Registering its seventh-straight victory, the Albemarle girls’ basketball team won 66-18 at home versus South Stanly on Friday as both teams opened up Yadkin Valley Conference play.
The Bulldogs’ (10-1, 1-0 YVC) latest win comes on the heels of their 2023 Mount Pleasant Holiday Classic tournament championship that they won on Dec. 29. Their only loss this season was a 87-72 road game at North Rowan (7-3, 3-0 Central Carolina) on Dec. 5.
At the same time Albemarle extended its hot streak, the Bulls (1-9, 0-1 YVC) experienced their ninth-consecutive loss after starting the season with a road win over Central Academy (0-11, 0-2 YVC).
The Bulldogs will now hit the road to Union Academy (9-1, 1-0 YVC) on Wednesday and Mount Pleasant (7-6 1-0 YVC) on Friday, while the Bulls will host North Stanly (11-1, 0-1 YVC).
Union Academy 61, North Stanly 38
The North Stanly Comets’ (11-1, 0-1 YVC) perfect season came to a halt on Friday as they were defeated 61-38 at home by the Union Academy Cardinals; junior guard Ranon Suttle led the Cardinals with a team-high 23 points
Trailing 40-12 at halftime, the Comets were able to narrow Union Academy’s lead slightly but they failed to sustain a fourth-quarter comeback.
North will look to get its first conference victory of the season on Friday as the Comets are scheduled to head to Norwood to face the Bulls in a battle between an 11-win team and a one-win team.
Parkwood 70, West Stanly 48
A tough season got worse for the West Stanly Colts (4-9, 1-1 Rocky River Conference) on Friday as they lost on the road to Parkwood (6-7 2-0 RRC).
Although West defeated Central Academy (0-11, 0-2 RRC) on Jan. 2 in a 62-19 home blowout, the Colts have struggled across the past month of action, winning just two of eight games during that stretch.
The Colts will face Forest Hills (4-6, 0-1 RRC) at home on Friday as they hope to get past the 60-point mark for just the second time since Dec. 15.
Mount Pleasant 42, Gray Stone 35
In a seven-point home loss to the Mount Pleasant Tigers on Friday, the Gray Stone Knights (5-6, 0-1 YVC) came up just short of starting their conference play in the win column.
Throughout a true up-and-down season, the Knights have now lost four of their past six games after winning three of their first five to start the 2023-24 campaign.
The Knights will host Union Academy on Friday after challenging the Comets on the road on Wednesday.