By Marny Hendrick
sports@salisburypost.com
NORWOOD ó Faced with serious foul trouble and a major free-throw disparity, the North Rowan girls basketball team turned to their smothering defense to save the day.
Guards Demeria Robinson and Tiffany Brown provided the takeaways while post players Teaunna Cuthbertson and Sabrina Vann played the closers as North rolled to a 58-34 YVC victory at South Stanly Friday night.
The Cavs straddled halftime with a 19-0 run to turn a tight six-point game into a rout by the end of a third period.
ěI especially liked the way we came out in the second half with our deny defense,î said winning coach Tony Hillian. ěI was pleased with our effort. They gave me 110 percent.î
North employed their full- court pressure the entire game but it hampered them in the first half as whistles blew frequently. By the break, South Stanly (3-5, 1-4) attempted 17 free throws to none for the visitors. The Rebel Bulls made only eight of the 17 chances yet still trailed only 20-14 with less than a minute left in the first half.
North suddenly cranked it up by scoring the last six points of the first half and the first 13 of the second half to seal the win. Cuthbertson had eight points and freshman point guard Robinson three steals and six points in the surge that produced a 39-14 margin. The rest of the game was academic as North (4-1, 4-2) stayed in the hunt for the top spot in the YVC.
The foul problems cost North two of its starters as Taylor Sells and Ronesha Bradley were both disqualified. But the Cavs filled the void with quality play off the bench and their relentless defense.
ěEverybody on this team can play and everybody can contribute, especially on defense, ě said Hillian.
Vann was especially impressive for North with her best night of the season, notching 10 points and raking down 10 rebounds.
ěThey are a physical team and just wore us down, ěsaid South Coach Sean Whitley. ěWe gave a good effort defensively but it wasnít enough.î
NORTH ROWAN (58) óCutherbertson 15, Vann 10, Robinson 10, Brown 7, Bush 7, Lingle 4, Bradley 4, Carter 1, Sells.
SOUTH STANLY (34) ó Culp 11, Poplin 8, S. Russell 5, Allen 4, Gaylord 2, Gallagher 2, Shakerra 1, Shankle 1, Benjamin, C. Russell.
N. Rowan 10 16 17 15 ó 58
S. Stanly 6 8 6 14 ó 34