Streak Over! Led by USC recruit Daniel Sanford, Chambers finally stops North Meck
Chambers High School, plain and simple, was tired of losing to North Mecklenburg.
So even after trailing by 10 points in the first quarter, the Cougars were determined to end a nearly nine-year losing streak to their conference rivals.
Led by South Carolina recruit Daniel Sanford, the Cougars rallied to win 84-74 in overtime.
“I knew coming into this game that it was going to be a dogfight,” Sanford said. “I had to be the one to step up for my team.”
Vikings’ guard Jordan Crawford finished the game with 25 points, and Sanford knew coming into this matchup that his team was going to have to guard Crawford tight all game.
“They are a good transition team on the fastbreak,” Sanford said. “They do it by finding Jordan (Crawford), so we knew we had to contain Jordan and not let him get the ball back once we got it out of his hands.”
This game was one that may just be an NC 4A state pllayoff preview because both teams are well-coached and have a lot of talent on both squads.
North Mecklenburg is No. 3 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, one spot ahead of Chambers.
And the win meant a lot for the underdogs.
“I don’t even have the words to describe it,” Cougar head coach Brian Frasier said. “Both teams played hard, the game went to overtime and we were just able to pull out the win.”
THREE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
Daniel Sanford, Chambers: 36 points alone is enough to make the list but Sanford did much more than scoring the basketball. His defense was the catalyst to Chambers’ comeback from down double-digits. He totaled four blocks in the game and forced a lot of errant passes by clogging the paint and not allowing anything easy down low.
Jordan Crawford, North Mecklenburg: Crawford, a College of Charleston recruit, finished with 25 points on an efficient night from range. His defense when matched up on Jaylen Curry was a key to the Vikings keeping the game close all the way until the end.
Maurio Hanson, Chambers: While his scoring might not have been to the level of his frontcourt teammate, Hanson contributed on the glass better than anyone on the floor snatching rebounds and fighting for second possessions.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Although he did not have the greatest scoring performance, Jaylen Curry had eight assists in the game, two in overtime to help close out the win for his team.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Chambers improves to 10-5 on the year and 4-0 in conference play while North Mecklenburg suffers just their second loss of the season but falling to 3-1 in conference play. Chambers will face West Charlotte on Jan. 11 while North Mecklenburg will face Hopewell also on Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Girls Game Summary
The Chambers varsity girls squad was able to knock off North Mecklenburg 60-55 behind sophomore guard Mila Holloway’s 22 point outing. She put her team on her back when North Mecklenburg made a run to take the lead after the first quarter.
The Cougars regained the lead in the second quarter and did not look back, although the Vikings would never go away, Chambers was able to keep them from taking the lead again.
“We had to make sure we played our game,” Holloway said. “Sometimes we had to slow it down, but just make sure to listen to what coach said.”
