Staff report
CHARLOTTE – They call it the Charlotte Hoops Challenge but the real challenge for anyone playing the North Rowan Cavaliers from this point on may be stopping Oshon West.
North Rowan lost its opener at Waddell High School to Peachtree Ridge (Ga.), on Friday afternoon 77-72 but West led all scorers with 32 points.
“He did it in a variety of ways,” Cavaliers coach Andrew Mitchell said. “Inside, outside.”
Mitchell added the 6-foot-3 West was “an animal on the boards.”
The biggest disparity in the game came at the foul line. Peachtree Ridge made 25 of 37 from the stripe while the Cavs managed just 8 of 19.
“They hit theirs, we missed ours,” Mitchell sighed.
Another thing proven on Friday was that 6-2 Mike Connor (10 points) is a lockdown defender at guard.
“They have the No. 1 point guard in Georgia and Connor shut him down,” Mitchell said.
Jalen Sanders (13 points) and Mike Bowman (eight)played well.
“It’s going to help us a great deal,” Mitchell said when asked what the Cavs will take from this tournament. “We see the type of intensity you need to have.”
North plays the 8 p.m. game tonight at Waddell.