GRANITE QUARRY — When you are suffering through a five -game losing skid, any kind of victory is sweet.
East Rowan had such an experience Tuesday night when they secured a not so pretty 57-47 win over North Piedmont Conference foe West Iredell.
East (2-5, 5-12) had to oversome some poor outside shooting in the early stages and a tough 8 of 21 night at the foul line to shake off a last place Warrior team that they had beaten by 26 just before Christmas.
“I do not feel like I am really pleased with a win like that, “ sophomore guard Connor Honeycutt said, “but a win is a win and it was good to get one because it has been awhile.”
Honeycutt can claim part of the direct credit for the victory. The Warriors (0-8, 2-14) trailed by seven at the half but rallied behind the outside shooting of Troy Sells and inside play of jayvee call up TJ Teasley to take the lead on three occasions in the third.
Two acrobatic baskets by Calvin Edwards put East back ahead by three at 40-37. The Mustangs then made their decisive move that ultimately settled the outcome. Sam Wyrick drained a long three to end the third period and make the margin 44-37. Honeycutt then opened the final quarter with another three from deep in the corner, then followed that with a fastbreak lay-up. East was suddenly in command again with a 49-37 lead with six minutes left.
“They made that run at us in the third quarter and took the lead, “ East coach Trey Ledbetter noted. “But we just finally grew up a little bit tonight and decided to make something good happen.”
Over the final six minutes of the game, East was able to make effective use of their spread and cut offense while also producing numerous turnovers with the pressure defense of Edwards, Honeycutt and Donte Means. The Warriors got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
“They made a lot more shots than we did tonight ,”said West Iredell coach Matt Miller. “But our defense is why we lost. Their offense is just better than our defense and that was the ball game right there.”
East got some solid inside play in the game from Josh Gobble, Dock Corpening and Tyler L’Hommedieu who controlled the boards and scored some key baskets. Honeycutt’s 13 led the way but Wyrick and L’Hommedieu added nine each with Edwards and Gobble chipping in 8. Gobble also pulled down 10 rebounds to lead East.
West Iredell was topped by Sells with 23 while Teasley’s varsity debut at center for the Warriors resulted in 13 points and 8 rebounds.
East cannot celebrate for long as they must travel to face NPC league leader Statesville tonight.

WEST IREDELL (47) — Sells 23, Teasley 13, Harrison 5, Johnson 4, Weaver 2, Keaton, Messick, Gilliland, Allison.
EAST ROWAN (57) — Honeycutt 11, Sa. Wyrick 9, L’Hommedieu 9, Edwards 8, Gobble 8, Means 5, Corpening 5, Se. Wyrick 2, Moses Bell,

W. Iredell 6 14 17 10 — 47

E. Rowan 14 13 17 13 — 57