By Ryan Bisesi

For the Salisbury Post

GREENSBORO — The Cavaliers’ horses took them to Northwest Guilford for the second straight day and their legs eventually got tired.

North Rowan’s boys basketball showdown with the host team at the Novant Health Shootout was competitive for three quarters until the Vikings pulled away in the fourth quarter to key a 81-60 win.

The game was played at a frantic pace much of the way, including a 20-20 score after one quarter. Keeping pace with the 4A Vikings proved too much for North in the second half as layups rounded out and beating with the press was exhausting. Up by two at the break, Northwest outscored North in the second half, 46-27.

“We were winded,” North coach Andrew Mitchell said. “It was going to be tough for us to win this game in any way. We made some mistakes down the stretch that we can learn from.”

The loss dropped North (7-2) to the No. 2 seed for the Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic. Salisbury’s boys (9-1) will be seeded first.

“When we put this schedule together, I said ‘if we go .500, I’ll be overjoyed,’” Mitchell said. “We played 4A schools, 3As and a couple private schools, so I couldn’t be prouder.”

Jalen Sanders scored 14 points to lead North while Josh Handy followed with 13 and Joseph Scott added 12.

NWG (6-1) got a huge three from Tre Turner at the end of the third quarter on an out of bounds play to push its lead to 59-51. Turner inbounded the ball and got it right back in time to get off a shot from the corner.

“That was a dagger,” Mitchell said. “That should have been something that I brought to the attention of the guys. We go over plays like that in practice.”

Turner, a sophomore who’s already received a scholarship offer from Duke for his football efforts, was one of five NWG players with double figures scoring. The 6-foot-4 guard led his team with 18 points while Reggie Davis offered 17.

“We did a better job of taking care of the ball and getting shots in the second half,” Northwest coach Lee Reavis said. “This was one of those gut check games with it being the third game this week.”

Turner converted a three-point play by hitting a layup and ensuing free throw 30 seconds into the fourth quarter to push the lead to double digits. The Vikings stalled their offense shortly thereafter and killed clock to limit North’s possessions. It worked, as the Cavs scored only nine points in the fourth.

Thomas Hennigan cashed in off a North turnover with a layup to give the Vikings a 35-33 edge at halftime. Northwest went up seven before Josh Handy scored six straight points to pull the Cavs within 44-43 with four minutes left in the third period. Northwest scored the next seven points with Turner mixing in another 3-pointer to stop the run.

NOTE:

North joined the Tournament lineup through Mitchell’s connection with NWG Principal Ralph Kitley. Kitley played with Mitchell at North and helped the Cavs win the 1986 state championship. Kitley, who played four seasons at Wake Forest, is a recent Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame inductee.

 

NORTH ROWAN (60) — Sanders 14, Handy 13, Scott 12, Shields 8, Sirleaf 7, Harrison 2, Lentz 2, Haley 2, Alexander, Cuthbertson, Miller, Ellis, Clement.

NORTHWEST GUILFORD (81) — Turner 18, R. Davis 17, Spicer 13, Hennigan 13, Gore 10, Funderberg 8, Woods 2, Braiman, Barker, Rakes, Edwards, Sullivan, J. Davis.

North Rowan     20  13   18      9   — 60

NW Guilford      20  15   24   22   — 81