From staff reports
Coach Erich Epps found out something about his West Rowan girls basketball team Wednesday night in a 58-40 win against Northwest Cabarrus: the Falcons can play well without star Ayana Avery in the lineup.
Avery was in first-half foul trouble and scored just four points, but led by Desere Cross and Ashley Dutton, West (1-1) led at halftime 29-24.
Avery returned in the second half, finishing with 27 points.
Epps was pleased with his second- quarter performance. Avery picked up her third foul one minute in and sat the rest of the half. Cross and Dutton combined for nine of West’s 16 points, all of them inside.
“I told the girls at halftime, ‘See, you can play without Ayana,’ ” Epps said. “It carried over to the second half.”
Epps said Avery wasn’t herself, missing several shots, but when she banked in two deep 3s, the rout was on.
West lost its opener to talented Salisbury.
“It was really our first game in my mind,” said Epps, who credited many of the West football players in attendance for keeping the gym loud. “It’s good to get that first one under your belt with a young group.”
Cross also hit double figures for West with 12 points.
Northwest Cabarrus (40) ó Williams 12, Broome 9, Merriman 5, Allen 5, Blakley 4, Pethel 4, Herring 1.
West Rowan (58) ó Avery 27, Cross 12, Holloway 8, Steele 4, Ash. Dutton 3, Watkins 2, Jenkins 2, Ball, Parker, Turner, Barber, Baucom, Al. Dutton, Leach, Bolick.
NWC 9 15 8 8 ó 40
W. Rowan 13 16 13 16 ó 58
– Carson boys
Carson’s boys have been a good-shooting basketball team during their first six games, all wins.
On Wednesday, the shots wouldn’t fall ó with predictable results.
The Cougars lost a first-half lead and despite 22 points from Darius Moose, fell to Hickory Ridge 57-50.
“We just didn’t make our shots,” coach Brian Perry said. “We had some pretty good looks, but they just wouldn’t go down.”
Carson had just enough offense to lead 30-25 at intermission.
“Defense kept us in the game in the first half,” Perry said.
The Cougars managed just six points in the third quarter and trailed 37-36 going into the fourth.
That’s when Quinton Wimbish took over. He hit a big 3 to give Hickory Ridge some breathing room.
“There were a couple of loose balls we just couldn’t get our hands on,” Perry said. “We had a couple of breakdowns.”
Carson (6-1) now travels to Statesville on Friday to begin its North Piedmont Conference season.
“There were things we’ll highlight and work on,” Perry said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a good game on Friday.”
Moose was the only Cougar in double figures. Zach Wagner was next with eight points. Cody Clanton had seven.
CArson (50) ó Moose 22, Wagner 8, Clanton 7, Houston 6, Sewell 5, Heggins 2, Ferrare, Raper.
hickory ridge (57) ó Wimbish 20, Wood 13, Book 8, Lamothe 7, Dennis 4, Still 4, Burton 1.
Carson 14 16 6 14 ó 50
H. Ridge 12 13 12 20 ó 57
– Carson girls
Freshman Allison Blackwell scored eight points for Carson in the first half against Hickory Ridge.
The only problem: no one else scored for the Cougars. Carson never recovered from a 26-8 deficit at halftime and fell to Hickory Ridge 48-32.
“We came out really timid in the first half,” coach Brooke Misenheimer said. “We should’ve attacked the basket. We should’ve been more aggressive.
“We weren’t.”
Carson did manage 16 points in the third quarter and actually outscored the Ragin’ Bulls 24-22 in the second half.
Demya Heggins led the Cougars (2-5) with 11 points. She sank three 3s.
Carson (32) ó Heggins 11, Blackwell 8, Cloninger 4, Settlemyer 4, Brown 2, M. Livengood 2, K. Livengood 1, Dulkoski, Phillips, Alexander, Monroe.
Hickory Ridge (48) ó Mathis 16, Resper 14, Robson 6, Yeager 4, Strode 3, Scott 2, Ferguson 2, Tanguay 1.
Carson 4 4 16 8 ó 32
H. Ridge 11 15 11 11 ó 48
– East JV girls
East Rowan defeated Robinson 38-30 on Wednesday.
Shanna Phillips and Allison Mills led the Mustangs with seven points apiece. Casey Honeycutt followed with six points and four steals.
Sydney Poole played a complete game with five points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Jessica Rummage added five points and nine rebounds.
– South jayvee girls
South Rowan’s jayvee girls basketball team beat Northwest Cabarrus 25-24 earlier this week.
Maria Gaddy scored 10 points to lead the Raiders (6-1).
– Prep wrestling
Carson avenged an earlier loss to North Rowan with a 45-27 win against the Cavaliers.
Winning for the Cougars (5-3) were Spencer Chapman, Ryan Craft, Jacob Casey, Nick Golden, Nathan McMasters, Anson Phillips, Nathan Hill and Micah Honeycutt.
The Cougars will be in action Friday and Saturday in The Mt. Pleasant Invitational Tournament. The following weekend they will compete in the Rowan County Tournament at East Rowan.
– East Y basketball
The Saleeby-Fisher YMCA, East Rowan Branch, has changes planned for the upcoming boys basketball season.
All Saturdays in recent years have been used for games, with practices scheduled throughout the week.
This year, only the opening games will be played on Saturday, Jan, 23. Thereafter, games will be played on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting at 6 p.m. All practices will be held on Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays will remain free for the first time since the YMCA opened.
The program is for grades 2-8 and teaches fundamentals and skills.
Players learn sportsmanship and YMCA values.
Practices begin on Dec. 11. All teams play Jan. 23. Registrations will be accepted through Dec. 19.
Volunteer coaches, assistant coaches and officials are needed. Contact Sports Director Joe Finney at 704-279-1742 or jfinney@rowanymca.com.
– West baseball camp
West Rowan Winter Baseball Camp will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10-2 at the West field.
The camp is for ages 8-13.
Pre-registration cost is $25. Walkups the day of the camp will be accepted for $35.
Checks should be made payable to West Rowan Baseball.
For more information, contact head coach David Wright at wrightdc@rss.k12.nc.us.
– Baseball academy
East Rowan is the host school for a six-week Spring Training 2010 baseball program for players in grades 1-12 from Jan. 10 to Feb. 14.
East coach Brian Hightower directs the program in conjunction with U.S. Baseball Academy.
Sessions are offered in advanced hitting, pitching and catching at a cost as low as $99 for six weeks. Space is limited. Registration is ongoing.
For information, go to www.USBaseballAcademy.com or call toll-free 866-622-4487.
– Bench press tournament
Rowan YMCA is holding a bench press tournament this Saturday.
Registration and weigh-in are from 8:30-10:30 a.m., with competition starting at 11.
There are six age classes, with weight categories in each, including a female division.
The entry fee is $25 per class per person. Crossover is permitted with a $20 fee for the second class.
Entry forms are available at the front desk at the Y. Contact Ester Marsh or Kenny Seagle at 704-636-0111.
– Clyburn to UNC
West Iredell defensive back P.J. Clyburn has verbally committed to North Carolina.
The Statesville Record and Landmark reported surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Clyburn was injured in West’s Iredell’s last regular season game. He’ll miss the Shrine Bowl and the basketball season.
– 8th-grade hoops
The Knox boys got 12 points from John Canipe and 10 from Tradis Wesley and beat China Grove 51-29.
Eric Goldston scored 15 points for China Grove.
* The Knox girls (4-0) won 51-42 behind Brielle Blaire’s 17 points and 10 rebounds. Cheyenne Gloster scored 12 points. Monifa Angle added 11 points, six assists and two steals.