Warriors pull away late from SM

Roy Lusk led the Warriors with 15 points. Todd Shotwell and Leland Burroughs both had 11 while Tony Darity scored 10.

Jason Bennett paced the Mustangs with 13 points, and Jeff Davis added 11.

"We were right there, but we just couldn't finish," Coach Scott Hartbarger said. "We didn't come out with the intensity and defensive effort we needed to have. We were just sluggish, and I don't know why."

The Mustangs were up 44-39 when Michael Ritchie scored to start the fourth quarter.

Five straight points by Shotwell put the Warriors in front 46-44 with 6:47 on the clock.

SM regained the lead at 50-48 on Ritchie's follow shot with 3:57 to play.

Shotwell's free throw at the 3:06 mark put the Warriors ahead to stay 51-50.

SM was down 53-52 after Ritchie's driving basket with 1:42 on the clock but failed to score again.

Darity scored six of the final eight Erwin points.

After trailing throughout the second period, the Mustangs moved ahead 31-29 on Luke Bell's basket with 4:30 left in the third stanza.

Lusk's three-pointer put Erwin on top 34-33 with 3:22 on the clock.

A three-pointer by Jared Day followed by Bennett's basket gave the Mustangs a 40-36 edge at the 1:17 mark. They led 42-39 entering the fourth quarter.

The first period produced seven lead changes. SM led 12-10 on a Davis trey with 35 seconds left, but Burroughs' layup at the buzzer tied it 12-12.

Lusk and Shotwell drilled consecutive three-pointers giving Erwin a 19-12 advantage with 6:46 to go in the half.

Six points by Lance Gabbard sparked a 9-2 run for a 21-21 tie at the 3:35 mark.

The Warriors regained the lead on a free throw with 3:07 to play, and Burroughs' basket just before intermission put them in front 27-23.

Bennett made six field goals and a free throw. Three of Davis' four field goals were treys.

Bell and Ritchie both finished with eight points, Gabbard netted six, and Day and Sam Neff scored three apiece.

The Mustang JVs survived a last second shot to win 44-43. Patrick McChesney scored 10 points and had 10 blocks.

"We played real good team defense and won it at the end with good patience," Coach Jimmy Roper said. "We got some good shots the last two minutes."

SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 13-5, 25-19 and 34-33.

Roper singled out Michael Ayers for his defense.

Back to Sports: 02/01/01.