By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó North Rowan had no trouble kissing its nine-game losing streak goodbye Saturday night.
The Cavs made it a 53-19 wipeout against visiting Gray Stone and won for the first time since the Christmas Tournament.
ěWe needed a game like this,î said jovial coach Tony Hillian. ěI was hoping the spurt would catch us (Friday) night against Albemarle, but we got a little too winded. Tonight we came out and hit on every cylinder.î
North (5-13, 4-7 YVC) won the game by playing take-no-prisoners defense. It ruled the backboards, forced 34 GS turnovers and allowed no field goals in the first half.
ěWe had no offense, absolutely no offense,î losing coach Robert Stack said after the last-place Knights (3-15 overall) dropped to 0-11 in conference play. ěWe couldnít hang on to the ball. Between the turnovers and the lack of shooting, you have to credit them.î
Gray Stoneís statistician indicated the Knights were 6-for-47 from the field while North attempted more than 80 shots. That made it an ugly game on both sides.
ěYeah, but we had defensive intensity,î said North guard JoJo Carby, the gameís top scorer with 12 points. ěItís been a rough week, but tonight, we had that fight to win, that urge to win.î
And they had it from the start. North used baskets from Tiffany Brown, Jamie Miller and Ronesha Bradley to help build a 10-2 first-quarter lead. Miller added a couple more buckets late in the second period to provide a 19-3 halftime lead.
ěIt felt like we were working as a team,î said Brown. ěWeíve been down many times this year but tonight we were having fun.î
The party continued in the third quarter when NR busted the game open. Tinka Bushís 3-pointer from the right corner made it 30-9 and Sabrina Vannís putback as the clock expired gave the Cavs a 40-11 lead.
ěWe had over 40 rebounds, our free throws were excellent and we were knocking down the layups like we need to,î Hillian said. ěI told the girls to just keep their hands up and let them shoot it, because they werenít really good shooters. We didnít have to play too tough on defense.î
Stack walked away impressed with the Cavs.
ěTheyíre a scrappy team,î he said. ěThey hustle and they drive to the basket. This game was all about attacking the basket.î

NOTES: Salisbury natives Katie Kepley and Sydney Safrit combined for five points for Gray Stone. … North had only 14 turnovers.
GRAY STONE (19) ó Allsbrook 7, Deese 5, Kepley 4, Sandy 2, Safrit 1.
NORTH ROWAN (53) ó Carby 12, Bush 8, Bradley 8, Brown 6, Miller 6, Vann 4, Sells 3, Cuthbertson 3, Dickinson 2, Rincon 1, Houston.
Gray Stone 2 1 8 8 ó 19
N. Rowan 10 9 21 13 ó 53