Staff report

GRANITE QUARRY — Opening South Piedmont Conference play against defending 3A state champ Central Cabarrus wasn’t an ideal situation for East Rowan’s boys basketball team.

The Vikings forced 37 turnovers, racked up 33 assists, shot 64 percent and pounded the Mustangs 104-37.

It was 64-17 at halftime.

“I think they’re better than they were last year,” East coach Andrew Porter said. “The big kid they’ve added (Josh Dalton, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Woodside, Va.) makes them even better. It was a rough night for us.”

Central, coached by former Catawba College head coach and North Rowan grad Jim Baker, won its 34th game in a row with its dazzling uptempo style. The Vikings move the ball and exert great pressure. East is playing without injured point guard Ti’Jon Everhart and didn’t have much of a chance.

Central held hot-shooting Drake Jones to seven points. Jonathan Wembolua led the Mustangs (0-4, 0-1) with 13 points.

Central (2-0, 1-0) put six in double figures, led by 6-foot-6 senior D.J. Kent with 22.

 

Central       29    35   24    16   — 104

East           10      7    10      10   — 37

CENTRAL — Kent 22, Russell 16, Dalton 14, Chase Daniel 14, Smith 11, Carson Daniel 10, Burse-Jones 7, Edmisten 4, Baker 4, Ezeighbo 2.

EAST — Wembolua 13, Jones 7, Osterhus 6, Butler 4, McIntyre 3, Chesney 2, Lino 2.