By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
STATESVILLE ó South Rowan’s Reid Shaver made a steal and dribbled the length of the floor with assistance from Hunter Morrison, who acted like a lead blocker while inconspicuously shielding Shaver from a Statesville defender.The clear path enabled Shaver to soar for a one-handed dunk in the first half of South’s 66-51 road victory against the Greyhounds.
“I was just trying to help him out a little,” Morrison said. “Doesn’t look like he needs it, though. He can jump over about anybody.”
Morrison and the Raiders were a difficult obstacle for Statesville to overcome.
Morrison scored a game-high 22 points to pace South (3-3, 2-2 NPC). Shaver hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter of his 13-point outing, and Dakota Walker had 12 points.
The Greyhounds (1-6, 1-4) trailed 30-24 late in the first half, but South went on a 22-2 run that bridged the second and third quarters.
“We played well at Mooresville and we played well tonight going to the third quarter,” South coach John Davis said. “I’m looking for more consistency, looking to play for four quarters and play well.”
Walker posted South’s first six points, and Addison Corriher drew a foul on an inside basket. Walker rebounded a missed free throw and scored again.
Statesville hung around thanks to a trio of second-quarter 3-pointers from Saliff Mott, and Shaver’s dunk pushed the Raiders ahead 29-22.
Morrison made a layup to give South a 32-24 edge with 2:07 remaining in the quarter, and his step-back 3-pointer with four seconds left in the half sent the Greyhounds to the locker room facing a double-digit deficit.
“We always try to get the last shot if we’re up, and it’s good if it goes in,” Morrison said. “A lot of times we come out flat in the second half, and we talked about it. We jumped on them, and good things happened.”
Morrison’s slick passing helped South score the first eight points of the third quarter, and consecutive 3s from Shaver put the Raiders in front 49-26.
Morrison repeatedly dribbled between his legs before setting up the second long-range shot. He shifted the ball to his right hand at times during the sequence; he pushed the ball under his left leg and kept dribbling with his left hand at others.
“Hunter took care of the basketball and it was a little bit of showtime, and I’m not a big showtime fan,” Davis said. “That’s Reebok and And1 stuff. He would have had a few more assists if we could have converted on some of the shots he created for us.”
SOUTH ROWAN (66) ó Morrison 22, Shaver 13, Walker 12, S.Johnson 7, Corriher 4, Grant 4, Davis 2, Honeycutt 2, Houston, Bowles.
STATESVILLE (51) ó Mott 18, Epps 13, Edwards 7, Nichols 4, Lackey 3, Harris 2, King 2, Feimster 2.S. Rowan 18 17 18 13 ó 66
Statesville 11 13 5 22 ó 51