Associated Press
Freshman Keon Moore and Justin Huntley each scored 24 points to notch career-highs and help Catawba to a 101-92 win over Mars Hillon Wednesday in Goodman Gym.
The Catawba Indians improve to 7-10 overall and 3-6 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 5-12 and 2-7.
Moore, with 16 points at the break, and Huntley, with 13, helped Catawba (7-10, 3-6) to a 51-41 edge at the half. Moore canned four 3-pointers as the Indians hit 17-of-36 in the opening 20 minutes.
Moore hit a pair of 3-pointers and Cameron Lovelace another to help Catawba grab a 28-26 edge with 6:46 left in the half.
The Indians pulled away in the final five minutes of the half with a 21-10 run.
Catawba built its lead to 15 in the second half. Catawba hit on 7-of-8 at the line in the final 3:13 of the contest to keep its edge.
Dominick Reid scored a dozen of his 16 points in the second half. He finished with eight assists and seven rebounds. Lovelace also reached double figures with 13 points.
• Catawba women
Mars Hill got 19 points and eight rebounds from Taylor Deal as the Lions knocked off Catawba’s women 61-51 at Goodman Gym.
The Lions (13-4, 6-3) played without the league’s leading scorer in Brittini Young. Catawba (11-8, 5-4) suffered its fourth straight loss.
Catawba managed to get as close as three at 46-43 with 7:24 remaining, but continued to struggle from the field and could never tie the contest. The Indians shot just 15-of-69 from the field.
Dana Hicks posted a double-double for Catawba with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
It marked the 16th double-double of the season for the league’s leading rebounder. Milica Ivanovic scored 13 points.
• Prep hoops
With four games in four nights, North Rowan boys coach Andrew Mitchell decided to bring up some jayvees on Wednesday against South Stanly and rest his starters as much as possible.
That strategy worked as jayvees Michael Bost and Travis Holshouser joined varsity players Michael Bowman and Javon Hargrave with 10 points as the Cavaliers (12-3, 8-0) destroyed the Rebel Bulls 80-40.
In fact, the jayvees won the second half by 20.
North Rowan now plays at home tonight against North Moore.
• Things looked so good for A.L. Brown’s boys just a week ago. But after a 62-47 South Piedmont Conference loss to Northwest Cabarrus on Wednesday night, the Wonders are looking for answers.
Brown (9-5, 5-3) has lost three straight games. Teven Jones’ 27 points were not enough.
The Wonders trailed just 25-24 at halftime but Northwest outscored them 20-9 in the third quarter.
Chandler Reynolds chipped in with 11 for A.L. Brown.
Ameer Jackson scored 22 for the Trojans. Arlen Wallace had 13, and Corey Seager scored nine.
“We just have to buckle down and get out of this funk,” Brown coach Shelwyn Klutz said.
• Jayvee hoops
The Salisbury boys defeated Central Davidson 35-34 Wednesday to improve to 6-5 overall and 3-1 in the CCC. Jon Mark Petty led a balanced attack by SHS (6-5, 3-1) with eight points. Tvadis Wesley had seven.
• Carson got 14 points from K.J. Pressley and seven from MyQuan Stout and the Cougars defeated East Rowan 32-26.
• Carson’s girls defeated East Rowan 53-39. Madison Weast led the Cougars with 17 points. Kate Cole had 13, Jordy Clark 11 and Jana Bradshaw eight.
Bobbi Thomas led the Mustangs in scoring with 11.