By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — With a wink and a smile, West Rowan coach Ashley Poole and star guard Khaila Hall both admitted there was a little bit of payback in the mix Tuesday night at the Falcons’ gym.

West maintained their top spot in the South Piedmont conference with a 74-62 win over county rival East Rowan, avenging one of their only two losses this season in the process. West (18-2, 14-0 SPC) has not lost since a Dale’s/Moir Christmas tournament 47-45 setback to East in late December. They have racked up eight wins in a row since then.

“I definitely reminded them of that loss before the game,” Poole said. “But overall, our defense was very strong and our girls executed very well tonight”

Hall, a 5-10 senior, notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while adding six assists and 3 blocked shots. She said the earlier loss to East was definitely on everybody’s mind. “It was the only team we could get revenge on this year but our girls really started hustling, especially on defense tonight. Everything is in the right place now so we just have to keep it together.”

Defense and the subsequent fast-paced transition game that fed off the defense were the deciding factors in the Falcon win. Sophomore forward Egypt Alexander repeatedly ran the floor for easy fast break buckets as she posted a career high 28 points in the win. Freshman Mary Sobataka  added 16 both inside and from behind the arc while senior Taylor Martin posted 13.

East was led by Shenique Pharr with 21 points while Shenell Pharr had her own double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds. Senior guard Jocelyn Lowe added 11.

“Our transition defense was just a killer for us tonight,” East head coach Danielle Porter said. “There was a span in the second quarter when West scored eight points really quickly in transition. Unfortunately, that will kill you. You have to make them work for it.”

West led from the outset and held a 38-28 halftime margin. To East Rowan’s credit they refused to  go away, despite falling behind 56-37 in the third quarter. The Mustangs (11-10, 6-9 SPC) opened the final period on a 7-0 run to close within nine. But West responded with back-to=back buckets by Sobataka, a Hall steal and lay-up then a three point play by Alexander to put the game away for good.

“This is a really good team to be around right now,” Poole said. “They know what to do and what their job is. As long as we play together and hustle, we will be fine”

East Rowan (62) — Shenique Pharr 21, Shenell Pharr 15, J. Lowe 11, Weisensell 6, Small 5, Wagner 4, S. Lowe.

West Rowan (74) — Alexander 28, Sobataka 16, Hall 15, Martin 13, Pharr 2,  Vaughters, Williams, Linder, Pruitt, Miller.

E. Rowan     10  18  14  20 — 62

W. Rowan   17   21  20  16 — 74