STATESVILLE — It is apparent that when Josh Medlin decides to take over a game, good things happen for the South Rowan Raiders.

South trailed West Iredell 12-11 early in the second period Thursday night when the 6-2 senior forward Medlin decided to change the course of the game. He scored the next nine Raider points to give them the lead for good enroute to a dominant 71-38 win.

“I had determination to do something because it was too close of a game and we are too good of a team,” Medlin said. He led the Raider scoring with 20, includng 15 in the decisive first half.

Guard Eric Tyler aided the cause with a pair of long range bombs in the second period as South led 31-23 at intermission.

The game quickly changed gears in the second half as South (4-3, 11-8) as went on an 11-0 run to turn the contest into a rout. The Warriors (0-7, 2-13) went stone cold scoring only four points in the third quarter and suddenly trailing 50-27.

The Raiders employed a spread type isolation offensive attack in the decisive third period that yielded some spectacular results. Qwan Rhyne scored two quick baskets then Tyler launched a perfect lob to Tvadis Wesley for a slam dunk that brought the crowd to life. Shawn Spry got in the act with a deep three pointer from the corner and Wesley capped the surge with a another breakaway dunk.

“We wanted to keep that going but then the game got out of hand physically, “Coach Bryan Withers stated. “But we fought our way through the adversity. We reacted well and held our composure.”

With a lot of pressing defense and hands swatting at the ball on both sides, the whistles started blowing frequently as the fourth period opened. Yet when some hard contact fouls went against the Raiders, Withers earned a technical for protesting too loudly.

The sequence resulted in three foul shots by Troy Sells and a jumper by top scorer Lance Johnson. But the brief scoring flurry only cut the Raider lead down to 20.

“Basketball shouldn’t be played that way but sometimes it just is.” Withers said. “But you just have to play through it.”

The first year Raider coach still had plenty of high praise for his team that played their third game in three nights and won impressively for the second night in a row. He had special praise for Medlin.

“Josh is a tremendous athelete and you can see him grow with every game.” he stated.

Wesley with 14 and Tyler with 11 were key to the win while 6-4 center Lavon Hill contributed nine points and 10 rebounds. Wesley also had 10 boards.

SOUTH ROWAN (71) — Medlin 20, Wesley 14, Tyler 11, Hill 9, Rhyne 8, Goldston 4, Spry 3, Corriher 2, Holbrook, Oulette, Stewart.

WEST IREDELL (38) — Johnson 20, Sells 9, Keaton 4, Weaver 2, Dalton 2, Gilleland 1, Allison, Davidson, Boggs, Messick.

S. Rowan 11 22 17 21 — 71
W. Iredell 9 14 4 11 — 38