KM swept at Shelby Patriots win two more games, to host West Lincoln Thursday

Kings Mountain High’s basketball teams dropped a doubleheader to Shelby Wednesday night on the Lions’ home court.

The Shelby boys fought off a Mountaineer comeback attempt in the fourth quarter to win 51-49 after the Shelby ladies cruised 58-30 in the opener.

The Lions jumped out front 16-10 after the first quarter but the Mountaineers trimmed the difference to 27-25 at the half. Shelby’s defense held the KM five to just eight points in the third quarter and took a 40-33 lead into the final chapter.

Zay Smith led the KM scoring with 14 points. Hamilton led the Lions with

14. Shelby’s defense was too much for the Lady Mountaineers. The Lady Lions did not allow KM a single double-digit scorer. Khalia King led KM with seven points. Tyasya Bell and CoRey Simpson added six each, Aaliyah Miller and Farri Martin five each and Austin Dixon one.

BOYS BOXSCORE

KM (49) – Smith 14, Foster 9, Simpson 8, Robinette 6, Linney 4, Brown 4, Lenair 2, Sanders 2. S (51) – Hamilton 14, Lee 11, Hollifield 9, McGill 6, Fist 6, Smith 3, Downs 2.

Kings Mountain Middle School’s boys basketball team got back on the winning side with two victories during the past week over Lincolnton and North Lincoln.

In the first game, the Patriots defeated the Wildcats of Lincolnton 49-29. Xavier Hutchens, Christian Hill and Silas Tate led the scoring with 10 points each. KJ Bell scored six, Christian Jarrett and Nazire Davis four each, Camren Houser and Yates Toney two each and Qua Ingram one.

The Patriots took an 8-7 lead after the first period and extended the lead to 25-20 at the half. Three pointers by KJ Bell and

Christian Hill gave the Patriots a 25-20 lead at the half. Silas Tate and Xavier Hutchens combined for 14 points during the first quarter and Hill and Bell both hit their second three of the game to give the KM team its biggest lead at 40-17.

During the fourth quarter, Camren Houser and Yates Toney finished off the scoring as KM finished with three double-digit scorers.

In the second game of the week, the Patriots took on the Panthers of North Lincoln. Tate and Davis paced the Pats with four points each to take a slim four-point lead heading into the second quarter. During the period Hill con- tinued his hot shooting as he made two threes to extend the KM lead to 25-17.

KM picked up its man to man defense, led by Christian Jarrett’s spectacular shot blocking and rebounding.

In the fourth quarter the Patriots were able to hold off a North Lincoln charge which resulted in a 35-all tie with less than four minutes to go. KM’s Tate scored seven of his game-high 20 points, and Hutchens’ free throws and Davis’s defense helped seal the victory.

Tate finished with 20 points to lead the Patriots to their sixth win in eight starts, including 5-1 in the division. Nazire Davis added eight points, Xavier Hutchens six, Christian Hill six, Christian Jarrett two and KJ Bell one.

Offensive players of the week were Silas Tate (30) points and Xavier Hutchens (18 points). Defensive player of the week was Christian Jarrett with several blocks and key rebounds. Sixth man of the week was Christian Hill who canned four threes. Kings Mountain carried a 5-1 division and 6-2 overall record into a game Monday at Burns which was a battle for first place. KM is home on Thursday against West Lincoln.