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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Lindsey Adams gave her Davie girls basketball team a vicious challenge by scheduling a nonconference game with Northern Guilford.
The Nighthawks, a prolific program that went 354-21 from 2009-10 through 2023-24 with 14 straight 20-win seasons (not counting the abbreviated covid year), blasted Davie in the first round of the playoffs the past two years, winning by 27 each time.
But Davie made a respectable showing in a 71-53 home loss on Dec. 4.
“I scheduled a team like that because we have the talent and we’re going to get there,” Adams said. “(Their coach) said he didn’t want to play me again because he’s graduating everybody and we’re not.”
When Emmie Burris scored four straight points, Davie was within 15-13 in the first quarter. But N. Guilford hit seven of its next eight shots to put Davie in a 29-13 hole. N. Guilford knocked down seven 3-pointers on its way to a 40-25 halftime advantage.
The War Eagles trailed by as many as 24, but they refused to quit. Twice they pulled within 16 at 60-44 and 63-47.
“We executed the game plan,” Adams said. “We shut down their second- and third-leading scorers. (Cara Trippett and Malena DeLisa) average 17 and 16 points a game, and we kept them to three each.”
The 3-0 Nighthawks, who won their first two games by 20 and 23, kept a safe lead all night because they have an incredible guard named Leena McField. She scored 39 points while knocking in seven triples. It was just another day at the office for a kid who came in averaing 28. Oh, and McField is a sophomore.
“We don’t have anybody who can guard 3 (McField),” Adams said. “She’s really, really good. She’ll go Power 5.”
While N. Guilford lit it up with 13-of-27 shooting from 3-point range, Davie struggled, missing 12 of 14 3-point tries.
“We’ve got to hit shots,” Adams said. “You can’t play a really, really good team like that and get outshot like that on the 3-point line. We’ve got to get in the gym and get shots up. You’re not going to get all the individual work you need in a team practice.
“We’re still young. We forget how young they are just because we know how much potential they have.”
Avarie Martin had 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Makenzie Gentry had 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Gracie Shore had nine points, five assists and four steals. Vivian Vaughters had nine points. And Burris had seven points and seven rebounds.
Davie’s most efficient shooters were Gentry, who made 5 of 9, and Shore, who shot 4 for 7.
Davie 68, C. Davidson 23
Davie sizzled in all aspects of the game as it smothered visiting Central Davidson on Dec. 6. It was a much different story from the matchup in Lexington on Nov. 29, when Davie led by three at the end of the third quarter before winning 49-40.
“I think it’s the first game all year where it’s all clicked,” Adams said. “We cleaned up the defense; that’s why it was a nine-point game over there. We were super undisciplined, so we adjusted our press a little bit for their press-breaker.”
The War Eagles (3-2) sped to an 18-7 first-quarter lead, and the rout was on. Four players had between nine and 15 points, led by Martin, who scored a season-high 15 while adding three assists and two blocked shots. She’s been in double figures in each game.
Bailey Aderhold had a season-high 12 by making 5 of 8 field goals. She also had five steals. Shore had a season-high 10 along with four rebounds and three assists. She shot 3 of 5 with a pair of 3s. Gentry hit 4 of 5 shots on the way to nine points and three assists. In the N. Guilford/C. Davidson games, Gentry made 9 of 14 field goals.
“It was a transition (for Shore) with the physicality of a varsity game,” Adams said. “There was pressure from being the point guard and being a freshman, but each game she is looking more confident and playing the way we knew she’s capable of. In practice, she gets in trouble if she doesn’t shoot.
“Makenzie is a huge spark for us. A lot of teams don’t see her coming.”
The War Eagles got six points and five assists from Burris and five points and five rebounds from Vaughters. Their offensive brilliance saw them hit 26 of 51 field goals, including 7 of 13 3s. By contrast, the Spartans (0-4) shot 25 percent (10 of 39).
“When all of them are clicking like that, I don’t think there’s a team that can guard us,” Adams said.
N. Guilford 71, Davie 53 – Avarie Martin 13, Makenzie Gentry 11, Gracie Shore 9, Vivian Vaughters 9, Emmie Burris 7, Bailey Aderhold 3, Londyn McDowell 1.
Davie 68, C. Davidson 23 – Avarie Martin 15, Bailey Aderhold 12, Gracie Shore 10, Makenzie Gentry 9, Emmie Burris 6, Vivian Vaughters 5, Madison Daugherty 5, Olivia Smith 2, Lexi Mickey 2, Londyn McDowell 2.