Staff report
MISENHEIMER — North Rowan’s boys basketball team handled Albemarle for the third time on Thursday, as Carter Williams poured in 26 points.
North won 71-52 in Pfeiffer’s Merner Gym in a Yadkin Valley Conference Tournament semifinal. Second-seeded North Rowan had a first-round bye in the six-team league and was playing its first game this week.
Williams averages 17. This was the biggest scoring night he’s had since December. The 6-foot-4 junior forward, operated mostly in the paint. He made 12 2s and two free throws. He had six rebounds.
Jordan Massenburg was close to his average with 14 points. He produced three 3-pointers. KeKe Carpenter chipped in with 12 points, while Mike Alford had eight.
North (15-8) had won 77-51 and 75-66 in previous meetings this season with the third-seeded Bulldogs (10-14).
Now North Rowan gets the expected championship matchup with the top-seeded North Stanly squad. The teams played two one-point games during the regular season. Both won at home.
North Stanly is 10th in the 3A RPI rankings. North Rowan is 12th in 2A. Albemarle is 30th in 2A.
North Rowan began this season 2-7 but has dropped only one game since Christmas. That was the game at North Stanly.
Tipoff on Friday at Pfeiffer is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
NORTH — Williams 26, Massenburg 14, Carpenter 12, Alford 8, T. Brown 3, Jefferies 3, Clodfelter 3, Hamilton 2.
