This time it came by way of a 59-46 win in a first-round Yadkin Valley Conference on Monday, setting up a tough semifinal matchup with Thomasville, the state’s number-one ranked 1-A team. Thomasville will be looking to defeat the Mustangs for the third time this season in the game scheduled for North Moore at 6 p.m. Thursday.
North Moore took an early lead and held it throughout the contest, although Chatham Central did close the gap to two points late in the game. The Mustangs held a nine point lead at the end of the first quarter, 15-6, and increased the margin to 10 points at the half, 29-19.
The Bears rallied in the third quarter, getting the ball inside to Carrie Scott and Ashley Marsh, and cut the lead to six at the end of the third quarter. North Moore led after three periods by a score of 45-39.
The Bears cut the lead to two points, 46-44, midway through the final period, but the Mustangs outscored the visitors 13-2 in the closing minutes, and won by a comfortable margin.
“Their height was hurting us inside,” Mustang coach Cheryl Brewer said following the game. “Finally we started boxing out and picked up a few fouls under the boards. We played hard tonight.”
Alicia Hill was high scorer for North Moore with 27 points. Jenna Hussey and Monica Cheek added 10 and nine points, respectively, for the Mustangs. Scott and Marsh each had 15 points for Chatham Central.
The win boosted the Mustangs’ record to 15-9 for the season, and they are 12-5 against conference opponents.
C. Central 6 13 20 7 — 46
North Moore 15 14 16 14 — 59
Chatham Central — Scott 6 3-3 15; Marsh 7 1-2 15; Phillips 3 1-1 7; Leonard 2 1-3 5; Watson 1 2-4 4. Totals – 19 8-13 46.
North Moore — Hill 11 2-6 27; J. Hussey 3 2-2 10; Cheek 4 1-1 9; Wallace 2 0-0 5; Robbins 0 4-6 4; Montjoy 2 0-0 4. Totals – 22 9-15 59.
Three-point goals: Chatham Central 0; North Moore 6 (Hill 3, J. Hussey 2, Wallace).
