Statesville and South Rowan squared off in a matchup of NPC unbeatens.
South’s girls were off to their best conference start in a decade, but the Greyhounds proved they’re still the top dogs in the league.
Statesville remained in first place with a 63-22 win against the visiting Raiders, who trailed 23-8 after one quarter and 37-10 at the break.
“They came out to make a point,” South coach Jim Brooks said. “They came out to make a point, and they did. We weren’t up to the challenge tonight. They came out and got on us and put us on our heels. We just never were able to recover.”
Taylor May was one of only three players to score for South (4-2, 3-1 NPC). She scored six of her 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 10 rebounds.
Nikki Graham contributed eight points, and Krista Haywood had four.
The Raiders face A.L. Brown tonight in a non-league game. They meet county rival East Rowan, a second-place finisher last season, on Monday.
“Character is revealed not when things are going good,” Brooks said. “Now we’ll see what we have here.”
Janitsha Williams led Statesville (6-2, 5-0) with 20 points. She had eight apiece in the first and third quarters.
Clemson-bound guard Keyrra Gillespie scored seven of her 11 points in the first quarter and created problems with her ball pressure.
“You can’t get the ball down the floor cleanly against her,” Brooks said.
“You may get it down, but you won’t get it cleanly. She has a knack for diving up under it without fouling you. She takes it and she’s down at the other end giving it to somebody who scores.”
SOUTH ROWAN (22) ó May 10, Graham 8, K.Haywood 4, W.Haywood, Sides, Garrett, Morrow, Roberts, Goins.
STATESVILLE (63) ó J.Williams 20, Gillespie 11, C.Bradley 9, Sherrill 7, B.Bradley 7, Bailey 4, Brown 3, Jones 2.
S. Rowan 8 2 4 8 ó 22
Statesville 23 14 18 8 ó 63