Bearcats bounce top-seeded Mavs
The fourth-seeded Anson County boys pulled the biggest upset of tournament week with a 75-71 win over top-seeded Marvin Ridge in the nightcap of Wednesday night's Southern Carolina Conference semifinal games, being played at Sun Valley High.
The Bearcats entered the SCC tourney having lost three of their last four games — including a home game to last-place Parkwood on Senior Night and a 31-point thumping at conference co-champ Sun Valley on Feb. 12.
But the Bearcats have bounced back, edging Porter Ridge (83-81) in the first round and now knocking off the Mavericks (14-9 record) in the semifinals.
Senior point guard Bunyon Tyson had 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks to lead the Bearcats, and senior center Stephen Minter had 15 points and 12 boards.
Marvin Ridge's John Emezie had 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Taylor Neal scored 18 points, Logan Jackson 14 and David Kelcy 10.
Anson moves on to Friday's 7:30 p.m. championship game at Sun Valley against the winner of tonight's matchup between the Spartans and third-seeded Weddington Warriors.
PR girls 67, Anson 31
INDIAN TRAIL — It usually takes depth to win a tournament, and Porter Ridge's girls have it.
The Pirates, who went undefeated in the Southern Carolina Conference in the regular season, reached Friday's championship game by hammering Anson County 67-31 on Wednesday.
Porter Ridge is on a 15-game winning streak and improved to 21-3 — thanks in large part to 29 points from the reserves.
Senior forward Jade Jones led the bench scoring with 13 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Hannah Smith contributed six points and six rebounds off the bench and Victoria Freeman also scored six.
"The points from the bench were huge," said Porter Ridge coach Ina Thompson. "That helped us create the gap and kind of spearheaded us ..."
Four-year starters Jasmine Huntley and Jada Huntley also made their mark.
Jasmine had 13 points, seven steals and four assists and Jada added 12 points and seven boards.
The Pirates led 27-10 at halftime and 46-18 after three quarters.
Porter Ridge plays in the SCC title game at Sun Valley High on Friday starting at 6 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's Parkwood-Weddington game.
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.