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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Harper Welch was the hero at crunch time, Khia Bohannon came up really big and the North Davie JV girls basketball team won 13-12 at North Rowan in dramatic fashion on Jan. 15.
The Wildcats were down 12-8 before Bohannon hit two free throws with 55 seconds remaining. Moments later, Bohannon attacked the lane, was fouled and hit the first free throw to draw the Wildcats within 12-11. When the second attempt missed, the Mavericks knocked the ball out of bounds and the hosts called a timeout.
Coach Austin King drew up a play. Bohannon inbounded the ball to Welch, who was freed by a Karmen Wilson screen. Then Welch picked an opportune time for her first points of the game, a basket that wound up being the game-winner.
“We ran an inbounds play where my five player came down and set a pick on the block. Harper came right behind (Wilson), caught the ball and had a free shot outside the paint,” King said.
Bohannon led her team with six points. Rhaelyn Stephens had three, while Welch and Wilson had two each.
“Khia was one of the main reasons we won,” King said.
China Grove 15, North 10
One day later at home, the Wildcats fell to 2-2 on the season. Kate Mason and Bohannon had three points apiece. Welch and Wilson had two.
South 27, Southeast 9
South Davie broke into the win column with authority, throttling Southeast at home on Jan. 15.
Kylie Edwards scored seven points as the Tigers rolled up a 19-3 halftime advantage. Kate Welborn had six. Janie Scott and Hallie Head had five each.
Erwin 29, South 13
One day later, however, visiting South could not hang with Erwin. The Eagles led 15-4 at the half and widened the gap in the second half.
Zoe Nichols and Scott had five points apiece.
Ellis 30, N. Rowan 16
Zoey Harpe and Tatum Willard made offensive noise as the Jaguars whipped visiting North Rowan on Jan. 16. It was a much-needed win after Ellis lost the first two games by 23 and 27.
Harpe was the top scorer with 12 points.
“She’s scrappy,” coach Roger Blalock said. “She has grown a lot from last year to this year. She does all of it. She’s my go-to player. She will bring the ball up. She will give it to our point guard, then she will go down low, they will give it to her and she’ll shoot a little floater or a runner or something. Or she will get the rebound.”
The Jaguars built a 14-6 halftime lead and maintained a safe cushion all game. Willard, the team’s No. 1 scorer, drained three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.
“Tatum shot the ball good,” Blalock said. “She is a sixth grader and she’s short, but I call her my banty rooster because she is so gritty and tough. She came to play.”
Katie Lou Cornatzer banged a triple in the first quarter and sixth grader Carsyn Stroud made her middle school debut after missing the first two games with an injury.
“I was really excited for Katie Lou,” Blalock said. “Carsyn fell and broke both her wrists during practice about two months ago, and she started back practicing on Monday. She did so well that I started her. She’s a good defender and she passes the ball good.”
N. Davie 13, N. Rowan 12 – Khia Bohannon 6, Rhaelyn Stephens 3, Harper Welch 2, Karmen Wilson 2.
China Grove 15, N. Davie 10 – Kate Mason 3, Khia Bohannon 3, Harper Welch 2, Karmen Wilson 2.
S. Davie 27, Southeast 9 – Kylie Edwards 7, Kate Welborn 6, Janie Scott 5, Hallie Head 5, Makyla Waller 2, Zoe Nichols 2.
Erwin 29, S. Davie 13 – Zoe Nichols 5, Janie Scott 5, Kate Welborn 2, Stella Brock 1.
Ellis 30, N. Rowan 16 – Zoey Harpe 12, Tatum Willard 11, Katie Lou Cornatzer 3, Blaine McLean 2, Madison Hauser 2.