Andrews – Both Andrews basketball teams lost in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A state playoffs to North Rowan on Feb. 27.
Andrews’ leading scorer, Cam Rattler was held to only six points as the Wildcats (18-8) fell to North Rowan (15-13) 72-61 in first-round action of the 1A state playoffs.
The Wildcats held the lead after the first period as they outscored the Cavaliers 21-17. Andrews was led by Ty Clark with seven of the first-period points. Logan Shuler added four and Jalen Powell and Gabe Clark had a 3-pointer apiece to round out the Cats’ scoring in the first period.
The Cavaliers went on a 18-13 run in the second quarter to cut into the Wildcats’ lead. It was a team effort for the Cavaliers as they had six players contribute to the scoring.
Dillion Mosley led the way with five of North Rowan’s 18 points in the second period. Ty Clark kept the Cats in the game as he added seven more points in the second quarter. Andrews held a slim 35-34 halftime lead.
George Maxwell of North Rowan had only scored five first-half points, but the senior exploded for 20 second-half points that dashed the hopes of the Cats advancing to the second round of the playoffs. The Cavs outscore the Cats 21-19, with Maxwell hitting for 13 points.
Landon Green kept the Cats close in the third period, as he accounted for eight of Andrews 19 points and Ty Clark hit for five more. The Cavs built a 56-53 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Cavalier defense held the Cats to only eight fourth-quarter points as North Rowan pulled away for the 72-61 win. Maxwell hit for seven of the Cavs’ 16 fourth-period points. Ty Clark hit for half of Andrews’ eight points.
Ty Clark led the Wildcat scoring with 23 points with three 3-pointers and six field goals. Landon Greene was also in double figures, as he hit six field goals for 12 points. Maxwell of North Rowan led all scorers with 25 points, with 12 coming from long range.
North Rowan was eliminated in the second round, falling to Piedmont Community Charter 86-72.
Andrews finished the season with an overall record of 18-8. Six of those losses were by eight points or less, so the Cats have been competitive all year.
The Cats do lose four seniors off of this years team but have a good group of players coming back. Seniors Cam Rattler, Jalen Powell, Samuel Preston and Tyler West will depart. Starters Ty Clark and Landon Greene, along with Gabe Clark, return next year, so the Cats’ future looks bright.
Lady Wildcats fall
The Andrews girls basketball team (10-15) went into the 1A state playoffs ranked No. 28 in the Western bracket and got the tough task of taking on the No. 7 seed, North Rowan (25-3).
It did not go well for the Lady Wildcats, as they fell to the Lady Cavaliers 78-41. North Rowan’s three losses in the regular season came at the hands of two 3A schools and a Christmas tourney loss to Salisbury, which they defeated three times in the regular season.
The Lady Wildcats knew they had run into a buzzsaw at the onset of the game, The Lady Cavaliers, led by Bailee Goodlett, put up a 28-8 lead in the first period.
Goodlett had 11 points and her teammate Dasia Eller added nine points in the first quarter. Kylie Donaldson tried to keep the Lady cats in the game as she led them with six of their eight points in the first period.
Andrews stayed on par a little better in the second period, but were still outscored 13-12 as North Rowan carried a 41-20 lead into the half. Hannah Talkington and Ellen Mclelland had two points apiece to lead the Wildcats’ scoring in the second period.
The Lady Cavaliers came out in the third period on fire, outscoring the Lady Cats 21-10. Goodlett led the charge again for nine of the 21 points for the Lady Cavaliers. Alexis Beasley and Chanteah Rattler had two apiece to account for four of Andrews’ 10 third-quarter points.
The Lady Cavaliers, with a 63-30 lead, played their reserves in the fourth period, but still outscored the Lady Cats 16-11. Talkington and Kinleigh Queen accounted for eight of Andrews’ 11 points as they hit for four apiece.
Goodlett of North Rowan led all scorers with 30 points. North Rowan had two other players in double figures. Junior Kylie Donaldson was the only Lady Wildcat in double figures with 12 points.
The Lady Cats finish the season as a young team, only losing two senior starters. With the return of their leading scorer, Donaldson, next season looks promising.