Star Christian falls short to Southern Wake
2 min read
KENLY — Star Christian had their shot at beating Southern Wake Academy on Thursday at home, but it came up just short as they fell 54-52.
The Golden Tigers (4-7) had the ball last after a series of calamity ended in their favor. The play they called was a high ball screen with the hopes the defense would collapse off the shooter, but confusion ensued which ended in Wesley McCarthy throwing up a contested floater.
For Star Christian to even have a chance to get the ball to end took them causing confusion. Sophomore Brandon Sanders fired a three up with 40 seconds left, down 54-50, that was just short. Southern Wake Academy senior guard Jeffrey Keizer rebounded the ball and pushed it up the sideline, but got trapped by Star’s T’marrie Smith and Taquan Watson. Keizer tried to clear space by swinging the ball around, but Watson fell like he was elbowed, which resulted in a intentional foul. The Lions’ head coach Rick Cross was upset at the call and was T’d up. The Golden Tigers got four free throws and the ball down 54-50. Sanders made two of the four, which was his 20th points of the night. Despite coming up short, Sanders and McCarthy narrowed the 7-point gap by outscoring Southern Wake (16-1) 16-11 in the fourth quarter.
“We started off slow,” Star Christian head coach Courtney Moore said. “As they kept playing, they started to play harder and get their mojo back. Came down to the end and the free throws were a big changing point, but the hustle and the way they played was great.”
Keizer led all scorers with 37 points. McCarthy finished with 14 and Watson put in nine points.
Star Christian will be back on the floor Thursday against Neuse Charter.
