TAYLORSVILLE — Alexander Central needed an overtime period to beat visiting East Mecklenburg 62-60 in the first round of the state 4-A boys' basketball playoffs Monday.

The Cougars found themselves behind 45-37 at the end of the third quarter after being outscored 15-7 in the period. Alexander Central grinded its way back into the game by outscoring East Mecklenburg 14-6 — with the help of five East Mecklenburg turnovers — to tie the game.

Jonas Watts drained a 3-point shot with one minutes left in the overtime to spark the Cougars. Alexander Central made four out of six foul shots to seal the victory.

Alek Ayer led a balanced scoring attack with 16 points. Nathan Birkedal scored 11 points and Cam Gant and Tyler Crouch each added 10. Jaye Hunt led East Mecklenburg with 14 points.

 

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIC 76, SOUTH CALDWELL 41

CHARLOTTE — Olympic, seeded No. 1 in the West Sectional, cruised past South Caldwell in the first round of the playoffs Monday.

Olympic took a 27-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Josh Smith scored 24 points to lead the Trojans in scoring. Austin Dasent scored 16, while both John Brown and Allerik Freeman each scored seven.

Jordan Propst scored 10 points to lead South Caldwell (10-15). Olympic hosts East Gaston, which beat Watauga 58-50 in a first-round game Monday.

 

HICKORY 85, EAST HENDERSON 44

HICKORY — Hickory overwhelmed East Henderson in a first-round matchup Monday night at Dave Craft Gym.

The Red Tornadoes took a 21-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and didn't look back. Hickory forced East Henderson into seven turnovers in its first eight possessions of the game.

Zach Jarrett scored 13 points, while Jalen Byrd and Davonte Fuller each scored 12. Shawn Witherspoon added 11 points. Of the 13 Hickory players who played, 12 scored

Tyler Sexton scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Brandon Dorn scored 12 for East Henderson. Hickory (24-3) hosts Burns on Wednesday.

 

ENKA 68, FRED T. FOARD 56

ENKA — Enka built a 38-25 lead and rolled to a first-round victory over the Tigers Monday night.

Taylor McCurry scored 26 points to lead Enka, which plays at Waynesville Tuscola on Wednesday night. Brice Falgout scored 11 points for Foard (13-11).

 

GASTONIA HUNTER HUSS 70, ST. STEPHENS 56

HICKORY — Hunter Huss outscored St. Stephens 17-10 in the second quarter and 16-11 in the third quarter to pull away from St. Stephens Monday night.

Jordy Anderson scored 18 points and Jeremiah Hunter added 17 for Hunter Huss, which plays at Freedom on Wednesday. Jordan James led the Indians in scoring with 14 points.

 

 

GIRLS' GAMES

TAYLORSVILLE — Alexander Central got 31 points from Madi Suddreth and 14 from Marah Cockrell to beat West Charlotte 90-62 in first-round 4-A state basketball Monday night.

It was Alexander Central's first trip to the state playoffs since 1991.

The Cougars (19-7) broke the game open in the fourth quarter by outscoring West Charlotte 31-15. Alexander Central held a 59-47 lead going into the fourth. Alexander Central scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, and West Charlotte never got closer than 10 points the rest of the game.

Alexander Central made 32-of-43 foul shots, while West Charlotte was 8-of-20.

Brooke Sharpe added 12 points for the Cougars.

Gabrielle McClain scored 17 points and Rachel Porter added 16 for West Charlotte. Marie Ritchie scored nine points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Alexander Central hosts T.C. Roberson Wednesday night.

 

HOUGH 39, SOUTH CALDWELL 33

MOORESVILLE — Hough outscored South Caldwell 27-22 in the second half to slip past the Spartans Monday.

Tori Younce scored 14 points to lead South Caldwell in scoring. Brandi Arey scored 17 points for Hough. South Caldwell finishes its season with a 16-11 record.

 

R.S. SPINDALE 56, HIBRITEN 40

RUTHERFORDTON — R-S Central got 20 points from Shannon Hines and 14 more from Tia Bristol to beat Hibriten Monday night.

Keisha Corpening scored 27 points for the Panthers (5-18). R-S Central (23-2) hosts Crest on Wednesday.

 

FREEDOM 53, FRED T. FOARD 49

MORGANTON — Freedom pulled away from Foard in the second half and beat Foard in the 3-A playoffs.

Brooke Robinson scored 27 points for Foard, which finished 14-12 this season. Chelsea Turner added 14 points for the Tigers, who were outscored 34-25 in the second half.

Freedom (20-7) got 13 points from Imani Williams and 11 from Tyra Kirkpatrick. The Patriots play at Hickory on Wednesday.

 

HICKORY 74, SOUTH POINT 48

HICKORY — The Red Tornadoes used a 23-8 burst in the second quarter to pull away from South Point Monday night.

Danasia Witherspoon scored 23 points and Andrea Miller added 17 for Hickory, which led 44-23 by halftime. The Red Tornadoes, ranked No. 1 in 3-A girls' basketball by http://NCpreps.com , improved to 26-1.

South Point got 15 points from Ashley Mull.