Staff report
SPENCER — Things went a little sideways for North Rowan’s boys basketball team in the second half on Tuesday, but the Cavaliers held on for a 57-56 victory against Union Academy Charter.
Freshman Jordan Massenburg led the Cavaliers with 21 points. Carter Williams scored 15.
North scored 35 points in the first half while shutting down the Cardinals and built a very comfortable lead, but UAC (9-14, 4-5) stormed back in the second half.
“We haven’t had any real practice time and this was a back-to-back,” North head coach Herb Liles said “We need to get back into the rhythm of playing.”
Wins by 1 and wins by 20 count the same in the standings and in the RPI rankings. It was a close call, but the bottom line is North Rowan still has a clear path to a Yadkin Valley Conference co-championship.
North Rowan (12-8, 6-1) has won 10 of its last 11 games, with the lone loss in that stretch being a one-point road setback at North Stanly.
The Cavaliers are up to 12th in the 2A RPI rankings. Union Academy is 43rd in 3A.
Union Academy 10 3 20 23 — 56
North Rowan 14 21 11 11 — 57
NORTH scoring — Massenburg 21, Williams 15, Tarver 5, T. Brown 4, Alford 4, Jefferies 4, Carpenter 3, J. Brown 2, Hamilton 2.
