By Jesse Deal, for the SNAP

The South Stanly varsity hoops squad used a barrage of points in the paint to pave the way to a 63-49 road victory over Gray Stone Day Friday.

The Knights (1-6, 0-2) never could quite overcome that early surge of scoring by the Bulls (3-3, 2-1), who easily found their way to the basket in a continued sequence of layups.

“It was a sloppy ball game and hard to really get into a rhythm,” South Stanly head coach Sean Whitley said. “I thought the Gray Stone kids played hard and scrappy. We’re walking out with a win but that’s about all we’re taking from it.”

South led by 12 after halftime and it remained a 12-point game after three quarters.

“We’ve got to take care of the basketball better and the defensive intensity needs to be better,” Whitley said. “We played hard in spurts and when we learn to put that together for 32 minutes, we’ll be a good ball team.”

Junior guard Justin Gaddy notched a team-high 19 points and provided some important momentum-shifting 3-pointers throughout the game. Fellow junior Jaquez Cooke picked up 15 of his own, with the majority of them coming in the interior.

Senior Jacorian Legrand, who finished with 12 points, provided a nine-point spark in the second half that kept the Knights from completing their multiple comeback attempts.

For Gray Stone, scoring was a balanced effort between Brennan Bailey (15 points), Alex McDow (12), Marshall Overcash (8) and Chase Viscomi (6).

The Knights hit nine of 19 from the charity stripe while the Bulls went six for 14.

Despite the loss, Gray Stone completed its first game in the newly-named H. Earl “Bud” Singletary, Jr, Gymnasium. The gym was dedicated to the late Singletary prior to the Friday matchups. The Knights will look to right the ship as they challenge Albemarle at home on Jan. 4.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will return home to face Uwharrie Charter Academy on Tuesday.

BOX SCORE

SS 14 19 14 16 63
GS 9 12 14 14 49

SS – Justin Gaddy 19, Jaquez Cooke 15, Jacorian Legrand 12, Lowder 8, Tarlton 5,
Colson 4.

GS – Brennan Bailey 15, Alex McDow 12, Overcash 8, Viscomi 6, Tuzenew 5, Whitesell 3.