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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Going into the South Davie-at-Ellis girls basketball game on Nov. 7, the Tigers were spiraling and the vibes could not have been better on the Ellis side.
It was 20-20 at the end of the third quarter, but South took control at crunch time and picked up a gigantic 28-22 win to halt a five-game losing streak in the series. South (2-4) also stopped a four-game slide between Oct. 24-Nov. 4 and ended Ellis’ winning streak at three.
“It was a great win, but Ellis (3-2) is good and who knows what will happen next time,” South coach Julie Snow said. “I’m just proud that our girls are showing growth from all our work on fundamentals.”
South held an 11-8 lead at halftime. Ellis fought back to 20-20 by scoring 12 in the third.
“We looked good in the first half – like we strung 14 minutes of good basketball together,” Snow said. “Ellis came out and hit a few quick baskets to start the third. We went to a box-and-one to stop Zoe Summers from feeding the ball so well. Sakariah (Allison) and Zariah (Allison) did a great job slowing her down and our defense really picked up. Our defense at the end of the third and the fourth gave us what we needed to survive.”
Emma Grace Snow, S. Allison and Akiela Young provided the offense as South smothered Ellis 8-2 in the fourth.
In the decisive fourth, Young’s basket tied it at 22. When S. Allison scored with three minutes left for a 24-22 lead, Snow said “we could feel it.” Snow’s 3-pointer for a 27-22 cushion was “the final nail in the coffin. Ellis has girls that can shoot the ball and I was nervous until that point.”
Young (10 points) hit double figures for the third time, and Allie Cothren added six. For Ellis, Sydney Ward (10) registered double figures for the third time and Summers had six.
“As always, Allie did the dirty work for us, causing several jump balls and going after any loose ball on the court,” Snow said. “This time, though, all girls helped with this. We boxed out, played D and hustled.”
Ellis 27, N. Rowan 24
Three days before the South game, Ellis squeaked out a home win over North Rowan. Summers (seven points), S. Ward (six) and Kinsley Harbour (five) helped the Jaguars extend their winning streak to three.
Erwin 29, S. Davie 16
The first half at Erwin was a dud (13-2 deficit). South came alive for 12 third-quarter points, but it was too late. South fell to 1-4 before traveling to Ellis.
“It was rough,” Snow said. “We have glimpses of being really good and then we have come-aparts. If we could stop panicking and rushing when we make a mistake, we would really have a chance to make a run in conference.”
While Young played big with 12 points, no one else had more than three.
•••
North Davie (0-5) lost 38-10 to China Grove and 40-10 to Mooresville. Both games were at home.
The scorers against CG were Zariya Oliver (five), Jaynie Patton (three) and Bella Barnette (two). Scoring against Mooresville were Callaway Spillman (five), Patton (three) and Oliver (two).
“We lost but played a heck of a lot better,” coach Austin King said after the Mooresville game. “We just couldn’t get our shots to fall.”
Ellis 27, N. Rowan 24 – Zoe Summers 7, Sydney Ward 6, Kinsley Harbour 5, Annabelle Wright 4, Miranda Sapp 3, Sophia McMurray 2.

S. Davie 27 – Akiela Young 10, Allie Cothren 6, Sakariah Allison 4, Emma Grace Snow 3, Zariah Allison 3, Shania Brown 2.
Ellis 22 – Sydney Ward 10, Zoe Summers 6, Kinsley Harbour 3, Layla Hazlip 2, Annabelle Wright 1.