By Ed Phillipps

The Mount Airy News

MOUNT AIRY -- Mount Airy battled Forbush last night and it has the bruises to prove it.

The depleted Granite Bears dropped a 81-73 non-conference decision to the visiting Falcons. Guard Torrance Hamilton played the entire game with a sprained ankle and finished with a game-high 25 points, including a 3-point barrage in the fourth quarter that nearly swung the game in the Granite Bears’ favor.

Hamilton drilled a corner 3 with six minutes remaining in the game to tie the score at 60. On Mount Airy’s next possession, he hit another to give the Granite Bears a 63-62 lead. However, the Falcons ripped off a 10-point run in the next minute and half.

The Granite Bears put together one last run when Hamilton’s hoop and foul brought the home team within four, but that was as close as it would get.

“I’m very proud of the way our guys competed (last night),” Mount Airy coach Kevin Spainhour said. “We were in a tough situation.”

Point guard and returning all-conference player Wade Moody left the game in the second quarter with a broken nose. Adding insult to the injury, the Granite Bears were assessed a technical foul to begin the second half when Moody’s replacement was not listed in the book to start the game.

Forbush made seven first-half 3-pointers and continued to shoot at a torrid pace throughout the game. Mount Airy had to find its bearing to begin the second half without its star point guard.

“We had to settle down and realize Wade’s not here,” Spainhour said.

In addition to losing Moody, Mount Airy was also missing key players Justin Collier, Anthony Moore and Kendall Cawley. That trio is part of the Granite Bears’ football squad that will defend its NCHSAA 1A championship Saturday. Mount Airy’s next basketball game is Dec. 17, when Spainhour expects Moody to play, along with the three football players.

“I know we’re 0-2 now, but we’re going to be a good team,” Spainhour said.

What kept the Granite Bears in the game last night was the same thing that helped the football team overcome Robbinsville last Friday, Spainhour said.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s the Mount Airy spirit,” he said. “There’s something about the kids. It’s contagious. They don’t know quit. You could tell Friday at the football game. You could tell it by our undermanned basketball team tonight.”

He added that playing without the football players does have a benefit in that younger players are getting more floor time. That was evident last night when freshman Phillip Gwyn and sophomore Tanner Joyce combined to score 24 points.

Forbush 81, Mount Airy 73

Wednesday • at Mount Airy

F — 24 20 16 21 — 81

MA — 22 21 11 19 — 73

F — Michael Scott 21, Matthew Cain 16

M — Torrance Hamilton 25, Tanner Joyce 14, Wade Moody 10, Phillip Gwyn 10