Basketball Recap: Cherryville Starts Season with Victory at Home

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Previous 3 Games

11/19/25 - Home	60-59 W
02/14/24 - Away	59-62 L
11/28/23 - Home	59-50 W

Cherryville took care of business in their home opener (barely) on Wednesday. They escaped with a win against the NCSSM: Morganton Dragons by the margin of a single free throw, 60-59. This was payback for the Ironmen, who suffered a 62-59 defeat the last time these two teams met.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Cherryville to victory, but perhaps none more so than Paxton Pruett, who shot 55% from the field on his way to 15 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Those four steals gave Pruett a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Cole Kelly, who went 6-for-12 to rack up 17 points and four steals.

Cherryville smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in six consecutive matchups dating back to last season.

When it comes to explaining why NCSSM: Morganton lost, don't look at Bransen Pittman. Despite the final result, he posted 19 points. The game was Pittman's fourth in a row with at least 17 points. Nash Taylor was another key player, putting up 12 points.

NCSSM: Morganton dropped their record down to 2-2 with the loss, which was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season.

Cherryville has already played their next contest, a 92-64 defeat against North Gaston on the 20th. As for NCSSM: Morganton, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 57-49 loss against Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy on the 20th.