The Alexander Central girls basketball team completed the season sweep of Hickory Friday night with a 72-70 win at Craft Gymnasium. Mary Setzer drove the length of the floor and hit the game-winning shot at the horn. The win moves

Alexander Central (18-3; 7-2) into sole possession of second place in the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference, one-half game behind Fred T. Foard, which travels to Boone to play Watauga Monday night.
The Tigers (14-6; 7-1) defeated South Caldwell 60-49 Friday night. Kelsie Rhyne and Setzer led the Cougars with a team-high 16 points; Madi Suddreth had 15 points and ten rebounds); Marie Ritchie finished with 11 points and 16 boards.
Danasia Witherspoon led Hickory with a game-high 28 points, 18 of those coming in the first half. Yazmen Hannah added 17. The loss drops Hickory (18-2; 6-2) into third place.

The Red Tornadoes were also swept in a season series for the first time since joining the NW3A.4A Conference in 2009-10. The last time Hickory was swept in a season series was in 2003-04, when Fred T. Foard pulled it off in the old Southern Foothills 3A Conference.

NORTHWESTERN 3A/4A CONFERENCE

FRIDAY'S GAMES

GIRLS:
ALEXANDER CENTRAL 72, HICKORY 70
FRED T. FOARD 60, SOUTH CALDWELL 49
HIBRITEN 44, ST. STEPHENS 37
WATAUGA - BYE

BOYS:
HICKORY 80, ALEXANDER CENTRAL 50
FRED T. FOARD 77, SOUTH CALDWELL 57
ST. STEPHENS 65, HIBRITEN 32
WATAUGA - BYE

MONDAY'S GAMES (WEATHER PERMITTING)

FRED T. FOARD @ WATAUGA