South boys erase 15-point deficit for win at Ellis
Published 9:13 am Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record
The South Davie boys basketball team, which trailed by 15 at halftime, pulled off a Houdini-like escape at Ellis on Jan. 22 with a 44-40 win in overtime.
In the first half, Hunter Hough hit three 3-pointers, Graham Wood scored seven and Bryce McCray added two buckets as Ellis raced out to a 26-11 lead.
But South came roaring back, a comeback that was a testament to Preston Wilson and Khari McClelland. Wilson, who came in averaging 4.3 points, surpassed his season high (six) in the third quarter alone, when he scored eight to cut South’s deficit to 28-26. The sixth grader went on to score 16 of his game-high 18 in the second half, including three triples. McClelland’s heroics included nine of his 10 in the second half.
“Preston took over,” South coach Germain Mayfield said. “We didn’t have two (Jordan Nance and Kylan Dulin) because of a funeral. So somebody had to step up.”
South missed an open look from close range at the end of regulation, and it was 38-38 going into OT. In the extra session, Wilson hit 3 of 4 free throws and Colten Cothren saved his only two points for a huge moment as South improved to 2-3.
Oh, and let’s not forget South doesn’t survive without Braylen Simms’ four treys and 14 points.
“Colten hit the shot that probably won the game,” Mayfield said. “He got an offensive rebound and put it in. I told him I was giving him an opportunity today. I started him and he played well.”
The Jaguars, who dropped to 1-3 with their third straight loss, were paced by Wood’s 13 points. Hough had nine and Will Hileman eight.
Moor 31, South 28
South Davie, though, came up short at Mooresville on Jan. 23.
Wilson, who pushed his average from 4.3 to 8.8 in a span of two games, led again with 13 points. Simms was next with six.
Ellis 39, Burke 16
Wood was red hot in the first quarter and Ellis annihilated Selma Burke on the road on Jan. 23.
Wood’s eight early points staked Ellis to a 14-3 lead, and it was all but over at halftime, 26-6. Wood finished with 12 – his third game with at least that many – as Ellis snapped a three-game losing streak. Hough and McCray had nine and six, respectively.
S. Davie 44 – Preston Wilson 18, Braylen Simms 14, Khari McClelland 10, Colten Cothren 2.
Ellis 40 – Graham Wood 13, Hunter Hough 9, Will Hileman 8, Brody Daggett 6, Bryce McCray 4.
Mooresville 31, S. Davie 28 – Preston Wilson 13, Braylen Simms 6, Khari McClelland 4, Jordan Nance 3, Zion Robinson 2.
Ellis 39, Selma Burke 16 – Graham Wood 12, Hunter Hough 9, Bryce McCray 6, Tanner Taylor 4, Will Hileman 2, Jackson Howard 2, Mason Walker 2, Levin Ward 2.