By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — The North Rowan Cavaliers broke out the offensive firepower quickly Friday night, overpowering East Davidson, 75-58, on Senior Night.

The Cavaliers (12-8, 7-1 CCC) rained in a dozen 3-pointers for the game, including five in the opening quarter, breaking out to a 23-8 lead. They were never threatened after that.

The Golden Eagles (3-18, 1-7 CCC) did manage a 15-0 run against the North bench at the end of the game to make the final score more respectable, but there was no doubt which was the better team on this night.

Senior Henderson Lentz started the onslaught with a pair of long shots in the first quarter, then point guard Joe Scott came off the bench to score seven points in rapid succession to help build the big lead. Guards Malon Herron-Cuthbertson  and  Joe Harrison got in on the offensive fun with Harrison hitting a buzzer beater at the half to give North a 51-31 lead.

“We have been shooting the ball a lot in practice, Cavalier coach Andrew Mitchell said of his team’s performance, “but even I wouldn’t believe our shooting paid off that much the way it did tonight.”

North erased all doubt after the half with more deadly shooting as Scott hit a 3-pointer and converted a fast break to build the lead to 30 points. But his outstanding night ended midway in the third when he collided with the Eagles’ Kobie Warrick on a fast break. Both players had to leave the game with arm injuries and Scott sported a sling on his arm afterwards.

“I don’t think it is that bad, just a sprain,” said the senior point guard of the injury. “The play wasn’t even a foul. We both just went up hard and fell. But that is part of the game. I will be fine.”

Scott still managed to lead his team’s balanced attack with 16 points, followed by Lentz with 15, all in the first half with five 3-pointers. Herron-Cuthbertson added 13 points.

The lone bright spot for the Eagles was junior guard Eli Jacobs who hit an amazing eight 3-pointers, four in each half, to finish with 25.

The win kept North one game back of conference leader Thomasville, with a crucial game looming at the Bulldogs’ gym on Tuesday. The Cavs close out the regular season next Friday against county rival Salisbury at Catawba College.

E. DAVIDSON (58) — Jacobs 25, Barrett 12, Shulteiss, 6, Warrick 5, Hale 4, Geren 4, Bolinsky 2, Riggs, Hilbourn, Waldrop, McIntire.

NORTH ROWAN (75) — Scott 16, Lentz 15, Herron-Cuthbertson 13, Harrison 7, McCombs 6, Goodlett 5, Ellis 4, Cuthbertson 3, Miller 1, Clement.

East Davidson           11     20       5   22  — 58

North Rowan             24    27      15     9 — 75

East Davidson Girls Hold Off North Rowan

SPENCER — The East Davidson girls took a roller-coaster ride in the North Rowan gym Friday night but managed to finish strong enough for a 59-48 Central Carolina Conference win over the Cavaliers.

Freshman point guard Skyler Grubb had a breakout game for the Golden Eagles (15-6, 6-2 CCC) with 18 points in the first half and a career high 27 for the game, as the visitors built a 22-9 lead.

But the quickly improving Cavalier girls refused to fold as they went on an 11-2 run to close within 24-20 at the half. Brianna White and Navi Joyner led the strong comeback for North (3-16, 2-6 CCC).

The roller-coaster continued in the second half as East Davidson built their margin back to 13, only to have North close it to 37-31 on Aundrea Godfrey’s three-point play and a put-back by Hope Evans. The Eagles then closed the third period with a 11-1 run to lead 48-32.

North had one more run left in the final quarter with eight straight to get within nine points, but the Eagles held on with a strong finish at the foul line.

“Every time we let them (North) cut into the lead, we were able to regroup and start playing again,” said veteran Eagles’ coach Don Corry. “We are a young team, but they are learning every game and getting better.”

The defending state 2A runners-up are in a rebuilding mode this year but are solidly in second place behind league leader Salisbury. Following Grubb in the scoring were Brooke Anders with 16 and Brooke Jones with 10.

White led North with 21 points, including 12 in the second half, followed by Godfrey with eight. White also snagged eight rebounds.

E. DAVIDSON (59) — Grubb 27, Anders 16, Jones 10, Hamilton 3, Kinley 2, Grimsley 1, Sentell.

NORTH ROWAN (48) — White 21, Godfrey 8, Joyner 7, Oglesby 6, Shoaf 4, Robinson 2, Davis, Reed, Evans.

East Davidson           18     6    24    11  — 59

North Rowan              7    17      8    16 — 48