GRANITE QUARRY — The East Rowan girls basketball team returned to their winning ways last night while completing the season sweep of Cox Mill.
“We worked this week on our defense”’ said an obviously pleased Head Coach Danielle Porter. That hard work was reflected in the 36-24 final score in which East never trailed.
While the bulk of the scoring was handled by Kelli Fisher (12 points) and Senior Karleigh Wike (11), Porter credited point guard and recent winner of the “Ronz” award, Jocelyn Lowe with shutting down Cox Mill point guard Taylor Sehm-Crowley.
“We also emphasized rebounding, particularly by our guards.” The extra work enabled guards, Lowe, Shenell Pharr and Lauren Thomas to pull down 10 of the 45 total rebounds. As one would expect, Richmond -bound Wike led the team with 12.
The East Rowan boys overcame slow starts in all four quarters to force an overtime period before falling to Cox Mill 69-57.
“You can lay the blame for the first half on me.” reflected coach Trey Ledbetter. I just didn’t have the team ready to play.”
Even after the slow start, the Mustangs trailed by only four at the end of quarter one. A six-point effort in the second quarter dropped them behind by 12 at the break.
It was a totally different team that came out of the locker room. A quick 8-0 run forced Cox Mills coach Jody Barbee to call a timeout at the 6:52 mark. Donte Means started the scoring with a 3-pointer, followed by a deuce off a stop. When sophomore Austin Love drained a second three of the quarter, Barbee had seen enough. East never quite caught them, but closed back within six going into the fourth quarter. The score at the end of regulation was 53 all.
“We were just out of legs in the overtime period.” Ledbetter said. “But there was no quit in the Mustangs.”
“Give kudos to Cox Mill.” he continued. “They aren’t the No. 2 team in the conference for nothing.” This is the third game in a row they’ve pulled out either on a last second shot or in overtime.”
Austin Love just missed double figures with nine.
BOYS
COX MILL (69) — Morgan 23, Johnson 17, Jones 8, Baptist 5, Earl 4, Smith 4, Probert 4, Johnson 2, Malit 2, Gowd.
EAST ROWAN (57) — Means 20, Sa. Wyrick 15, Love 9, Caldwell 4, Wise 4, Moses 3, Soles 2, Se. Wyrick, Bell.
Cox Mill 16 30 43 53 — 69
E. Rowan 12 18 37 53 — 57
GIRLS
EAST ROWAN (53) — Means 22, Love 14, Wyse 6, Se. Wyrick 3, Caldwell 2, Corpening 2, Moses 2, Bell 2, Sa. Wyrick, Soles.
SOUTH ROWAN (60) — Holbrook 18, Rhyn e 15, Spry 10, Hill 7, Rary 4, Goldston 3, Childers 3, Stewart, Finger, Wilder, Littlejohn.
E. Rowan 15 4 8 26 — 53
S. Rowan 11 16 14 19 — 60