Not only did they get eight extra-minutes of competition, but when all the smoke had cleared, the Mustangs had picked up an important 93-85 double-overtime Yadkin Valley Conference win over South Stanly.
Coming off consecutive losses to defending state 1-A champions, Thomasville, the Mustangs stayed in the thick of the battle for one of the state playoff spots the conference receives by improving their conference mark to 6-4.
“ We felt that this was a must-win for us tonight,” said Mustang coach Chris Coble. “If we can get another win at South Davidson next Tuesday, it will keep us in the hunt for the playoffs.”
Thanks to baskets from C.T. Montjoy, Brandon Phillips and Kirk Williams, the Mustangs scored six unanswered points at the start of the second overtime period to grab a quick 90-84 lead. The Mustangs were able to convert only three of seven free throws in the closing minutes, as the Rebels fouled in an attempt to get the ball. But thanks to some aggressive board work, the Mustangs managed to get the rebound on the missed free throws, forcing the Rebels to foul again.
The score was tied, 78-78, at the end of regulation time, and then again at 84-all after the first overtime period.
First-half action between the conference rivals set the tone for the rest of the evening. North Moore employed the fast break, and an aggressive defense, in the first quarter to build up a 16-point lead, 27-11.
However, South Stanly came back strong in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 25-10, aided by four field goals from long range from Jordan Curlee and Darren Hill to get within one, 37-36, at halfime.
“Our fast break was really working in that first quarter,” said Mustang coach Chris Coble, “but we always seem to get a lead, then let these teams get back in the game.”
With Mustang big man Cam Thomas out of action for the third game in row, the Mustangs turned up the jets in the first quarter with Walt Brower, who finished with a game-high 25 points, and Willis Barrett, who finished with 19, leading the charge.
But the Mustangs went cold in the second quarter, while the Rebels were bombing away in getting back into the contest.
“We couldn’t seem to hit a shot or a free throw in that second quarter,” Coble said, “while South Stanly was knocking down three-pointers.”
The Rebels completed the comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 22-18 in taking a 58-55 lead.
The Rebels held the lead throughout the fourth quarter until a basket by the Mustangs’ Jerome Maness tied the game at 75-all with 1:17 remaining in the game. Dalewyn Spinks made one of two from the free throw line and Brower scored a basket to give the Mustangs a three-point lead with less than a minute to go.
Then Hill was fouled attempting a three-point field goal, and made all three free throws to tie the game again at 78 points apiece, with only 29.3 seconds left on the clock. Each team had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but neither was able to convert, forcing the first overtime.
North Moore took the lead by three points in the first overtime, 84-81, but another three-point field goal by Curlee with only 49 seconds remaining tied the game again at 84-all. Much like at the end of regulation play, each team had a chance to win it, but couldn’t score, as the two teams went into the second four-minute extra period.
In the second overtime, the Mustangs didn’t allow the Rebels to get close enough to allow any last-second heroics.
“I was proud of the way the players hung in there,” Coble said. “Brandon Phillips really came through for us tonight, with those baskets from close in.”
Phillips came off the bench and grabbed several rebounds to go along with his eight points coming on those inside buckets. Joining Brower and Barrett in double figures for the Mustangs were Montjoy with 16 points and Spinks with 12.
Jordan Curlee led South Stanly with 22 points, including six field goals from three-point range. Darrin Hill and Jake Allen added 18 and 12 points, respectively, for the Rebels.
North Moore’s record improved to 8-8 for the season. Tuesday’s game is at South Davidson.
South Stanly 11 25 22 20 6 1 — 85
North Moore 27 10 18 22 6 9 — 93
South Stanly - J. Curlee 7(6) 2-4 22, Hill 5(2) 6-7 18, Biles 6(1) 3-6 16, Allen 3(2) 4-4 12, Salmon 2 4-6 8, Clayton 2 0-0 4, Dudley 1 1-2 3, N. Curlee 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 20-29 85.
North Moore - Brower 10(1) 4-5 25, Barrett 7 5-9 19, Spinks 3(1) 3-5 12, Montjoy 7(2) 0-1 16, B. Phillips 4 0-0 8, Williams 3(1) 0-1 7, Brooks 1 0-0 2, Maness 1 0-1 2. Totals 36 12-22 93.
Three-point goals: South Stanly 11 (J. Curlee 6, Hill 2, Allen 2, Biles 1); North Moore 5 (Montjoy 2, Brower, Spinks, Williams).
