By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
LANDIS ó South Rowan’s girls weren’t perfect Wednesday night ó but there was plenty of room for error.
The Raiders were less-than-spectacular in a 45-34 NPC win over visiting Mooresville, but that didn’t bother head coach Jim Brooks.
“That’s kind of what we needed,” he said after SR kissed its two-game losing streak goodbye. “The great snow storm of ’09 threw us off a little bit, not being able to get in here (Tuesday). Everybody in the county goes through it. We were just trying to get back to normal.”
Fourth-place South (10-7, 7-4) did so by working the ball inside to 6-foot Taylor May and grabbing a 10-0 lead in the first six minutes.
“You can always punch down in the middle early in the game because the defense is spread,” May said after contributing 12 points and 17 rebounds. “Eventually, they adjust.”
Except that Mooresville (5-7, 3-7) never truly did. The Blue Devils found a spark after South’s Molly Garrett banked in a shot from the right side that made it 18-4 with 2:35 remaining in the first half. A 3-pointer by Courtney Smith and driving layup by Shakirah McLaughlin helped the guests draw within 20-13 at the half.
“You could tell we hadn’t practiced,” May said. “We weren’t sharp. In the second half we found a little inspiration.”
They found it in energetic sophomore Sam Goins, a 5-9 forward who played even bigger. She covered the entire court, snatching rebounds, making outlet passes and playing lock-down defense.
“We work best as a team,” Goins said after netting a season-high 11 points. “And we were breaking it down on defense. We can hold ’em down. That’s why we came out with the win.”
May helped the Raiders pad their lead in the third quarter. She had five offensive rebounds and turned three of them into putbacks as South built a 16-point advantage.
“We’re not a great scoring team,” Brooks said. “We have to work for shots and take what they give us. That’s what that was.”
Fourth-quarter layups by Goins, Whitney Haywood and a couple Libby Sides pushed South over the finish line. Losing coach Jim Lambert was quick to compliment the Raiders.
“They wanted it,” he said. “They were loose and relaxed the whole game.”
mooresville (34) ó Smith 8, Harris 8, Stockton 6, Thomas 4, Martin 4, McLaughlin 2, DeLaughter 2. south rowan (45) ó May 12, Goins 11, Sides 6, Graham 6, K.Haywood 4, Garrett 4, W.Haywood 2, Roberts.
Mooresville 2 11 6 15 ó 34
S. Rowan 11 9 13 12 ó 45