Raiders defeat KM to grab tie for first

Kings Mountain High’s varsity basketball teams dropped a doubleheader to South Point in Big South Conference action Friday night in Belmont.

The South Point boys led most of the way in defeating the Mountaineers 61-47 to move into a tie for first place with the Mountaineers heading into the final two games of the regular season. It was the eighth straight conference win for the Red Raiders who earlier upset Crest and Hunter Huss to become a contender. the game’s top scorer with 20 points but the Red Raiders, led by Dylan Bradley and Jaquis Rumph with 10 points each, had a more balanced attack on offense while controlling the backboards on defense.

The Mountaineers and Raiders went into the final two regular season games Tuesday tied for first place with 9-3 marks with Huss and Crest right behind with 8-4 records. The Mountaineers will host the Chargers Friday night in the regular season finale at Parker Gym.

South Point led by just 10-9 after the first quarter Friday but increased the margin to 33-17 at the half and 54-32 going into the final chapter.

The Lady Mountaineers fell hard in the opening game, 49-37. Khalia King was KM’s only double-digit scorer with 11 points. Tyasya Bell added eight, Alayna Patrick and Aaliyah Miller five each, CoRey Simpson four and left in the half stretched the lead to 32-22. The Jaguars rallied again and trimmed the difference to 32-26 but KM got a big bucket by Floyd and two free throws by Smith to go up 36-26 before Forestview trimmed the halftime margin to 3628.

Robinette scored two buckets in the first minute of the third period to give KM its biggest lead of the night, 41-27. KM was still up by 12, 47-35, following a pair free throws by Sanders with just over three minutes remaining in the period but Forestview rallied again to cut the margin to 48-41 going into the final chapter.

Forestview was able to get to within 60-54 with just over two minutes remaining and the Jaguars were down by just three points (63-60) with 44 seconds left but were forced into a fouling situation and Simpson and Smith made sure the Jags wouldn’t get any closer.

The Lady Mountaineers made it a clean sweep in the opener with a 65-36 victory. They got off to a quick 19-6 start and led by 37-10 at halftime and 51-19 heading into the fourth quarter. Reserves played much of the second half.

Four KM ladies scored in double figures. Corey Simpson led the way with 19 points. Khalia King scored 16 and Alayna Patrick and Tyasya Bell 10 each. Allysia Pettis added five, Mia Bridges two and Austyn Dixon, Farri Martin and Aaliya Miller one each.