State rankings were at stake. SHS was ranked 2nd state and Mooresville was ranked 15th in the state.

SHS beat Mooresville 77-49 at home. The Cards have now won nine straight games.

“I thought that we came out and our defense dictated the game,” boys basketball head coach Kyle Simpson said.

SHS has struggled with free throws in the past, Simpson says. During the game they were 11/13 with a 84.6 free throw percentage. Simpson feels that this game was a big stepping stone for the team as in free throw shooting and their overall play.

It was also a big night for the seniors due to it being senior night. The seniors on the boys basketball team this year are Malik Bennett, DeMari Davis, and Josh Springer. They all started the game. SHS’s first points were a three-pointer from Springer. That encouraged the team to go on a 19-10 lead in the first quarter.

SHS led the half at 42-22. After that, Mooresville couldn’t get within reach of SHS score wise.

“It’s going to be hard,” senior Malik Bennett said. “I’m going to miss high school basketball. I’m going to miss it so much.”

Bennett scored 23 points, one rebound, and four assists. Sophomore Paul Scruggs scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, and three assists. Junior Joey Brunk scored 14 points, nine rebounds, and one block. Junior Eli Walton scored 11 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Senior DeMari Davis scored five points.

SHS shot at a 65.9 field goal percentage. Mooresville shot at only a 34 field goal percentage. SHS only shot 12 three-pointers and made eight of them. Mooresville shot 25 three-pointers but they only made five of them. Mooresville shot 13 more three-pointers than SHS but the Cards still made three more than them.