Utilizing superior quickness and a distinct height advantage, North Rowan rolled into Albemarle on Friday and left town with a lopsided 66-41 Yadkin Valley Conference win.

Both conference setbacks for Albemarle (8-8 overall, 6-2 YVC) have come at the hands of the Cavaliers (13-2 overall, 8-0), who also won on Dec. 7 in Spencer 64-60.

Brandon Christian converted a three-point play at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter to give Albemarle its first and only lead of the game, after which North Rowan closed the quarter on a 14-3 run, capped by a buzzer beating tip-in by Denario Robinson. The late basket created a 10-point Cavalier advantage with eight minutes gone.

Second period play saw the visitors open on a 10-2 run over the first 3:30 before 3-pointers by Antonio Burns and Ali Currie ignited an 11-3 AHS run to close the half.

Trailing 33-24 with two periods to go, Albemarle opened the third quarter by cutting the lead to 33-26 on an offensive rebound and stick-back by Christian, and for a brief moment the momentum seemed to be swinging back to the home squad.

But over the next 6:26, North Rowan used smothering defense and strong board play at both ends to outscore Albemarle 16-3, jumping to a 49-29 advantage with eight minutes remaining.

After scoring seven of the first eight points of the fourth to cut the lead to 14, AHS saw its hopes of a late comeback dashed as North Rowan scored the game’s next 12 points, prompting both coaches to send in their reserves for the final two minutes.

Senior Brevin Goodlett led all scorers with a 24-point outburst, dominating play in the paint at the Cavalier end. Teammate Dayjuwan Cooke was also in double figures, marking 16 points. Freshman guard M.J. Raye had eight points to pace Albemarle.

North Rowan shot 51 percent for the game (25-of-49), scoring 42 in the paint while shooting only four three-point shots all night, making one. Albemarle shot 15-of-46 (33 percent) from the field, converting five of 20 three-point shots and producing only 18 points in the paint.

On Tuesday, Albemarle travels to Asheboro to square off with Uwharrie Charter in a Yadkin Valley Conference match.

NR 16 17 16 17   66
A     6  18 5  12   41

NR – Brevin Goodlett 24, Dayjuwan Cooke 16, Smith 9, Page 6, Goodes 4, White 4, Robinson 2, Davis 1
A – Raye 8, Burns 7, Christian 7, Williams 7, Horne 4, Currie 3, Dennis 2, Baldwin 2, Quarles 1