Alexander Central Basketball Sweeps Saturday Matinee Over McDowell

Varsity Women

Alexander Central 60 McDowell 53

Taylorsville: The Lady Cougars won a tense, physical tussle and handed the visitors from Marion their first conference loss of the season. The win moves ACHS into a tie (in loss column) for the top-spot in the Northwestern Conference.

McDowell held a 12-9 lead after the opening quarter. The game was hotly-contested but perhaps the defining moment came in the second period. In a scramble for a lose ball near mid-court, emotions peaked. When the bodies were separated, and tempers cooled, both teams were hit with a pair of technical fouls. From that point, the Lady Titans went cold for rest of the half. AC led 29-24 at the break and never surrendered the advantage.

Ava Head led Alexander Central with 17 points including 5 three-point baskets. Meredith Wike struggled from the field but made a series of clutch free-throws in the final period as McDowell was forced to foul. She finished with 15 point and 14 rebounds. Malayah Adams added 13 for the home team. Khole Joyner paced McDowell (16-5, 6-1) with 18. AC improves to 17-2 and 5-1.

Varsity Men

Alexander Central 78 McDowell 68

The Cougars pulled away from the Titans after after the teams were knotted at 35 in the first-half. AC won the third stanza 21-13 and was able to keep McDowell at bay. Noah VanBeurden led the Cougars with 26 points including 6 three-pointers. Jahmir Miller collected a half-dozen from behind the arc as well and finished with 18, Jaheim Redmond added 16. Jay Radford was tops for McDowell with 20. The visitors ruled the boards 47-35 but the Cougars were able to tally 18 baskets from three-point-land compared to the Titans 7. McDowell falls to 12-9 and 3-4 in conference while the Cougars go to 12-7 and 4-2.

Alexander Central Basketball has a busy week ahead. On Tuesday AC will host Freedom, St Stephens visits the Cougar Den on Wednesday and the Cougars are scheduled for a trip to South Caldwell on Friday. The Friday night game that was postponed at Watauga has yet to be rescheduled.