By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó North Rowan staged a third-quarter rally Friday, but the wheels rolled off the Cavalier Express in the final period.
As a result, Providence Grove stopped the Cavaliers 83-62.
After slashing a 14-point deficit to five by the start of the fourth quarter, North (5-9 overall, 2-3 CCC) ran out of gas down the stretch.
“They went on a run and we just didn’t have an answer for them,” said North coach Kelly Everhart. “They just shot the ball much better than we did.”
Providence Grove coach Jim Young said he decided to do something after he watched his troops nearly collapse in the latter stages of the third quarter.
“I called a timeout and we had a little heart to heart,” he said. “We were getting outplayed there for a while and there was no sense in it.”
The Patriots (10-5, 5-0) led 41-27 midway through the third quarter, but North went on an 11-2 spurt, trimming the deficit to 43-38 on a basket by Sammie Overstreet with 1:15 left in the period.
During the midst of that comeback, North’s Hunter Freezor canned a 3-pointer and Javon Hargrave, Greg Sims and Lamonte Bell all contributed field goals.
North appeared ready to overtake the Patriots.
But cutting the Patriot lead to five was as close as the Cavaliers got.
Providence opened the fourth quarter with a basket by Ryley Comer and followed that with a three-point play by Zeb Millner.
The Cavaliers never threatened again as the Patriots poured in 38 points in the closing period.
Everhart noted that the Patriots scored at least three baskets on inbounds passes under their own goal, miscues the Cavaliers should never have allowed.
“They did a good job hitting the floater down the lane,” Everhart said. “They’re a well-coached team.”
Providence led 20-10 after the first quarter, but North fought quickly back into the game, trimming the advantage to 20-17 on a pair of 3-pointers by D.J. Hipps and a free throw by Tristan Gill.
But as would be the case later in the contest, having played back into the affair, the Cavalier never managed to get over the hump and take a lead.
That three-point deficit would prove as close as North would come, the Cavalier offense dying in the latter stages of the second period.
Providence Grove took a 29-18 lead at halftime.
“We’re young, we’re still learning,” Young said. “We have our good moments and our not-so-good moments.”
Everhart said the situation is much the same for North.
“We took some good shots, they just weren’t falling for us,” he said. “We took a slew of shots around the basket, but for whatever reason, they wouldn’t go in.”
North was led by Hipps with 14 and Sims with 11. Hargrave contributed nine and Bell finished with seven.
Providence Grove placed five players in double figures ó See with 19, Comer with 17, Zeb Millner with 14, Simeon Millner with 12 and Jordan Smith with 10.
providence grove (83) ó See 19, Comer 17, Z.Millner 14, S.Millner 12, Smith 10, Johnson 6, Lawrence 3, Powell 2, Hardin.north rowan (62) ó Hipps 14, Sims 11, Hargrave 9, Bell 7, Freezor 6, Gill 6, Fortson 4, Overstreet 2, Vogel 2, Rudisell 1, Blakeney, Rhames.
P. Grove 20 9 16 38 ó 83
N. Rowan 10 8 22 22 ó 62