East Surry's Kelsey Long, right, lines up a 3-pointer last week against North Stokes. Long had 28 points in a win over East Wilkes Monday.
In what has become an intense rivalry over the past several years, the East Surry-East Wilkes matchup can get a little heated. But Long was there to cool things off early, dropping 24 of East Surry’s 31 first half points, including a 15-point first quarter capped off by three 3-point baskets.
While East Wilkes adjusted and held last season’s Northwest 1A player of the year to just four second half points, it was to no avail, as the Cardinals pulled out to a 19-point lead entering the fourth quarter off contributions from a number of players. For the game, nine players scored for East Surry while just five found the basket for East Wilkes.
East Surry coach Keith Gunter said when Long becomes the focus of the other team’s defense, it is vital the rest of the Cardinals pick up the slack.
“They tried to double her and she just distributed the ball and had two in that third quarter while six other girls had 16 points,” Gunter said. “It has to happen because we know people are going to do it (double Long). That’s what we talked about a lot. Those girls have to step up, and we had girls stepping up against North Stokes with Merrit and Fulp inside. Tonight Kelsey put them on her back and carried them a little bit early and in the second half they stepped up.”
Long was one steal shy of a double-double with nine on the game, while freshman Keri Fulp pulled down 13 rebounds.
East Surry shot just six free throws in the contest.
The Cardinals improved to 2-0 overall and will travel to North Surry today.
East Surry 55,
East Wilkes 39
East Surry — 18 13 18 6
East Wilkes — 12 9 9 9
East Surry — Merrit 6, Nichols 4, Bryant 4, Long 28, Fulp 2, Thompson 2, Smith 2, Hole 3, Marshall 4
East Wilkes — E. Royal 8, Adams 11, Greer 6, L. Royal 7, Grit 7'
Cardinal boys run away from East Wilkes
RONDA — Three players scored in double figures and East Surry continued to find it’s footing Monday night against East Wilkes, running away with the 60-39 win.
Logan Hoosier led East Surry with 11 points and was closely followed by Andrew Hunter and Blake Gilley with 10 points each. Hunter Diamont added nine, Seth Covington eight and Marcus Lawson six.
East Surry coach Jason Anderson said he was pleased with his team’s balanced scoring attack.
“That’s what we want,” he said. “We got the ball in transition and that’s what happens, everybody gets to touch the ball some. We had a slow third quarter, turned the ball over a few times but it was just the pace of the game. Overall we did a good job of taking care of the ball and finishing shots when we had them.”
After a sloppy win over North Stokes last week Anderson said he saw his team continue to get it’s rhythm.
“We are still knocking some of the rust off right now and we are still not where we need to be but it’s an improvement,” he said. “As long as we are doing that, that’s all you can ask for as a head coach.”
The Cardinals will take on North Surry today on the road.
East Surry 60, East Wilkes 39
East Surry — 16 15 13 16 — 60
East Wilkes — 7 7 13 12 — 39
East Surry — Logan Hoosier 11, Andrew Hunter 10, Blake Gilley 10, Diamont 9, S. Covington 8, Lawson 6, Banks 2, Fahrner 4
East Wilkes — Micah Bryan 15, Cornett 4, Shoupe 4, Cass 4, Billings 4, Jackson 3, Riddle 3, Gregory 2
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