Guards lead Eagles to win
By Jaclyn Shambaugh
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Northwood Temple coach Donald Moore had specific reasons for his team’s late push against Trinity Christian on Thursday.
He pointed out the Eagles’ superior conditioning and strength in short-range shooting.
Trinity coach Charles Tubbs’ explanation was simpler.
“They wanted it more than we did,” Tubbs said.
The Eagles (13-1) and the Crusaders (14-5) played three tight quarters before Northwood pulled away in the final frame for a 69-55 home victory.
The Eagles were lifted by strong guard play down the stretch from Kendal Moore, who scored a game-high 25 points, and Valeriya Pokrovskaya, who scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Kendal Moore was 8-for-11 from the foul line in the final quarter.
Northwood opened the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run that lasted four minutes. That run eventually stretched to 16-6 when Pokrovskaya made a 3-point goal that put the Eagles up 57-47 with about three minutes to play.
“Mid-range shooting is something that we try to focus on the entire game,” Kendal Moore said. “But mostly we’ve got to narrow it down in the third and fourth quarter.”
Ciara Moore, a cousin of Kendal and the final piece in the Northwood backcourt, finished the night with 20 points, including a trio of 3pointers.
“A big part of our game is wearing the other team down,” coach Donald Moore said. “Then at the end, hopefully, our legs are stronger than theirs.”
The coach said the win sews up the top seed in the NCISAA 1-A bracket for Northwood. The team’s only loss this year came against Wynnewoode (Pennsylvania) Friend’s Central.
Trinity Christian’s Alex Scruggs, who like Kendal and Ciara Moore, is a high-profile freshman guard, led the Crusaders with 17 points.
Trinity struggled from the foul line throughout the night, going 0-for-8 through the first three quarters. Scruggs made both of the team’s free throws in the fourth quarter.
Trinity Christian, the defending NCISAA 1-A state champion, plays again Monday when it hosts Forsyth Country Day.
“We’ve got to come back the next game and check our hearts to see how much better we can perform in the next game,” Tubbs said.
Staff writer Jaclyn Shambaugh can be reached at 609-0651 or shambaughj@fayobserver.com.
Northwood Temple 69, Trinity Christian 55
Trinity Christian 13 16 12 14—55
Northwood Temple 20 13 8 28—69
TRINITY CHRISTIAN— Alex Scruggs 17, Cooke 8, McGee 2, Ross 7, Alyanna Stallworth 14, Fredericks 7
NORTHWOOD TEMPLE — Valeriya Pokrovskaya 15, Jumalon 2, Kendal Moore 25, Oxendine 2, Ciara Moore 20, Maria Bardeeva
• Fouled out: TCS — Cooke
• 3-point goals: TCS — Scruggs, Ross; NTA — Pokrovskaya, K. Moore 2, C. Moore 3, Bardeeva
• Records: Trinity Christian 14-5, Northwood Temple 13-1
By Jaclyn Shambaugh
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Northwood Temple coach Donald Moore had specific reasons for his team’s late push against Trinity Christian on Thursday.
He pointed out the Eagles’ superior conditioning and strength in short-range shooting.
Trinity coach Charles Tubbs’ explanation was simpler.
“They wanted it more than we did,” Tubbs said.
The Eagles (13-1) and the Crusaders (14-5) played three tight quarters before Northwood pulled away in the final frame for a 69-55 home victory.
The Eagles were lifted by strong guard play down the stretch from Kendal Moore, who scored a game-high 25 points, and Valeriya Pokrovskaya, who scored 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Kendal Moore was 8-for-11 from the foul line in the final quarter.
Northwood opened the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run that lasted four minutes. That run eventually stretched to 16-6 when Pokrovskaya made a 3-point goal that put the Eagles up 57-47 with about three minutes to play.
“Mid-range shooting is something that we try to focus on the entire game,” Kendal Moore said. “But mostly we’ve got to narrow it down in the third and fourth quarter.”
Ciara Moore, a cousin of Kendal and the final piece in the Northwood backcourt, finished the night with 20 points, including a trio of 3pointers.
“A big part of our game is wearing the other team down,” coach Donald Moore said. “Then at the end, hopefully, our legs are stronger than theirs.”
The coach said the win sews up the top seed in the NCISAA 1-A bracket for Northwood. The team’s only loss this year came against Wynnewoode (Pennsylvania) Friend’s Central.
Trinity Christian’s Alex Scruggs, who like Kendal and Ciara Moore, is a high-profile freshman guard, led the Crusaders with 17 points.
Trinity struggled from the foul line throughout the night, going 0-for-8 through the first three quarters. Scruggs made both of the team’s free throws in the fourth quarter.
Trinity Christian, the defending NCISAA 1-A state champion, plays again Monday when it hosts Forsyth Country Day.
“We’ve got to come back the next game and check our hearts to see how much better we can perform in the next game,” Tubbs said.
Staff writer Jaclyn Shambaugh can be reached at 609-0651 or shambaughj@fayobserver.com.
Northwood Temple 69, Trinity Christian 55
Trinity Christian 13 16 12 14—55
Northwood Temple 20 13 8 28—69
TRINITY CHRISTIAN— Alex Scruggs 17, Cooke 8, McGee 2, Ross 7, Alyanna Stallworth 14, Fredericks 7
NORTHWOOD TEMPLE — Valeriya Pokrovskaya 15, Jumalon 2, Kendal Moore 25, Oxendine 2, Ciara Moore 20, Maria Bardeeva
• Fouled out: TCS — Cooke
• 3-point goals: TCS — Scruggs, Ross; NTA — Pokrovskaya, K. Moore 2, C. Moore 3, Bardeeva
• Records: Trinity Christian 14-5, Northwood Temple 13-1
