Basketball Recap: South Mecklenburg Find Success

South Mecklenburg lost to Pinecrest back in December of 2024, but they didn't allow them the same satisfaction on Tuesday. The Sabres came out on top against the Patriots by a score of 73-64.

Ben Houpt was nothing short of spectacular: he went 14-for-24 to rack up 34 points along with eight rebounds and four steals. That's the most steals he has posted since back in December of 2024. Jim Gatehouse was another key player, shooting 44% from the field en route to 17 points in addition to seven boards and three steals.

South Mecklenburg smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 19 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds every time they've taken the court this season.

When it comes to explaining why Pinecrest lost, don't look at Eric Melton. Despite the final result, he went 6-for-13 on his way to 14 points and five rebounds. Another player making a difference was Tavarus McLaughlin, who scored 11 points.

South Mecklenburg now has a winning record of 2-1. As for Pinecrest, their loss was their fourth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 0-2.

South Mecklenburg didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 70-62 defeat against Cuthbertson on the 28th. As for Pinecrest, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 67-57 win against Terry Sanford on the 2nd.