Staff report
GRANITE QUARRY — “We are improving daily and we are competing as hard as anyone in the state,” East Rowan boys head basketball coach Trey Ledbetter said after Tuesday’s 65-59 loss to West Rowan.
West wasn’t arguing. The Falcons are talented, they’re also getting better every day, and they still had their hands full with the Mustangs (3-4, 0-1).
Point guard Ja’mih Tucker’s career game — 26 points, seven assists — made the difference for the Falcons in the South Piedmont Conference opener for both teams.
“We’ve got good players.” West head coach Dadrian Cuthbertson said. “We just need to get everyone healthy and put it all together.”
Josiah Young rolled an ankle in Monday’s win at Statesville and wasn’t 100 percent, but he still had 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Jalen Moten chipped in with eight points.
West led 27-23 at halftime. The Falcons took a 45-36 lead to the fourth quarter, but still couldn’t shake the Mustangs. East guard Logan Bradley made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Bradley made seven 3-pointers in the game and scored a career-best 27 points to supply a big chunk of East’s offense.
“It was actually kind of a quiet 27,” Ledbetter said. “He didn’t shoot that much. But he drove it well and he shot it well when he was open.”
Zayden Turner, a young point guard, provided 11 points.
“He sees the floor so well and makes pretty good reads,” Ledbetter said. “He’s still adjusting to the physicality of varsity basketball, but he’s learning. Mason McKenzie really battled tonight. He didn’t play for two years, but he’s getting better every game. Jaden Eudy was sick , but he gave us everything he had. I was really proud of how we fought. West Rowan has one heck of a team. They’re big and they’re physical, but they are also very quick with the ball when they drive. That’s a really well-coached team that is much better than their record.”
That record is improving. The Falcons (4-3, 1-0) have won their last three.
West 13 14 18 20 — 65
East 13 10 13 23 —59
WEST — Tucker 26, Young 10, Moten 8, Donaldson 6, Queen 6, Angle 4, Graham 3, Bame 2.
EAST — Bradley 27, Turner 11, Ailshie 8, Brent 5, McKenzie 3, Eudy 2, Anderson 2, Lino 1.
