The Independence Patriots junior and varsity basketball teams traveled to East Mecklenburg High School Tuesday night for conference games against the Eagles. The junior varsity teams started the sweep with the JV girls taking a 45-22 victory, and the JV boys stayed undefeated with their 28-20 win over the Eagles.
Women’s Game
Independence 60, East Mecklenburg 36
The Independence women’s basketball team earned a 60-36 win over East Mecklenburg sweeping the regular season series with the Eagles.
Indy’s junior forward Julia Rohlfing led the Lady Patriots with a career high 16 points. Shooting 5-for-9 from the floor and hitting 6-for-6 from the foul line, she grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2 assists. Braylyn Milton had a double double scoring 12 points and 10 steals. She had 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Azurie Barrino reached double figures with 10 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and had 1 steal. Sharonda Smith had 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Grace Breckenridge scored 4 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and had 1 steal. Ayanna Anderson added 4 points, had 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1 assist. Aaliyah Lowery hit 2-for-2 for 4 points. Brandi Jackson finished the night with 2 points.
In the first period the Lady Patriots jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets by Grace Breckenridge and Azuria Barrino. Julia Rohlfing moved Indy out to a six point lead with 58 seconds left in the period, but East Meck hit a basket with only ten seconds left to make the first quarter score 10-6.
Early in the second quarter the Lady Patriots moved back to a six point lead on a Julia Rohlfing baseline drive. After an Azuria Barrino basket to keep Indy at a six point lead, Braylyn Milton moved Indy up to eight on two foul shots with 5:25 left in the half.
With 1:26 left to play, East Meck cut the score to three points 20-17. Indy’s sophomore Grace Breckenridge scored in the lane to make the score 22-17. Julia Rohlfing finished the half hitting a jumper from the foul line and draining a top of the key jumper as the horn sounded to give Indy a 26-17 halftime lead.
The Lady Patriots started the second half with Azuria Barrino picking up a loose ball and driving to the basket to put Indy up by eleven. With 5:45 remaining in the third period, Sharonda Smith put Indy up by 15 on 3-point basket.
At the 3:13 mark East Meck’s bench was hit with a technical foul. Coach Galvani called on Julia Rohlfing to shoot the free throws. Rohlfing made both shots giving Indy a 37-21 lead.
By the end of the quarter, East Meck had cut the lead to eleven 39-28.
In the final period the Lady Patriots’ offense went on a 7-0 run over the first 2:05 minutes to take a 46-28 lead. Indy started playing aggressively on the defensive end and held the Lady Eagles to only six fourth quarter points, while scoring 21 points to take a 60-36 conference road win.
Independence    10 16 13 21 – 60
East Mecklenburg  6  11 13  6 – 36
Men’s Game
Independence 65, East Mecklenburg 45
The Independence men’s basketball team moved to 9-0 in conference play with a 65-45 road win over East Mecklenburg on Tuesday night. With the win the Patriots remain in first place in the Southwestern 4A Conference.
At the 4:19 mark with Indy leading 3-2, Junior Anthony Allen drained a 3-pointer which started the Patriots on a 11-0 run. After Allen’s basket, AJ McKee stole the ball and scored on a layup.  Sophomore Omarion Bodrice followed with back-to-back baskets, and Raja Milton’s steal and top of the key jumper put Indy out to a 14-2 lead. The Patriots finished the opening period leading 15-5.
The second quarter started with an Indy turnover resulting in an Eagle’s basket. East Meck’s Demetrius Martin’s 3-pointer cut Indy’s lead to 15-10 with 6:56 remaining in the first half.  The Patriots went on an 8-0 run with AJ McKee hitting a 3-pointer and then driving to the basket making the score 20-10. Tyler Harris connected on a 3-point basket to give Indy a 13 point lead 23-10 with 5:45 showing on the clock. East Meck managed only five more first half points while Indy poured in 12 more to end the first half leading 35-15.
East Meck started the third period with an 8-0 run cutting the Indy lead down to 12 points 35-23 with 6:23 left in the third. At the 6:10 mark the Patriots got into the scoring column with AJ McKee hitting 1-of-2 from the line. His second shot came off the rim and was rebounded by Tyler Harris for the put back basket giving the Patriots a 38-23 lead. Miles Pauldin got a loose ball in the lane but was fouled going up for the shot. Pauldin connected on both of his free throws making the score 41-23.
After an East Meck basket, Pauldin picked up another foul and drained both shots for a 43-25 lead. However, the Eagles answered back and made the score 43-27 after three quarters of play.
The final period started with an AJ McKee steal and drive to the basket. Following an Eagle 3-pointer, Omarion Bodrice and Anthony Allen scored to give Indy a 49-30 lead with 5:50 left in the game. After the Eagles scored on an old fashion 3-point play, they turned the ball over to Indy. AJ McKee made a pass to Anthony Allen for the basket to make the score 51-33. Raja Milton moved Indy out to a twenty point lead 53-33 with 4:22 left in the game.
Tyler Harris increased Indy’s lead to 55-33 with 4:00 remaining on the clock. In the next two minutes the Eagles went on a 6-0 run making the score 57-42. AJ McKee, Tyler Harris and Anthony Allen each added baskets making the score 63-42 with 1:45 left in the game.
With 44 seconds left, East Meck scored a 3-pointer, and Indy’s Tachai Miller hit a field goal to make the final score 65-45.
AJ McKee led the Patriots with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists. Tyler Harris had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. Anthony Allen added 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Miles Pauldin had 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Raja Milton scored 7 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Omarion Bodrice had 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. Tachai Miller rounded out the scoring with 2 points, 1 assist and 1 steal.
A game note: Matt Smith had been under the weather for a couple of days. He made the trip to East Meck but was held out of the game. Matt  should be ready for Indy’s trip to Porter Ridge on Friday night.
Independence    15 20  8 22 – 65
East Mecklenburg  5 10 12 18 – 45
