By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó Senior Night for Northwest Cabarrus turned into Career Day for South Rowan’s girls.
Junior Kayla Morrow and senior Krista Haywood had the games of their lives in a 53-46 NPC victory over the Trojans.
Morrow had 17 points and 10 rebounds despite foul trouble, while Haywood, who had never scored in double figures, produced 14 points, including an unreal, personal 11-0 run that changed the game.
“It was pretty exciting because all year you preach about kids needing to step up,” South coach Jim Brooks said. “Tonight Kayla and Krista took the pressure off of Taylor May.
May had 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks for the Raiders (14-10, 11-7), who finished in fourth place. Molly Garrett had seven points and seven boards.
With double-figure scorer Nikki Graham sidelined with a torn ACL and Northwest defenders swarming May, Haywood and Morrow wiped away the sour taste of Friday’s ugly loss at West Iredell and Monday’s 42-point beating from Statesville.
“We knew at the start it was going to be an automatic box-and-one on Taylor,” Morrow said. “She told me I had to be strong and be good on the boards.”
Morrow responded by skying for seven rebounds and eight points in the second quarter, and South led 19-18 at halftime despite shooting 6-for-32.Northwest (4-20, 2-16) made a strong run in the third quarter and led 30-27 when Haywood decided she wasn’t going to take it anymore.
She hit two 3s from the top of the circle and stuck in an offensive board to close the third quarter. Then she opened the fourth quarter by swishing a 3 from the corner. Suddenly, South led 38-30.
Northwest clawed back to 38-36, but Garrett drilled a key 3 with 6:08 remaining, and the Raiders stayed on top the rest of the way.
Haywood finished her scoring at the foul line. She was 3-for-8 there and banked in all three she made.
“It was really funny,” Morrow said. “We told Krista that maybe she could shoot 3s, but she sure couldn’t make free throws.”
south rowan (53) ó Morrow 17, K. Haywood 14, May 10, Garrett 7, Goins 3, Roberts 2, Sides, W, Haywood.
nw cabarrus (46) ó Hahn 11, Williams 10, Nazer 9, Allen 6, Pethel 4, Broome 2,Herring 2, Blakely 2.S. Rowan 10 9 16 18 ó 53
NWC 8 10 12 16 ó 46