By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — In each of Davie County’s three games in the annual Dales Sporting Goods/ Sam Moir Christmas Classic, a different player has stepped up as the difference maker.

Friday afternoon, it was senior wing Dylan Shoffner who scored 17, including 14 in the fourth period when it counted, to lead the War Eagles to a 66-55 win over North Rowan in the fifth-place boys’ game. After North had bolted to a 20-9 lead out of the gate, Davie battled back to tie it at 41-41 after three periods.

The War Eagles were able to claw back into the game with their quickness and defensive pressure, while North suddenly had trouble getting their jumpers to fall, especially from three-point range.

Coleman Sell hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth for Davie, then Shoffner went on his scoring tear to get the lead to 53-45. Despite some late scoring from Joe Scott (18 for game), North could get no closer than nine points after that. The loss dropped North to 5-6 for the season and a disappointing 1-2 in the Moir event. Davie improved to 7-4 with their consecutive wins in the tournament after a close loss to Mooresville in the opener.

North connected on seven 3-pointers in the game, with three each by Scott and Henderson Lentz (11 points for the game). Bravon Goodlett added nine points. The War Eagles placed four in double figures in the win — Shoffner’s 17, Corey Heiner with 13 and 10 each from Cooper Wall and Michael Walton. Davie enjoyed a big advantage at the foul line as well, hitting 17-of-25. North made just 8-of-15 at the line, all in the second half.

NORTH ROWAN (55) — Scott 18, Lentz 11, Goodlett 9, Sirleaf 5, Herron-Cuthbertson 5, Cooke 5, Smith 2.

DAVIE COUNTY (66) — Shoffner 17, Heiner 13, Wall 10, Walton 10, Sell 6, Slabach 5, McCormack 5, Horton, Barnette.

North Rowan    20     6    15    14 — 55

Davie County      9   17     15    25 — 66