By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Cummings made quick work of its first opponent in the Mid-Carolina Conference Tournament for boys’ basketball, and that’s just what the Cavaliers needed.
They hope to play three games in four nights.
“We’re trying to get out early and send a message,” junior guard Ramael Warren said. “Coach said, ‘Don’t play around.’ ”
Cummings clobbered visiting Jordan-Matthews 86-40 on Tuesday night in a game that had a running clock shortly after the midway mark of the third quarter because of the mercy rule.
Johnniyus Sharpe scored all 20 of his points in the first half, A.J. Gillespie poured in 16 points, and Ja’Kari Dobbins and Warren both finished with 12 points.
The second-seeded Cavaliers (15-8) face third-seeded Chatham Central in Thursday night’s semifinal at Seaforth. The title game is Friday at Seaforth, which will be in the title game.
“I can say we’re getting better,” said Cummings coach Chas Criss, whose team has a six-game winning streak. “We’ve improved from the beginning until now.”
Sharpe scored eight points in the opening two minutes as Cummings raced to a 13-2 lead. He had 16 first-quarter points in less than seven minutes.
The Jets (1-21) trailed 53-29 at halftime.
• At Bear Creek, Chatham Central topped visiting sixth-seeded Graham 77-59. Graham finished the season with a 5-16 record.
• In the Central Carolina 3-A Conference, Williams moved on with Monday night’s 70-51 whipping of visiting Eastern Alamance.
Cam’ron Jones racked up 20 points, Greyson McCadden scored 17 points and Ty Lagana supplied 11 points for the Bulldogs, who own three victories against Eastern this season.
Michael Reaves had 14 points and Antoine Pugh added 12 points for fifth-seeded Eastern (11-14), which has shaky credentials to land in the state playoffs and will find out its fate Saturday.
Then on Wednesday night, visiting Williams (14-11) lost 62-45 to first-place Northwood in the semifinals.
• Last-place Western Alamance’s season ended with a 60-53 loss at second-seeded Roxboro Person in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference. The Warriors (1-24) lost their final 24 games, with 11 of those by single-digit margins.
• In the DAC-VII Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Durham Hillside drubbed last-place Southern Alamance 69-34 on Tuesday night. The Patriots (6-19) end the season with four straight losses.
Girls’ basketball
Williams won for the second time in four nights against winless Roxboro Person, claiming a 59-30 victory as Briahna Scott had 18 points and eight rebounds, Jordyn Taylor secured 12 points, and Regan Averett had 11 points in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference Tournament quarterfinal Monday.
• Western topped visiting Cedar Ridge, the sixth seed, by 54-41 in the quarterfinals.
• Fourth-seeded Eastern Alamance lost for the second time in four nights to fifth-seeded Orange, this time by 33-31 at home in the Central Carolina 3-A Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
The Eagles (13-12), who managed only one point in the second quarter, received 11 points and seven rebounds from Aliya Trollinger.
• In the Mid-Carolina Conference Tournament, fourth-seeded Cummings turned away fifth-seeded Graham 37-23 for a home quarterfinal victory Tuesday.
Jade Snipes poured in 19 points for Cummings (8-13), which then lost at regular-season champion Seaforth on Wednesday night. Graham (5-16) ended its season despite 19 points from Anayah Noell.
• In the DAC-VII Conference Tournament quarterfinals, Southern Alamance cruised to a 69-43 home victory against East Chapel Hill on Tuesday night. It was a repeat romp from Friday night between the teams and was aided by a 17-4 edge through the first quarter for the fourth-seeded Patriots. Southern Alamance (18-8) then lost 55-37 on Wednesday night at top-seeded Durham Hillside.
