Jeff Linville | The News
North Surry tips off the winter basketball season against East Wilkes Thursday night. The Greyhounds scrimmaged the Cardinals for both JV and varsity boys teams.
Jeff Linville | The News
Leading returning scorer Grayson Vernon hits a turnaround jumper while getting hit on the forearm for three points. He also hit a pair of three-pointers in the opening two minutes to jump-start the offense.
North Surry boys basketball team dominated Thursday night against East Wilkes High School in a scrimmage match played at home, and Greyhound Grayson Vernon led the scoring effort with 20 points.
The Hounds scored a total of 74 points Thursday against the Cardinals, who had 26 points for the night.
The Hounds and Cardinals played four 12-minute quarters alternating for the sake of time with the JV teams.
In the scrimmage match, a “running clock” format was used until the last eight minutes of the game. Then, a “regular gameplay clock” was used.
In the opening minutes of the first quarter, Vernon hit two three-pointers in row for the Hounds giving the them a 6-4 lead over the Cardinals. At around seven minutes, Nathan Fletcher sank two points making the score 8-4. Around the seven-minute mark, Cardinal Jathan Sales hit a three-pointer leaving the Hounds up by one point. The Cardinals then took the lead after Ezekiel Shepherd scored two.
The Cardinals called a time out.
With around four minutes to go, Vernon seized the moment by sinking two and gave the Hounds the lead 12-11. Klay Newsome then sealed up the quarter with a three-pointer with the score ending 15-14.
The Hounds pounded for an early lead in the second quarter with Vernon setting the pace again with two points just after the quarter began. Tanner Hodgen then pressed hard against the Cardinal offense with a Hound steal, then shortly thereafter Hodgen scored three points making the score 5-2.
Klay Newsome, with some crafty ball handling drove up the court. Austin Handy then sank a basket extending the lead 7-2. Jacob Snow then cooled down a cold Cardinal offense even more by playing tough defense long enough to get his first scoring opportunity. He drove in for a hard layup making the score 9-2. Nick Wilson decided to follow suit and drove into the post scoring an aggressive inside shot against the Cards. He added two more extending a nine-point lead during a Hound pounding against the East Wilkes offense. The offensive run by the Hounds gave them a score of 11-2.
Adding finesse to the quarter for the Hounds, Austin France then hit two three-pointers in a row scoring with a soft touch off the fingertips giving the Cards a dominating 17-2 lead.
Marcus Sawyers then, after assisting some earlier, took the time to drive in two baskets before the half and Snow added two more to the score. The second quarter ended with a score of 25-2.
During the third quarter, the Hounds showed an incredible effort as a team. Each player contributed in a spread out defensive and offensive effort, set up the shot and drove down the court offensively. Snow hit a three-pointer in the third quarter. The score was 17-7.
Highlights of the fourth quarter included two three-pointers by Vernon and one by France. The final fourth quarter score was 17-3.
Head Coach Travis Gammons said about Thursday’s dominating win in the scrimmage, “I liked our energy, I was pleased with how our guys came off the bench and played.” Each contributed and that ended up being a lot of contribution overall.”
The total scores for last night’s scrimmage match were: Klay Newsome, five points; Marcus Sawyers, eight points; Jacob Snow seven points; Tanner Hodgen three points; Austin France 11 points; Nathan Fletcher four points; Ryan March four points; Grayson Vernon 20 points; and Nick Wilson six points.
The Hounds’ regular season opener is on Tuesday at Elkin.
Reach Tanya Chilton at tchilton@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1921.
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