By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
TYRO ó With those big bodies taking up space underneath, shouldn’t North Rowan just throw it inside every single time downcourt?
“I’d like to,” North coach Kelly Everhart chuckled. “But the guys on the perimeter want their opportunities.”
There were plenty of long jumpers launched by North and West Davidson on Friday night and most of them were misfires. But those Cavalier widebodies were there to get practically every rebound. And that was the difference in North’s 66-49 win.
Lamont Bell and Javon Hargrave muscled their way for doubles doubles, Bell finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Hargrave had 11 points and 10 boards. It helped North (5-6, 2-0) keep a share of first in the Central Carolina Conference.
“Credit North Rowan,” West Davidson coach Russ Snyder said. “They’re playing well right now. What they’re known for is rebounding the ball. (Bell) and (Hargrave) did a great job.”
Bell got North off to a good start by scoring the first six Cav points of the game. Bell hit the first basket of the second half for an 18-17 lead and North never trailed from that point.
“Bell played extremely well,” Everhart praised. “It was his best performance of the year.”
Rebounding helped the Cavaliers start a second-quarter run that put them up 31-22 at the half.
Leading 25-22, Hargrave hit his first free throw, but when he missed the second, Julian Hicks was there for the follow. Hargrave hit another free throw and Hicks again scored off a rebound.
The lead was still nine going into the fourth period, thanks to some hot shooting by D.J. Hipps, who finished as North’s leading scorer with 14. He scored eight in the third, including two 3s.
Everhart inserted Sammie Overstreet into the game for the last quarter and he scored six points, four on free throws, which has been North’s achilles heel all season. North was 14-of-25 in the final minutes and gradually pulled away from the Green Dragons (6-4, 0-2). It was their fourth victory in the last five games.
“This is a good win for us,” Everhart said. “West Davidson didn’t shoot the ball like they’re capable. Thank goodness. We were able to stay back in a zone.”
Which meant those big bodies could do what they do best ó grab rebounds and put them back in the basket.
“We never could get them boxed out,” Snyder said.
North rowan (66) ó Hipps 14, Bell 13, Hargrave 11, Gill 6, Overstreet 6, Sims 5, Fortson 4, Hicks 4, Vogel 2, Rudisell 1, Blakeney, Rhames, Feezor.west davidson (49) ó Hudson 15, Jarvis 12, Stephens 8, Cameron 5, Moore 3, King 2, Hamlin 2, Little 2.
N. Rowan 15 16 14 23 ó 66
W. Davidson 12 13 12 13 ó 49