From staff reports

STATESVILLE — Jarrod Smith is a football coach an he knows football. But this was ridiculous.
After building an 18-point lead, his South Rowan girls withstood a physical second half and defeated Statesville 49-43.
“It was a football game,” Smith said.
It was also a much-needed win by the Raiders (6-17, 3-9), who now have sole posession of fifth place going into next week’s tournament.
“It means we play East Rowan and that’s a game we want,” Smith said.
South built a 27-12 halftime lead, “because rebounded and got back on defense,” Smith said.
Cassidy Chipman led the Raiders with 18 points while Avery Locklear added 17. Kacie Stamey played well, recording a season-high six points.
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The boys weren’t as fortunate, falling to NPC champ Statesville on the Greyhounds Senior Night 78-37.
Not only was South battling the top team in the league, it also was without leading scorer and star Shawn Spry, whom coach Bryan Withers said was ruled ineligible.
South Rowan (11-13, 4-8) was led by Josh Medlin’s eight points and seven rebounds. T’vadis Wesley and Lavon Hall notched six apiece for the Raiders but theu certainly missed their leader.
Statesville’s Justin Daniels saved his best game of the for the final regular-season game of his career. Daniels had a double-double by halftime and ended Wednesday’s game with 16 points, 14 rebounds and one fierce fourth-quarter block.
“It was Senior Night,” Daniels said. “We wanted to put on a show one last time for the regular season. We all came ready to play.”
Statesville was able to avoid a contest early and never trailed the Raiders at any point. Four Greyhounds starters scored on an 11-3 run in the first quarter for a 15-3 lead with 2:58 left in the period.
It carried over into second. Daniels grabbed a rebound off a South Rowan miss, raced the length of the court, missed two layups, got the rebound each time, and he drew a foul while he dropped the third attempt. Statesville was ahead 36-15 at the break.
Wednesday’s victory wrapped up a second perfect run through the league in the past three seasons for the Greyhounds (18-3, 12-0). It is the first time in program history Statesville has won three straight championships.
“It feels good,” Josh Gaither said. “When coach (Sonny Schofield) we’d be the first to three-peat, it’s great to be a part of history.”
The Greyhounds put the game out of reach in the third quarter and put it away at the start of the fourth.