Friday, March 1, 2013 —
For the second time in as many seasons, the Albemarle Bulldogs travelled to Huntersville to take on the Lake Norman Charter Knights in the state 1A playoffs.
Last year’s game was in the first round, whereas Wednesday night’s contest was in the second round of the state playoffs with the winner to face the Winston-Salem Prep/North Moore victor on Friday.
A long scoring drought in the first half proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs’ season came to an end with a 61-46 loss to the Knights.
T’Kyle Williams came off the bench Wednesday night to lead Albemarle (21-4) with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.
Malik McCormick led four in double figures for Lake Norman Charter (23-4) with 18 points, hitting 8-of-13 from the field and 2-of-4 at the free-throw line. Jamon Cunningham added 12 points for the Knights including 8-of-11 at the free-throw line.
In front of a raucous student section Wednesday night, the Bulldogs matched Lake Norman Charter shot for shot in the first two minutes before the Knights opened up a 7-0 run, forcing an Albemarle timeout.
The Bulldogs closed the gap to four points on a Bryan Blanton three-pointer with 4:12 left in the period, but scored just two points in an eight-minute span going into the second period. The host Knights outscored Albemarle 20-2 over that stretch and led 31-11 with 4:31 remaining on the clock in the second period.
Albemarle narrowed the gap to 11 with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes but Lake Norman Charter hit two free throws with no time left on the clock to take a 33-20 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs were 7-of-18 in the first half (38.9 percent) while the Knights, after shooting 56.3 percent in the opening quarter (9-of-16), cooled off slightly and was 4-of-15 in the second quarter for a 41.9 percent mark in the first half.
In the third quarter, Albemarle trailed 39-22 and scored six quick points to cut the deficit down to 11 points. The Knights responded in the final 2:30 of the period scoring five points to extend to a 16-point lead after three.
Baskets by Williams and Blanton cut the lead to 12 with 6:14 left, but the hosts quickly pushed the lead back to 16 and hit 7-of-14 free throws down the stretch.
For the game, Albemarle was 18-of-39 from the field (46.2 percent) while Lake Norman Charter finished 22-of-50 (44 percent).
“In the second round of the playoffs, you are going to face a good team,” Albemarle head coach Al Andrew said.
“[Lake Norman Charter] is good defensively, quick and athletic. They are good and they proved it on their home floor. “
Regarding his team, Andrew said, “Our kids fought hard. They are a great group of kids that tried hard all season long. We have a great group of senior leadership that will be difficult to replace.”
Andrew wraps up his 20th season as head coach of the Bulldogs with his second 20-win season in three years.
A 11 9 10 16 46
LNC 20 13 13 15 61
A – Ellis 9, Christian 6, Blanton 5, Brown 6, T’Kyle Williams 10, Currie 1, Ridenhour 2, Autry 7.
LNC – Davis Elkins 14, Whicker 2, Mobley 2, Jamon Cunningham 12, Marques Hill-Wilson 10, Malik McCormick 18, Scearce 2, Worthy 1.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Albemarle guard Markez Brown sets the offense for the Bulldogs in Wednesday’s second-round playoff game. Charles Curcio
Discussion
Albemarle’s 20-win season ends at Lake Norman Charter
- Sports
-
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Notes
The opponent for South Stanly in the fourth round of the 1A state baseball playoffs has been determined, while there has been a change made in the time of Tuesday's 2A softball game between West Stanly and Cuthbertson.
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Update
In local playoff games on Friday, South Stanly hosted Albemarle in a third-round 1A baseball playoff matchup, while West Stanly hosted Piedmont in the 2A softball third-round and Gray Stone traveled to Chatham Central for a 1A third-round softball game.
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Playoff Update
The four Stanly County high school varsity baseball and softball teams still remaining in their respective high school state playoffs all earned victories last night and advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
-
Stanly County Baseball Playoff Notebook
Three Stanly County baseball teams opened play in the state playoffs on Friday night, two on the road and one at home.
South Stanly hosted a familiar opponent in East Montgomery, while Albemarle traveled to Central Academy in Monroe and West Stanly travelled to Randleman. -
Stanly County Softball Playoff Notebook
In the opening round of the state playoffs, the softball teams of West Stanly and Gray Stone advanced to the second round of the playoffs, while South Stanly was upset at home by Lake Norman Charter.
-
Gray Stone soccer loses playoff game in overtime to Union Academy
At Friday’s second-round playoff game at Union Academy, the Gray Stone Knights girls’ soccer team continued a trend that had helped them to win 17 straight games this season: playing stellar defense and limiting teams to few scoring chances.
-
High School Soccer Playoffs
The Gray Stone girls’ soccer team faced a tough opponent Wednesday in the first round of the NCHSAA state 1A playoffs in a Central Academy team that played in a tough 1A/2A Rocky River Conference that includes two teams ranked in the top 15 in the 2A in the latest poll.
-
Yadkin Valley Conference Baseball Tournament
The fifth-seeded Albemarle Bulldogs took to a soggy yet well-prepared North Moore High School baseball field on Tuesday night to take on No. 2-seed West Montgomery for the 2013 Yadkin Valley Conference tournament.
-
High School Tennis Playoffs
The boys’ tennis season for the Gray Stone Knights continued this week as the Knights advanced to the 1A quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
-
High School Baseball / Softball Playoffs
Six high school baseball and softball teams from Stanly County have qualified for their respective classification's state playoffs to start this week.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Stanly County Baseball / Softball Notes
