Rivals reach RRC finals

Monroe High's girls jumped on Piedmont early and cruised to a 72-59 victory in the semifinals of the Rocky River Conference tournament on Wednesday.
The top-seeded Redhawks improved to 23-1 on the season while the fifth-seeded Panthers fell to 11-14.
Junior guard Asha Jordan, who finished with a game-high 27 points, scored 16 in the first half to help Monroe to a 42-14 lead at the half.
Jordan, who also had 10 rebounds and four assists, connected on all four of her 3-pointers in the opening half.
Zasha Barrett, a sophomore forward, finished with a career-high 25 rebounds to go along with 16 points for the Redhawks — who are riding a Union County-best 17-game winning streak..
Senior guard Daya Jordan had another impressive outing with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds for MHS.
Piedmont was led by junior guard Jessica Prince, who scored a team-high 17.
The Panthers outscored the Redhawks 24-9 in the fourth quarter but never got closer than 10.
Jackie Price, a sophomore forward, added 12 points for the Panthers and junior guard Abbey Mills contributed 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.

FH girls 41, Cuthbertson 38
MONROE — Forest Hills held off Cuthbertson 41-38 in the semifinals of the RRC tournament at Monroe High on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers trailed by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but closed the gap in the final three minutes. They had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Morgan Carlson's 3-pointer missed from the left wing and FH junior guard Tonjai Everett rebounded the ball and ran out the clock.
Forest Hills, the No. 3 seed, improved to 18-7 on the year while the second-seeded Cavaliers fell to 16-10 overall. Forest Hills will play top-seeded Monroe in the championship on Friday starting at 6 p.m.
Forest Hills is in the tournament finals for the second straight season. The Jackets lost to North Stanly in last year's title game and then lost to the Comets again in the second round of the playoffs.
Everett finished with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals to lead the Jackets back into the title game.
Sophomore forward Onyx Burns added 11 rebounds and 10 points for FH, which also got nine points from junior guard Shay Bivens.
Deja Burk, a junior forward, paced Cuthbertson with 12 points and nine rebounds and Carlson added 14 rebounds, eight points and six blocks.
Kathleen Cashman contributed 10 points off the bench for CHS.
The Cavs will host a first-round playoff game on Monday with their opponent yet to be determined.

Area conference tournaments
Rocky River Conference
(at Monroe High)

  

Monday’s results
Girls first round

No. 5 Piedmont 60, No. 4 North Stanly 46

No. 3 Forest Hills 45, No. 6 Central Academy 42

No. 1 Monroe 60, No. 8 Union Academy 17

No. 2 Cuthbertson 47, No. 7 West Stanly 46

 
Tuesday’s results

Boys first round

No. 4 Forest Hills 63, No. 5 West Stanly 62

No. 3 Monroe 69, No. 6 Central Academy 40

No. 1 Cuthbertson 98, No. 8 Union Academy 33

No. 2 Piedmont 76, No. 7 North Stanly 61

  
Wednesday

 

Girls semifinals

Monroe 72, Piedmont 59

Forest Hills 41, Cuthbertson 38

 
Thursday

Boys semifinals

Cuthbertson vs. Forest Hills, 6 p.m.

Piedmont vs. Monroe, 7:30 p.m.

  
Friday

 

Girls championship

Forest Hills at Monroe, 6 p.m.

Boys championship, 7:30 p.m.

  
Southern Carolina Conference

Monday’s results

 

First round (at higher seed)

 

Girls

No. 3 Parkwood 72, No. 6 Sun Valley 34

No. 4 Anson County 55, No. 5 Marvin Ridge 41

  
Boys

No. 3 Weddington 50, No. 6 Parkwood 47

No. 4 Anson County 83, No. 5 Porter Ridge 81

  
Wednesday

 

Semifinals (at Sun Valley High)

No. 1 Porter Ridge girls 67, Anson 31

No. 4 Anson boys 75, No. 1 Marvin Ridge 71

Thursday

Semifinals (at Sun Valley)

No. 2 Weddington girls vs. Parkwood, 6 p.m.

No. 2 Sun Valley boys vs. WHS, 7:30 p.m.

  
Friday

Girls championship

Porter Ridge vs. WHS-Parkwood winner, 6 p.m.

Boys championship

Anson County vs. Sun Valley-WHS winner, 7:30 p.m.