RONDA — Big baskets from Reece Dobbins and Phoenix Blackburn powered East Wilkes to a Northwest 1A Conference tournament win on Monday night.
The tandem came up clutch for the Cardinals in a 55-49 win against Alleghany to advance to the NW 1A semifinals where it faced top-seeded South Stokes on Wendesday.
Before Monday, the No. 5 Cardinals had not won a conference tournament game dating back the 2005-06 season (according to MaxPreps).
In addition to advancing to the conference tournament semifinals, East Wilkes won its 10th game of the winter — the first time it has had double-digit wins in 21 years (the 2002-03 season).
The Cardinals’ aspirations for a tenth win (after winning nine games last season) were in jeopardy as it trailed by seven early in the fourth quarter.
East Wilkes held a 36-35 lead after three quarters but then went scoreless over the next four minutes and No. 4 Alleghany (10-14) capitalized with an 11-0 run.
Andrew Tharpe, who scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the second half, ended the drought with a jumper and Brady Hall knocked down a deep two to make it a one-possession game (43-40) with 4:30 to play.
The Trojans had a chance to extend their 47-43 lead with 2:21 to play, but they were called for a five-second closely guarded violation.
That’s when Dobbins, who finished with eight points, converted on a put back and then knocked down a 3-pointer to take a 48-47 lead.
After a Mack Lemasters basket gave Alleghany the lead back, Brady Hall looked to respond for the Cardinals (10-13) with a 3-point attempt.
The seniors attempt was off the mark, but Blackburn was there to grab the rebound and convert the putback to take the lead for good with 58 seconds to play.
East Wilkes, which also received 10 points from Owen Combs, closed out the game on a 12-2 run. Hall and Mason Sparks added eight and seven points, respectively.
Lemasters paced the Trojans, who scored the game’s first seven points of the game and 15 of the first 18, with a game-high 20 points and Colby Crouse chipped in 16.
Vikings turn back Elkin
RONDA — North Stokes held off a spirited effort from Elkin for a 66-51 win on Monday night in the first round of the NW 1A tournament at East Wilkes High School.
The seventh-seeded Buckin’ Elks briefly held the lead at 4-3 off a Karson Phillips 3-pointer. The No. 2 Vikings led the majority of the game but were never able to pull away and only led 31-22 at halftime.
Cole Hicks extended the lead to as many as 16 (49-33) on a layup off a steal.
Charlie Pelkey led Elkin (4-20) with 15 points and Lorne Edwards and Phillips added seven apiece.
Amos Stanbery led a trio of Vikings (17-8) in double figures with 15 points and Hicks finished with 13. Will Greer, who eclipsed the 1,000th point plateau with a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter, chipped in 12 points.
North Stokes hosted Mount Airy on Wednesday.
Granite Bears race past Rams
RONDA — Mount Airy bested Starmount, 60-41, in the opening game of the NW 1A Conference tournament on Monday afternoon at East Wilkes High School.
The No. 3 Granite Bears (14-8) held a 27-19 lead at halftime, but proceeded to outscore the Rams by 11 points in the second half.
Jordon Dobson paced the No. 6 Rams (8-16) with 20 points and Colton Allen added seven.
Rylan Venable led Mount Airy’s balanced attack (five players finished with six points or more) with 18 points and Zach Goins added 15.
#5 East Wilkes 55, #4 Alleghany 49
East Wilkes 13 12 11 19 — 55
Alleghany 20 9 6 14 — 49
EAST WILKES: Owen Combs 10; Mason Sparks 7; Brady Hall 8; Phoenix Blackburn 8; Andrew Tharpe 13; Payton Luffman 4; Seth Lambert 0; Grayson Sparks 0; Levi Sadler 0.
ALLEGHANY: Joshua Cerezo 2; Conner Brown 4; Mack Lemasters 20; Colby Crouse 16; Zander Russell 5; John Lemasters 2.
THREE-POINTERS: East Wilkes: Combs 2, Hall 2, Sparks, Dobbins. Alleghany: M. Lemasters 3, Crouse, Russell.
#2 North Stokes 66, #7 Elkin 51
Elkin 8 14 14 15 — 51
North Stokes 14 17 18 17 — 66
ELKIN: Tyler Jenkins 5; Lucas Keller 3; Lorne Edwards 7; Charlie Pelkey 15; Aaron Caudle 4; Connor Ballard 0; D.J. Brown 5; Peyton Luffman 0; Karson Phillips 7; Aidan Ballard 3; Luke McComb 0; Gavin Ward 2.
NORTH STOKES: John Pratt 5; Justin Rakes 8; Paxton Lawson 7; Ammos Stanbery 15; Will Greer 12; Talon Cole 4; Justin Aaron 0; Cole Hicks 13.
THREE-POINTERS: Elkin: Jenkins, Phillips, A. Ballard. North Stokes: Stanbery 2, Rakes, Pratt.
#3 Mount Airy 60, #6 Starmount 41
Starmount 14 5 11 11 — 41
Mount Airy 18 9 19 14 — 60
STARMOUNT: Jordon Dobson 20; Luke Collins 4; Jadon Hurt-Bailey 2; Colton Allen 7; Preston Williams 2; Mason Anthony 5; Sean Gregory 0; Corey Armstrong 1.
MOUNT AIRY: Landon Gallimore 8; Mario Revels 8; Taeshon Martin 6; Zach Goins 15; Ethan Clabo 5; Dylon Joyce 0; Jordain Hill 0; Rylan Venable 18.
THREE-POINTERS: Starmount: Dobson 4, Anthony. Mount Airy: Venable 2, Gallimore.
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