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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

The Davie varsity boys basketball team was amazing in the first half against first-place West Forsyth on Feb. 4. It’s a bummer that a return-to-Earth fizzle resulted in another tough loss.
The War Eagles were saddled with a four-game losing streak heading into Senior Night against Parkland, and things went from bad to worse with the Mustangs up by three at halftime.
Davie, though, unleashed two weeks’ worth of frustration in the second half, scoring 54 points and winning by 24.
West 61, Davie 53
Freshman Noah Dulin made plays that popped you out of your seat, and Davie torched the visiting Titans in the first half, 37-24. In his first varsity start, Dulin banged two 3-pointers in the opening seconds, blocked two shots in one defensive possession and scored 11 first-half points to send his team to the 13-point advantage.
“I felt like in the first half Noah was the best player on the court,” coach Josh Pittman said. “They couldn’t do anything with him. He was in the passing lane. He was deflecting shots. He was all over the place, and I felt like he gave us an energy boost. The only way they could slow him down in the second half was they started grabbing him and holding him.”
Davie had itself to blame for not having an even larger lead at the break.
“We missed seven free throws in the first half,” Pittman said. “We played one of our best halves of the season, but we let them off the hook with the free throws.”
Davie was not so impressive in the second half. The Titans roared to a 44-41 lead by the end of the third, and things snowballed in the fourth as West outscored Davie 37-16 in the final 16 minutes.
“They came out and hit us in the mouth,” said Pittman, who seethed at the 19-8 foul count in West’s favor. “I just don’t get it. I don’t get what’s the big difference with the way we’re playing and the way they’re playing, especially if we’re playing zone defense and they’re picking up man fullcourt. Honestly, we would have had to pull off a miracle to win that game.”
While Dulin settled for 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks, Elliott Erlandsson posted team highs in points (14) and rebounds (nine). Bryson Mickey scrapped for nine points and five assists. The other freshman, Draeton Nance, got serious minutes at point guard.
“Elliott continued to play well,” Pittman said. “Bryson played well, dealing with all the pressure and the holding. He’s got scratches on his back and marks on his face. Draeton showed me he can run point guard on this level. Everything I tell him to do, he absorbs it like a sponge.”
Davie’s chances at pulling off the upset were hampered by Jackson Powers’ toe injury. He only attempted four shots and finished with four points.
“Jackson really couldn’t move,” Pittman said. “That kid is so brave. I know he was in pain because I know that injury. That’s a painful injury.”
West improved to 19-2 overall and 10-1 in the CPC.
Davie 76, Parkland 52
At halftime of Senior Night on Feb. 7, the War Eagles were officially reeling. Not only were they mired in the longest losing streak in eight years (they lost four straight in 2016-17), they were trailing 25-22 to a team they whipped by 20 on Jan. 9.
Mickey threw a couple of fast break alley oops to Erlandsson, who dunked both to draw cheers from the home crowd, but those were among the few highlights in the opening half.
“The energy was nice and then we started missing shots and our defense went away with our offense,” Pittman said. “It just seemed to me like we were flat. I want to see change. I want to see energy. I want to see defense first.”
After going 2 of 17 from 3-point range in the first half, the War Eagles were wildly impressive in the second. Mickey was flaming hot from deep. Mickey, Erlandsson, Dulin, Driver and Nance played the bulk of the second half, and the result was a 54-27 Davie demolition that saw it drill 10 of 18 3s.
“That group battled, that group rebounded and most importantly that group defended,” Pittman said. “It was time to make a change and go with the gut.”
Mickey finished with 15 points and seven assists, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers.
“When you have energy and you’re playing with heart and emotion, shots start going in,” Pittman said. “They start falling because you’re locked in and you’re engaged.”
The freshmen brothers validated their increased minutes, combing for 27 points. Dulin scored 14 on 6-of-9 shooting and added four steals and three assists. Nance hit 5 of 9 shots, including three triples, to score 13. Erlandsson continued to flourish with 12 points, 5-of-8 field goals and nine boards. Davie’s fifth double-figure scorer was Ethan Driver, who collected 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.
“I don’t remember the last time we had a 31-point quarter,” Pittman said after Davie outscored Parkland 31-14 in the fourth. “Elliot did a heck of a job. He’s the leading scorer now and closing in on being the leading rebounder. That kid has put on a heck of a conference run. He’s around 11 points and seven rebounds in conference games. I’m proud of him.”
Notes: Davie had four dunks, including three by Erlandsson and a one-handed flush by Dulin. “Noah’s got bounce,” Pittman said. “He’s got the ability to be one of the best basketball players that Davie County has ever seen.” … Powers did not play against Parkland as he rested his injury. … While Davie improved to 14-7, Parkland fell to 6-15. … Davie is fourth in the CPC at 7-5, trailing West Forsyth (11-1), Tabor (10-2) and East Forsyth (9-3). … It was Senior Night for Powers, Mickey, Adam Brown, Erlandsson, Landon King, Cam Owens and Asher Tolbert.
W. Forsyth 61, Davie 53 – Elliott Erlandsson 14, Noah Dulin 11, Bryson Mickey 9, Cam Owens 4, Jackson Powers 4, Draeton Nance 3, Asher Tolbert 2, Ethan Driver 2, Isaac Swisher 2, Landon King 2.
Davie 76, Parkland 52 – Bryson Mickey 15, Noah Dulin 14, Draeton Nance 13, Elliott Erlandsson 12, Ethan Driver 10, Asher Tolbert 4, Ben Reid 3, Cam Owens 3, Noah Tysinger 2.