Staff report

MOUNT ULLA —  West Rowan’s boys are getting better.

They played their most competitive game of the season on Wednesday and gave North Rowan a fight. It was a seven-point game with just over four minutes left, but the Cavaliers, who have three of the county’s top veterans, pulled away for a 68-51 victory.

The returning trio of Brevin Goodlett (17), Dayjuwon Cooke (16) and Derrick Page (15) led the scoring for North (2-0).

Both teams struggled in a shaky first quarter, which ended in a 7-all tie.

Both teams picked it up considerably in the second quarter. Jeriah Ford had 10 points in the second quarter for the Falcons (0-4), and Payne Stolsworth found the range on 3-pointers. North got a big second quarter from Goodlett and needed it to take a 31-28 lead to halftime.

North took a 49-43 lead to the final quarter, shot a lot of free throws and outscored the Falcons down the stretch, 19-8.

Stolsworth led West with 14 points. Ford scored 12, while Zack Brawley had 10.

West lost at A.L. Brown, 71-48, on Tuesday, after scoring just 38 and 22 points in its first two outings.

North opened the season with an overtime win against Northwest Cabarrus.

West hosts Lake Norman on Friday, while North Rowan opens Yadkin Valley Conference play at home against Albemarle.

NORTH (68) — Goodlett 17, Cooke 16, Page 15, Goodes 8, Smith 4, Davis 3, Moss 2, Robinson 2, Wilson 1, Broaddus.

WEST (51) — Stolsworth 14, Ford 12, Brawley 10, Joseph 4, Weeks 3, Hassard 3, Butler 2, Matthews 2, Tadlock 1.

North       7      24    18      19   — 68

West        7      21    15       8     — 51