Hawks, Branham post career high games

Published 10:09 am Thursday, December 5, 2019

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Robert Jordan and Coleman Lawhon have been constants in all three games for South Davie’s boys basketball team. But the reason it toppled High Point Christian Academy on the road on Nov. 25 was it got career-high performances from other sources – Cathell Hawks and Eli Branham.

Four eighth graders did all the scoring in a 52-43 win for the Tigers (2-1). Hawks delivered an astonishing 17 points. He scored a total of three points in 14 games last year as a seventh grader. After scoring six over the first two games this season, he found himself in a groove against the Cougars. He scored eight of South’s 16 points in the first quarter, which ended with South ahead by two. He hit three 3-pointers for the game.

“He can shoot it,” coach Germain Mayfield said. “He’s just streaky. If he makes one, he might make 10. He’s been taking those same shots all year. He just wasn’t making them (in the first two games).”

The Tigers led by five at halftime and by seven at the end of the third. They also got a major boost from Branham, who had 11 points as a seventh grader and 12 over the first two games of this season. He turned in 10 points, two over his previous South career high.

“Getting those (27) points from Cathell and Eli was the difference in the game,” Mayfield said. “It was fun to watch. They showed up.”

All four scorers hit double figures, with Jordan putting up 14 and Coleman 11. Both are averaging 17-plus for the season.

“Our defense was ridiculous,” he said. “They may have gotten two wide-open 3s the whole game. Everything else was contested.”

ND Loses

Without Ty Miller operating in the paint, North Davie was no match for visiting Central Davidson on Nov. 25.

Miller, who averaged 16 points over the first two games and had 19 points and 10 rebounds against HP Christian Academy, sat out with an injury and North was shellacked 57-37.

“Central Davidson played aggressive man-to-man defense that gave us fits early in the first quarter,” coach Trevor Gooch said. “We finally settled down and tried to scratch back into the game. I’m proud of our team for not quitting and continuing to play hard while behind.”

The Wildcats (1-2) fell behind 25-10 in the first quarter. The deficit was 37-16 at halftime and 48-26 after the third.

Ian Koontz acquitted himself extremely well with 21 career-high points. It was more than he scored in his entire seventh-grade season. Landon King had 10, Brady Marshall four and Cameron Owens two.

“Ian had a great game in the post,” Gooch said. “He really stepped up his game while Ty missed the game due to an injured toe.”