After suffering a deflating home loss to Alexander Central, Davie’s varsity girls basketball team responded with back-to-back wins over Central Davidson to climb back over .500.

The 52-44 loss to Alexander Central on Dec. 1 was no sin. The Cougars are always good. Still, it was painful to blow a 25-15 halftime lead and watch Davie’s losing streak reach three. Last year Davie beat Alexander to end a six-game skid in the series.

Ashlyn Hampton did everything in her power to prevent defeat. She scored 12 first-quarter points and finished with a career-high 25 while hitting 8-of-14 field goals and blocking three shots. It was the most points in 23 games (Madison Zaferatos had 25 in last year’s road win over North Davidson).

“Hampton was really good,” coach Dave Ruemenapp said. “They were running two and three people at her because she had 12 points in the first quarter. She was kicking out to open shooters and the ball just wasn’t going in.”

Alexander outscored Davie 37-19 in the second half. Davie missed 24 of 30 second-half shots and was burned badly by two players. Abby Cook and MaKayla White combined for 40 points on 15-of-23 shooting. The rest of the Cougars shot 3-of-16.

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When Davie faced Central Davidson last year, the War Eagles had a 63-23 walk in the park. But Central didn’t have Jordan Chavis last year. The guard headed to Missouri has a mesmerizing handle to go with unlimited range. Chavis went to Central Davidson Middle, but she attended a private school the past three years.

Davie overcame Chavis’ game-high 18 points to win 54-48 on Dec. 2.

“I know she’s going to the University of Missouri,” Ruemenapp said. “She’s good. She hit scoop shots and deep, deep 3s.”

Both teams repeatedly responded in an entertaining fourth quarter. Caitlyn Peebles nailed a corner 3-pointer to give Davie a 47-40 lead. Chavis answered with a 3 at the other end. Then Davie’s Emma Slabach popped a 3 with 1:33 to play. Chavis countered with a 3, and it was 50-46 with 1:20 left. Zaferatos dropped the hammer on a drive and pull-up shot.

“It was a gutsy performance,” Ruemenapp said. “I mean we are so banged up and sick. Sha’veh Martinez was doing a great job on (Chavis before suffering a knee injury). She had really contained her in the first half pretty well. It was so sad to see her go down. Patterson Jones is dinged up. Everybody is playing out of position. We contained (Chavis) enough, got enough stops and found enough ways to score.”

Hampton was huge with 16 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 8-of-12 shots. Zaferatos scored a season-high 15 on 6-of-12 shooting. After scoring 13 points in a four-game span, Slabach came up with 12. Martinez scored a season-high six, hitting two 3s, before going down.

“Ashlyn hasn’t been feeling well for two days,” he said. “She went home and got enough rest to be able to play. She gave us everything she had. Emma is still not (100 percent) healthy.”

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Two days later, Davie held off Central Davidson in Mocksville. This one wasn’t easy, either. Hampton delivered a go-ahead, three-point play to lift Davie to a 60-57 win and improve its record to 4-3.

Hampton was the tip of the sword with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Slabach scored 13. Peebles contributed 10 career-high points and nine team-high rebounds. Zaferatos had eight points, five assists and only two turnovers. Jones chipped in six points.

Slabach and Chavis put on a show in the first quarter. Slabach hit two of her three 3s to score 10. Chavis hit two 3s and scored 12 of her 20 as C. Davidson took a 17-15 lead.

It remained tight throughout.

Peebles attempted one 3-pointer all game and she hit it. And, boy, it was a big one, cutting the Spartans’ lead to 57-56 with 50 seconds remaining.

“She has those kind of abilities,” Ruemenapp said. “It just hadn’t come out yet. She started getting rebounds on both ends. I told them we’re going to dump it into Ashlyn. They’re not going to let her shoot and somebody is going to be open. Boom, there she was (at the top of the key). We’re sick, injured and tired and somebody has to step up. And Caitlyn stepped up huge in the second half. I’m hoping that shot is going to be a huge confidence-booster for her.”

Zaferatos’ and Jones’ defense on Chavis was invaluable. Zaferatos denied her the ball on an inbounds at halfcourt, and C. Davidson committed a backcourt violation.

When Jones missed a baseline runner for the lead, Hampton yanked down the rebound, scored and was fouled with 25 seconds to go. She hit the free throw to give Davie a 59-57 lead.

“She has been some kind of warrior,” he said. “She hasn’t been feeling well all week. She kept playing and never complained. She’s just a big-time player. She knows how to compete.”

On C. Davidson’s next possession, Jones got her hand on a pass, a scrum ensued and resulted in a tie-up situation. With 11 seconds left, the arrow belonged to Davie.

“Patterson was guarding the inbounder on all those (key) possessions, and one time she forced a backcourt (violation),” he said. “One time she jumped out and guarded (Chavis) and made sure the ball went in somebody else’s hands.”

Zaferatos hit a big free throw to make it 60-57. After she missed the second attempt, Chavis wound up with the ball and attempted a game-tying 3 right before the buzzer. It missed.

“Patterson picked her up and made her shoot a much harder shot,” he said. “I mean she did some huge things that don’t show up in the stats, but they made a big difference.”

Atkins 55, Davie 38 – Ashlyn Hampton 16, Caitlyn Peebles 9, Madison Zaferatos 6, Sha’veh Martinez 3, Liz Crenshaw 2, Patterson Jones 2.

Alexander Central 52, Davie 44 – Ashlyn Hampton 25, Madison Zaferatos 10, Emma Slabach 7, Patterson Jones 2.

Davie 54, C. Davidson 48 – Ashlyn Hampton 16, Madison Zaferatos 15, Emma Slabach 12, Sha’veh Martinez 6, Caitlyn Peebles 3, Patterson Jones 2.

Davie 60, C. Davidson 57 – Ashlyn Hampton 23, Emma Slabach 13, Caitlyn Peebles 10, Madison Zaferatos 8, Patterson Jones 6.