The Myers Park High School Lady Mustangs basketball team, ranked number 22 in the nation by USA Today, and number one in The Charlotte Observer sweet 16, have completed their first three weeks unblemished, posting a 7-0 record. Beginning the season with four straight road games, before coming home for their next four games, the Lady Mustangs reeled off their seven consecutive wins, albeit through some uneven play at times.
In their opening game against an over matched Garinger squad, Myers Park cruised to a 33-0 first quarter lead on the way to a 76-31 win. After the opening few minutes the result was never in doubt, and coach Barbara Nelson used the opportunity to give extensive seasoning to her bench players. Sophomore DD Rogers led the way with 18 points in limited action.
The following night Myers Park traveled to then number four (in the sweet sixteen) ranked Berry Academy. Berry’s size and athleticism proved no match for the Lady Mustangs as they raced to 42-21 halftime edge behind the scoring and play making of star guards Saadia Timpton and Aliyah Mazyck. Center DD Rogers battled foul trouble all night and managed only 4 points and 9 rebounds. A late rally by Berry closed the gap, but Myers Park prevailed, 62-48. Saadia Timpton finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds, while back court mate Mazyck chipped in 14 points and 4 assists.
On Monday, Dec. 3, the Lady Mustangs traveled to 3-0 Hopewell High for the first game in a non-conference home-and-home matchup. Again, foul trouble plagued Myers Park as Saadia Timpton picked up two early fouls and was forced to watch much of the first half from the bench. DD Rogers also was whistled for two fouls in the first half and spent time on the bench. More quick whistles in the second half continued to put Lady Mustang starters on the bench, and hot three-point shooting by the Titans kept Hopewell within range.
Myers Park struggled with turnovers all night, and cold free throw shooting helped Hopewell make a late charge. Two free throws late by Morgan Uptegraff, and a steal by Mazyck sealed the 59-56 victory. DD Rogers led all scorers with 19 points and added a game high 12 rebounds. Aliyah Mazyck had a solid all around game scoring 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
The road got no easier for Myers Park as they had to travel the very next night to then number 10 (sweet sixteen) Hough High School. Hough came out strong with good execution and shooting on the offensive end, and coupled with recurring foul problems for Myers Park, the Lady Mustangs found themselves at the wrong end of a 27-25 halftime score. Myers Park started the second half with full court pressure that got them some easy baskets and eventually a 43-34 lead after 3 quarters. A spirited fourth quarter effort by the Hough Huskies could get them no closer, as clutch free throw shooting by the Lady Mustangs preserved the lead, ending in a 63-54 final score. Aliyah Mazyck was the catalyst for Myers Park, notching 26 points, including 3 of 6 shooting from behind the arc, and adding 4 boards, 4 assists, and 7 steals. DD Rogers chipped in 14 points, and India Timpton led the way with 10 rebounds.
The third week of the season began with Myers Park’s opening home game against Olympic High School, and the Lady Mustangs did not disappoint. Playing without Aliyah Mazyck, who suffered concussion symptoms following a blow to the head in the Hough game, the Lady Mustangs raced to 23-7 first quarter, and 47-17 halftime leads. Ten different players scored in Myers Park’s 77-30 rout. The Lady Mustangs were led bySaadia Timpton’s 20 points, while DD Rogers and India Timpton chipped in 14 and 13, respectively.
The following day brought the rematch in the home-and-home series with Hopewell who had taken Myers Park to the wire a week earlier. Myers Park was again without Aliyah Mazyck, but the Lady Mustangs pressure defense, and inside presence of DD Rogers proved too much for the Titans. Rogers finished with a game high 20 points, and Saadia Timpton and Morgan Uptegraff both scored 12 points apiece. A late run by Hopewell cut the final margin to 56-44.
Myers Park’s final game before the conference portion of their schedule was against an undefeated North Mecklenburg squad, who came into the game at 4-0. The Friday night tilt started with both teams answering each other until a late first quarter/early second quarter run by the Lady Mustangs staked them to a 38-22 halftime lead. Myers park stretched the advantage to 20 after three quarters, and cruised to a relatively easy 67-47 final. Aliyah Mazyck was absent once again, but it didn’t seem to matter as Saadia Timpton poured in 20 points, and DD Rogers and Morgan Uptegraff contributed with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Myers Park opens the conference portion of their schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 18, with a home game against a 4-2 Butler team. A pre-holiday away game at East Mecklenburg on Thursday the 20th will be followed by the Lady Mustangs defense of their title last year in the 2012 High School OT Holiday Invitational (formerly the Glaxo Smith Kline Holiday Invitational.) The event runs from Dec. 26-29 in Raleigh, and will feature some of the best women’s teams from across the state of North Carolina.
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