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After watching its spirited rally fall short in the opener, the Ellis JV girls basketball team dominated throughout in a 41-19 win at Erwin.

In the opener against visiting China Grove on Jan. 16, the Jaguars wiped out an 8-2 deficit and ended the third in an 8-8 deadlock. But the Red Devils weathered the storm and walked off as 18-10 winners.

Annabelle Wright (4 points, 6 rebounds), Karah Shore (2 points), Kinsley Harbour (2 points, 3 steals) and Jordyn Warren (2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals) gave the Jaguars a chance.

“They were scared and nervous in their first time playing in front of a big crowd,” coach Roger Blalock said.

The roster includes Ellyana Holbrook, Zoey Harpe, Katie Lou Cornatzer, Natalie Hernandez, Miranda Sapp and Neriyah Johnson.

Ellis 41, Erwin 19

Two days later, the Jaguars redeemed themselves on the road. They weren’t satisfied with a nine-point halftime lead, outscoring the Eagles 13-0 in the third behind Shore’s eight-point outburst.

“This was all about the press,” Blalock said. “The press messed them up. We don’t have a whole lot of offense, but our defense makes our offense a whole lot better.”

Shore was the headliner with 17 points and six steals. She got help from Warren (6 points), Harbour (4 points, 8 steals, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Sapp (4 points, 3 steals), Wright (4 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks), Holbrook (3 points, 4 steals, 2 assists), Harpe (2 points), Johnson (1 point) and Cornatzer (4 steals).

“Jordyn and Annabelle are our two bigs,” Blalock said. “They dominate the glass and they are great on defense.”

This week, though, could determine a lot about the directionof the season. “I think we will be alright,” he said. “But we play West Rowan and Mooresville this week, so we will find out who we really are.”

SD 23, NR 16

Although South Davie was down 10-7 at halftime, Kady Joyce and the Tigers went to work in the second half and won going away against visiting North Rowan on Jan. 17.

“It was rough (at the start of the third),” coach Julie Snow said. “We called a timeout two minutes in and really got on them. It worked.”

South went on a 9-2 run in the third and the Mavericks did not recover. Joyce was the catalyst with 11 points. Shania Brown had four, while Karileigh Munday, Ashley Cockerham, Kileigh Lynch and Kylie Edwards had two each.

“Kady scored eight of her points in the second half,” Snow said. “The girls slowed down and ran the plays.”

Hallie Head didn’t score, but she was still a big factor.

“(Beth) Carter and I were really impressed with Hallie’s aggressiveness,” Snow said. “She has come in and really grown the past few weeks.”

The win was especially nice since South was coming off a two-point loss in the opener.

“Our attitudes are good and these girls really encourage each other,” she said. “We are proud. We have zero middle school experience. Who knows what we’ll do this season.”

CG 32, SD 10

South got down 12-2 in the first quarter at China Grove on Jan. 18 and never threatened. Snow, though, could not fault the effort.

“We walked in the locker room after the game, and all players were sitting in a circle, quietly waiting on us,” Snow said. “They want to learn. They might not understand the game of basketball, but they do know how to hustle. What more could you ask of them?”

Head (four), Joyce (four) and Brown (two) had the points. Joyce and the ever-improving Head earned praise for their fight.

“Our point guard, Kady, has never played basketball before and this team pressed,” Snow said. “Kady is probably the most athletic girl in the school. She is aggressive and plays awesome defense, but we are asking a lot of her as a newbie.

“Hallie has made so much progress. She comes in and plays her role well.”

Erwin 20, ND 16

Camila Sa’ turned in 10 points, but it wasn’t enough in North Davie’s home loss on Jan. 16. The Wildcats faced an 18-11 deficit at the end of the third but did cut into the margin in the fourth before running out of time.

Bella Barnette, Mallory Blackwelder and Khia Bohannon had two points each.

ND 9, NR 2

It was un-pretty offensively, but the Wildcats were able to put together enough offense to win comfortably at North Rowan on Jan. 18.

Sa’ had four points. Barnette and Madison Stanley had two apiece, and Emma Phommavan had one as North improved to 2-2.