Rolesville girls’ basketball stifles Hoggard in regional final to reach first state game
Rolesville found a way to beat Hoggard’s rugged defense Thursday afternoon and rolled over the Vikings 47-34 for the 4A East girls’ regional title.
The Rams (26-5) are headed to their first girls’ basketball state championship game, where they will face West champion Charlotte Catholic on Saturday.
Hoggard (30-2) had held 22 of its 31 previous opponents under 30 points this season and limited 11 of those to less than 20.
But Rolesville had 22 points at halftime and 39 after three quarters.
The Rams’ defense turned out to be the difference-maker, as Rolesville scored 19 points off turnovers. The Rams forced seven Hoggard turnovers in the third quarter, denying the Vikings from making a comeback.
Laila Lewis hit a 3-pointer less than a minute into the game, giving Rolesville a 3-0 lead. But Hoggard scored the next six points, on two baskets by Tristan Shivers and another by Avery Fitzgerald.
Rolesville finally tied the game with 2:08 left in the first quarter on a Taliya Rowe 3-pointer. And Kayla Bush made a pair of three throws with 55 seconds left, putting the Rams ahead 8-6. They led the rest of the way.
Rolesville outrebounded Hoggard 12-4 in the second quarter and held the Vikings to 2-of-9 shooting from the floor. And the Rams forced turnovers in the third quarter, which ended with Rolesville comfortably ahead 39-26.
The Rams’ 47 points was the most anyone scored on Hoggard this season.
Jones led Rolesville with 11 points and four assists, and Rowe added 10 points. Fitzgerald paced Hoggard with 10 points and six rebounds.