WALNUT COVE — Ben Jaffe poured in 25 points and BJ Gray recorded a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds to power No. 3 seed South Stokes (23-4) past No. 6 seed North Rowan (15-10), 71-63, on Feb. 28 in the third round of the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs.
The Sauras outscored the Cavaliers 19-14 in the fourth quarter to put the game away after North Rowan pulled to within three points late in the contest. South Stokes advances to the Elite 8 for the fourth consecutive year, hosting No. 10 Elkin (16-9) on Monday, March 2.
Jaffe, who finished 10-of-18 from the field including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, delivered with the game hanging in the balance on multiple occasions. He countered a Jamarion Tarver three-pointer that had tied the game at 49-49 in the third quarter with a three of his own to give South Stokes a 52-49 lead and then answered again when Tarver’s second three-pointer of the quarter tied it once more at 58-58 in the fourth period with a two-point field goal that stretched the Sauras’ advantage to 60-58…