Prep girls basketball: Playoff pairings, seeds announced
Published 9:45 pm Saturday, February 21, 2015
SALISBURY — None of the Rowan County girls teams, not even SPC champion South Rowan, got a single-digit seed, but South Rowan, East Rowan and North Rowan all will have first-round home games in the state playoffs.
The normal starting day for the playoffs is Tuesday, although the NCHSAA leaves the window open for teams to play on Monday if both agree to it. The second round is scheduled for Thursday, with the third round on Saturday.
South Rowan’s 10th-seeded girls will host No. 23 Asheboro in a 3A contest. South Rowan (17-6) has two of the county’s top scorers in Avery Locklear and Cassidy Chipman, who combine for 35 points per game, and has won eight of its last nine. The Raiders, who have a team full of seniors, reached the third round of the playoffs when those girls were juniors.
Also in 3A, East Rowan’s 12th-seeded girls (20-3) will host No. 21 North Henderson. The Mustangs enter the playoffs having won nine of their last 10 games. Senior Kelli Fisher and junior Shenell Pharr are double-figure scorers for the Mustangs.
East Rowan went 22-4 last season but had a disappointing first-round playoff loss. East Rowan hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008.
Carson (12-12), the fourth-place finisher in the SPC, and West Rowan (10-14), the fifth-place finisher, made the 32-team 3A West bracket, but will be underdogs in road games.
Carson, seeded 25th, goes to No. 8 Northern Guilford. West Rowan, seeded 29th, goes to No. 4 Asheville Erwin.
Carson’s girls are in the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Seniors Alex Allen and Sydney Huffman and freshman Olivia Gabriel are double-figure scorers for the Cougars.
West Rowan returns to the playoffs after missing out last season. Junior guards Khaila Hall and Taylor Martin are the scoring leaders for the Falcons. West Rowan’s last playoff victory came in 2011.
The SPC has six of its nine teams in the playoffs. Hickory Ridge, seeded 16th, is at home against No. 17 East Gaston. No. 27 Central Cabarrus is at No. 6 South Iredell.
In 2A, North Rowan is seeded 12th after placing second in the CCC to unbeaten East Davidson. The Cavaliers (13-6) host No. 21 Forbush in the first round.
North Rowan is in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Cavaliers lost in the first round last season. Senior guard Demeria Robinson and junior forward Aliyah Farmer are standouts for North Rowan.
Undefeated CCC champ East Davidson is seeded third and hosts No. 30 Stuart Cramer.
In 4A, Davie’s girls have a first-round home game. Davie (17-6) earned a No. 10 seed after finishing second in the CPC and will take on No. 23 Porter Ridge. Guard Madison Zaferatos leads the War Eagles.
A.L. Brown’s girls (14-8) finished fifth in the MECKA. The Wonders are seeded 24th and travel to No. 9 Rocky River.
Guard Aitana Grant leads the Wonders.