Game Report on East Forsyth-South Stokes Boys Basketball:EF suffers first loss of the season and South Stokes Sauras improve to (9-0) behind Ben Bowen’s 31 points and BB was 15-17 at the FT line

South Stokes 59, East Forsyth 57


EAST FORSYTH - 13-17-14- 13 -- 57
SOUTH STOKES - 14-16-20-  9 -- 59

EAST FORSYTH (6-1) Shemar Watkins 10, Josh Mahaffey 10, Sparrow 8, Hairston 8, Wiley 6, Nichols 5, Brintley 5, Samuels 2, Hall 2, Jones 1.

SOUTH STOKES (9-0) Ben Bowen 31, Brady Dudley 10, Samuels 8, Misenheimer 5, Hairston 5

East Forsyth battled back from an eight-point second-half deficit but couldn’t convert late in its 59-57 loss to South Stokes at North Forsyth High School. SS 6-9 center Ben Bowen dominated with 31 points, including 15-17 at the line, and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Eagles led briefly in the first half of a hard-fought battle of unbeatens but never in the second half when the Sauras stretched the lead to eight at 48-40 with two minutes left in the third quarter before a frantic final period that saw East close the deficit to one point I three different times but never attempt a shot for the win.

East Forsyth closed the gap to 56-55 with 2:30 left on a Connor Sparrow basket off a feed from Savon Brintley and a Josh Mahaffey layin off an inbounds steal & assist by Tyren
Hairston. Bowen’s two free throws at the one-minute mark extended the Sauras’ lead to 58-55.

Shemar Watkins scored on a twisting drive on the following possession to again cut the EF deficit to one with 40 seconds to play. SS’s Brady Dudley charged on the Sauras’ next trip down floor but East returned the favor with turnovers next midcourt on their last two possessions & Bowen’s free throw with four seconds left sealed South Stokes ninth straight win of the season.

Mahaffey and Watkins led East, now 6-1, in scoring with 10 points each & Sparrow had eight points, six rebounds & four assists. East hosts Westlake High School (Utah) at home in Kernersville Wednesday night in the second game of a doubleheader at Jack Musten Gymnasium.

The Eagles will then be off through the Christmas break, returning to action against Mount Airy in the first round of the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic in the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

Courtesy of East Forsyth Coach Bill Armour