BEAR CREEK — Michael Moore poured in a career-high 39 points, but it wasn’t enough to offset three Eastern Randolph starters in double figures as the Wildcats seized the advantage for good at the close of the first half and never let Chatham Central regain the lead while clawing their way to a 70-68 non-conference triumph over the Bears last Monday night in Gerald L. Binkley Gymnasium.
Earning a split in the season series, Eastern Randolph halted a three-game losing skid in climbing to 3-5 for the year, while Chatham Central had its five-game win streak come to an end in falling to 6-3 overall.
Jah’Morie Wilson topped the victors with 19 points, Cade Snotherly tallied 17 and Osiris Ross added 12 as the Wildcats connected on 22-of-41 (54%) of their field goal attempts and held a 25-23 rebounding advantage while committing 13 turnovers.
Lucas Skertich joined Moore in double figures with 18 points for the Bears, who shot 23-of-47 (49%) from the floor while turning the ball over 14 times.
“Energy, enthusiasm and effort were the keys to our victory tonight,” stated Eastern Randolph coach LaShawn Robinson. “We controlled the things we could by keeping our turnovers down, taking care of the ball and hitting free throws when we needed to. Cade Snotherly gave us some great senior leadership this evening. His shooting, passing and hustle on defense gave us the spark we’ve been looking for.”
Chatham Central coach Robert Burke remarked several factors contributed his team’s loss. “We didn’t hit enough three-pointers, we didn’t defend well on the block and we relied on two guys to do most of our scoring,” said Burke.
“Number 10 (Snotherly) had a tremendous game for Eastern Randolph with his directing the offense and rebounding. They were more effective in the paint and did a better job hitting their outside shots while we gave them too many open looks at the basket.”
Neither team had more than a three-point advantage throughout a back-and-forth first quarter that concluded in a 14-all standoff.
The second period featured a dozen lead changes, with the Bears grabbing their final advantage at 32-30 on Moore’s three-pointer from the left corner with 18 seconds remaining in the first half before Landon Collins answered with a trey from behind the top of the arc with six seconds on the clock to give the Wildcats a one-point lead at intermission.
Chatham Central managed to forge three ties over the first five minutes of the third period prior to Snotherly’s three- pointer from the left wing with 2:56 to go in the stanza that put Eastern Randolph ahead to stay at 41-38.
The Wildcats extended their advantage to 51-44 on Wilson’s conventional three-point play with 51 seconds left in the third quarter before Moore’s dunk nine seconds later closed the gap to five entering the last eight minutes.
Another Wilson conventional three-point play coupled with Snotherly’s trey from the right wing to begin the fourth quarter gave Eastern Randolph its biggest lead at 57-46 with 6:21 to go in the contest prior to the Bears battling back to narrow the difference to 66-63 following Moore’s inbounds layup with 31 seconds to play.
Wilson then sank four-of-six foul shots in the time remaining to offset a pair of Moore free throws and three-pointer from the left wing as the Wildcats hung on for the win.