By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó North Rowan’s girls dropped a 48-36 decision to Ledford Friday night, but the contest was closer than many expected.
The Cavaliers trailed just 14-12 in the opening minutes of the second quarter and made a run at the Panthers at game’s end.
After falling behind 33-15 in the third period, North (3-14, 1-7) pulled to within 41-36 with 1:40 remaining in the game when Mariah Gregory followed a teammate’s miss with a basket.
But the Cavaliers would come no closer, with Ledford (13-4, 6-2) draining seven free throws in the final minute to ice the win.
“I don’t know exactly why, but they always play us tough down here,” said Ledford coach Jon Ralls.
He noted the Panthers shot only 15 percent in the first half and didn’t improve dramatically in the second.
“We weren’t exactly tearing it up,” Ralls said.
North’s rally started with 7:20 to play when Daquondra Cuberthson drained a pair of free throws to pull the Cavaliers to within 37-25.
Cuberthson followed with a field goal and by the time Tiffany Brown canned a pair of free throws with 3:48 to play, Ledford’s lead had been sliced to 39-31.
Cuberthson tossed in another pair of free throws to cut the deficit to six.
Quon Cuberthson led the Cavaliers with 14 and was followed by Teaunna Cuberthson’s nine. Symphony Roberts had seven points, six of which came in the first half.
Carmen Pericoze led Ledford with 18 and was followed by Chelsea Freeman’s 11.
ledford (48) ó Pericoze 18, Freeman 11, Cardwell 6, Surles 4, Todd 3, Williams 2, Christian 2, Ballard 2, Weis, Parks, Otey. north rowan (36) ó D.Cuberthson 14, T.Cuberthson 9, Roberts 7, Gregory 4, Brown 2, Ellis, Bethea, Smyre.
Ledford 12 12 13 11 ó 48
N. Rowan 10 4 9 13 ó 36