LEXINGTON — Anyone who has seen Central Davidson center Chris Pompey play knows he is capable of completely taking over a basketball game on any night.

Friday was one of those nights.

Pompey, a 6-6 senior, overwhelmed South Rowan’s defenders for a career-high 34 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots as the Spartans coasted to a 69-52 victory.

“My teammates wanted me to get in the post,” Pompey said. “I got in the post. I had the advantage.”

And it seems the Spartans learned a few things from a frustrating 50-45 loss to Ledford on Wednesday. Pompey had 25 in that game but everything seemed disjointed for the Spartans that night.

“I think we forced the ball into him a little too much,” Central coach Brian Hege said. “I thought tonight we worked our offense. We worked extremely hard on our efficiency and continuity.”

The Spartans, who took control of the game in the second quarter, appeared to apply those lessons.

“In the Ledford game, we got away from our stuff,” Pompey said. “Tonight, we ran our plays, did what coach said, ran our secondary. We ran our offense, got points.”

Will Ramsey scored 12 points while Robert Biesecker had nine and John Hanes eight to back Pompey as the Spartans improved to 3-2.

Josh Medlin led South Rowan (2-3) with 15 points and Qwantarius Rhyne added 10.

Central was clinging to a 28-23 lead in the second quarter when reserve guard Michael Pigg helped trigger a 10-0 run. Pigg threaded a pass along the baseline to Ramsey, who drilled a 3-pointer. On the Spartans’ next possession, Pigg got the ball inside to Pompey, who was fouled and made both free throws. Hanes converted a three-point play off a fastbreak when the Raiders missed a jumper and the Spartans got separation.

The Spartans pushed their lead to as much as 17 before settling for a 43-30 halftime lead.

South Rowan briefly got within eight at 52-44 on a T’vadus Wesley bucket in the first minute of the fourth quarter. But once again Pompey got the ball inside, was fouled and made both free throws to launch an 8-0 run as the Spartans pulled away.

After the run-and-gun first half, the Spartans were able to handle the halfcourt game as well.

“We did,” Hege said. “We did a good job of running our halfcourt sets. Ledford lulled us to sleep a little bit. Tonight we controlled the boards and didn’t give them second shots, kept them from the free throw line. I was really proud of the way we responded tonight.”

Central Davidson’s girls coach Kevin Hudson was excited Wednesday night after his team avenged a 17-point loss to Ledford by downing the Panthers by 17 points themselves.

The Spartans just plain had their way Friday night.

Paige Chavis scored 16 points and McKenzie Burkhart added 15 as the Spartans used their quickness on both ends of the floor to overwhelm South Rowan 75-28 to run their record to 4-1.

“I thought we were really efficient with our offense,” said Central coach Kevin Hudson. “I told them at the start of the third quarter we could be just be efficient, our production would be the same. I was extremely pleased with the way we played on the defensive end.”

That often meant jumping in the passing lanes, stealing the ball and getting transition baskets. Everyone got involved, too. Chandler Young scored 10 points while Jordan Chavis and Taylor Shoaf each had eight.

Avery Locklear led South Rowan (2-3) with 12 points. Cassidy Chipman offered eight points for South.

South Rowan scored the first point of the game but Central led 20-4 late in the period and coasted the rest of the way. The Raiders played zone defense most of the time, giving the Spartans the opportunity to work on some things.

“They started off with a 1-2-2, went to 2-3 and back,” Hudson said. “We shot the ball well. We moved the ball well. That’s good.”

Central visits Carson on Tuesday.

BOYS
SOUTH ROWAN (52) — Medlin 15, Rhyne 10, Wesley 7, Holbrook 6, Tyler 6, Golston 4, Spry 3, Miller 1.

CENTRAL DAVIDSON(69) — Pompey 34, Ramsey 12, Biesecker 9, Hanes 8, Walls 4, Chavis 2.

S. Rowan 16 14 12 10 — 52

C. Davidson 23 20 9 17 — 69

•
GIRLS
SOUTH ROWAN (28) — Locklear 12, Chipman 8, Bost 3, Hubbard 2, McClendon 2, Coley 1.

CENTRAL DAVIDSON(75) — P. Chavis 16, Burkhart 15, Young 10, J. Chavis 8, Shoaf 8, McMath 6, Hedrick 6, Johnson 3, Briggs 3.

S. Rowan 6 10 4 8 — 28

C. Davidson 20 21 23 11 — 75