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Jacob Self played out of his mind, and visiting North Davie toppled South Davie 45-31 in a JV boys basketball game on Feb. 3.
This was a back-and-forth battle for three quarters. Self exploded for 10 points in the first quarter, but South’s Khari McClelland countered with six to keep the Tigers within 14-11. It was 22-22 at halftime, and South held a slim 28-27 lead going into the fourth.
Self and the Wildcats took the game by the throat in the fourth, scoring 18 points and winning comfortably. Self, who came in averaging six points with a season high of eight, scored nine of his 24 in the final six minutes. He went 6 for 6 from the line in the decisive stretch. Justin Green helped North pull away by scoring six of his 10 in the final period.
“Before the game, Jacob came to coach (Brandon) Greene and I and talked about his mindset and how he was just focusing on playing with confidence – and he did just that,” North coach Caleb Davis said. “He started hot in the first quarter and stayed locked in and settled the entire game.”
Jackson Powell chipped in seven for North. The Tigers had a chance to win because Preston Wilson (15) and McClelland (11) combined for 26.
“A big shoutout to our guards (Luke McCraw, Cass Davis, Landon McCann and Jayden Wall) who had a tall order of covering the perimeter and defending South’s strong 3-point game,” Davis said.
Mooresville 40, North 17
North was missing Powell and McCann and was simply outclassed at Mooresville on Feb. 5. The Red Imps sprinted to leads of 19-2 and 33-11 in the first half.
“We were down two key contributors, and they came storming out of the gates and took a commanding first-quarter lead,” Davis said.
Self and Green paced North (4-6) with seven and four points, respectively.
“Bright spots were the performance of our younger players who got some significant minutes and were able to make an impact,” Davis said.
Ellis 34, South 28
The Tigers seem to be jinxed. They led North going into the fourth, and they were in the same position against Ellis, only to fade again.
Thanks to Hunter Hough’s seven points, Ellis had an 11-9 advantage after the first. It was 16-16 at the half, and South led 22-21 at the end of the third.
The Jaguars, though, outscored South 13-6 in the fourth and avenged a 44-40 overtime loss on Jan. 22. Hough and Graham Wood led the way with 11 points each, and Will Hileman had eight. South (3-6) got eight points from Jordan Nance and six apiece from Wilson, Colten Cothren and Braylen Simms.
China Grove 53, Ellis 45
Hough delivered double figures for the fifth time, but Ellis fell short at home on Feb. 6.
The Red Devils put Ellis in a 14-7 hole in the first, but Wood, Bryce McCray and Hough brought the Jags back in the second as the first half ended 22-22. Ellis fell behind 36-32 by the end of the third despite two triples from Hough. Hileman went crazy in the fourth, but China Grove came away with the win to drop Ellis to 4-5.
Hough finished with 15. Hileman scored 11 of his 13 in the final six minutes, and Wood had eight.
North Davie 45 – Jacob Self 24, Justin Green 10, Jackson Powell 7, Landon McCann 3, Luke McCraw 1.
South Davie 31 – Preston Wilson 15, Khari McClelland 11, Colten Cothren 2, AJ Montgomery 2, Braylen Simms 1.
Mooresville 40, N. Davie 17 – Jacob Self 7, Justin Green 4, Jaxson Wall 3, Evan hempstead 2, Cass Davis 1.
Ellis 34 – Hunter Hough 11, Graham Wood 11, Will Hileman 8, Chance McClean 2, Bryce McCray 2.
S. Davie 28 – Jordan Nance 8, Preston Wilson 6, Colten Cothren 6, Braylen Simms 6, Zion Robinson 2.

China Grove 53, Ellis 45 – Hunter Hough 15, Will Hileman 13, Graham Wood 8, Bryce McCray 5, Jackson Howard 2, Brody Daggett 2.