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Davie’s JV boys basketball team was outscored by three in a lamentable first half against visiting East Surry on Jan. 3. Davie outscored the Cardinals (ready?) by 19 in the third quarter and won convincingly, 57-45.

East fell to 1-2. It hasn’t played many games because its football team went all the way in the 1A playoffs. Although Davie improved to 8-1, its eighth consecutive win came with angst. It trailed at halftime for the first time since the Nov. 19 season opener, a loss at West Wilkes.

“We fall into a trap where we think we’re really good and we don’t have to show up,” coach Ty Woodring said. “We thought all we had to do was put on the jersey. So far we haven’t been tested a whole lot, but that was a really good team. I think they’re one of the better teams we’ve played.”

Davie ripped the visitors apart with a 26-7 run in the third. The onslaught featured points from six different War Eagles: Hayden Williams, Blake Walser, Jake Powers, Ryan Walton, JT Bumgarner and Owen Byers.

Davie hit five 3-pointers for the game; four of them came in the brilliant third. Williams hit two, while Powers and Bumgarner connected once each from long range.

“I think the massive turning point was our defensive intensity picked up,” Woodring said. “We started caring about playing on the defensive side in the second half, and that sparked our offense.”

Walser was a massive reason for Woodring’s 35th win in 48 tries across three seasons. He matched his season high with 20 points. With a 13.1 average, he’s second on the club to Powers (14.3).

“Blake continues to play phenomenal,” he said. “But I think Blake can play way better than he has. I think he’s got another gear that he can reach, and I think he will reach it soon.”

Byers had nine. Powers and Williams had six each. Walton and Andrew Shuler had four. Bumgarner and Luke McCormick had three. Burke Rosenbaum had two.