TYRO — For a long time Friday night, North Rowan’s boys flirted with their worst nightmare. Then Jalen Sanders came to the rescue.
The first-place Cavaliers had to withstand an inspired effort by the last place West Davidson Green Dragons and survived the Central Carolina Conference contest 62-54. Sanders, a 6-foot sophomore guard, saved the day with a career-high 29 points, including 13 in the decisive fourth period.
It was the third straight 20-plus point performance for the red hot Sanders.
“It was a real mental test for us,” Sanders said. “We came in thinking West Davidson was going to lay down but they gave us one of the hardest fought games we have played this season.”
Using what Dragon coach Dennis Stokes call a “catch and shoot” strategy, West (0-2, 2-11) rained in eight 3- pointers and had North on the ropes more than once.
North Rowan (2-0, 8-2) trailed most of the first half as wings Tyler Grooms and Zach Queen were deadly from behind the arch. The lead reached 24-18 then North got their own threes from Sanders and Alexis Archie to forge ahead 32-27 at the half.
But the Dragons were not done as big man Nathan Little scored inside and Queen hit a three to put West ahead 41-34 at 2:36 of the third period. The Cavs whittled it to 43-42 by the end of the quarter and the tide was about to turn.
Sanders lobbed one high to big man Kenyon Tatum for the monster alley-oop slam to open the fourth and North had the lead. North never give it back as a 9-0 run gave it enough of a working margin at 51-43
Still the Cavs had to overcome a miserable night at the foul line, hitting just 12 of 34, and that enabled the Dragons to maintain some hope. They had three chances to cut the lead to three late but key blocks underneath by Josh Handy, Tatum and Joe Scott turned them back.
Sanders then solved the foul line when it mattered most, hitting five of six in the final minute to put the game away.
It was a dramatic win for the Cavaliers but Coach Andrew Mitchell was far from pleased. “When you are dealing with youngsters nowadays you never know what you are going to get,” he said. “We knew we were coming into hostile territory for the first time in this conference. Our guys looked at their record and figured it would be easy. You have to bring your A-game every night.“
Missing 21 free throws was also a big frustration. “We just were not mentally focused,” Mitchelll said.
Mitchell did praise Sanders for his performance and mental toughness. Forward Michael Bowman had 17 points and eight boards to dominate inside and Tatum added eight.
Grooms with 22 and Queen with 15, including four treys, led the Dragons.
“They took the lead and the momentum away from us in the fourth,” Stokes noted. “But we kept fighting and played with confidence until the end.
NORTH ROWAN (62) — Sanders 29, Bowman 17, Tatum 8, Archie 3, Scott 3, Walker 2, Handy, Nelson,
WEST DAVIDSON (54) — Grooms 22, Queen 15, Little 6, Gobbloe 5, Beane 3, Fortenberry 2, Smithy 1, Simmerson.
N. Rowan 12 20 10 20 — 62
W. Davidson 14 13 16 11 — 54