No matter when it needed to meet the moment, Cannon School did just that in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A girls basketball championship on Saturday.

The Cougars repeated their title from a year ago with a 71-55 victory over Wesleyan Christian.

The clash at Charlotte Latin featured two teams met on Nov. 26 in a 62-52 win by Cannon School. This time around, however, the Cougars (26-7) had more breathing room.

Cannon led 29-16 at halftime by getting to the rim at will and pressuring the ball on defense.

The lead quickly grew to 20 early in the third quarter thanks to a number of steals and run-outs and got as high as 24 before settling to 50-33 going into the fourth.

Wesleyan (25-7) did cut the lead to nine in the mid-fourth quarter on a 3 from Sara Kate Carr.

Carr led the Trojans’ effort on the day with 20 points. Blythe Cunningham (seven rebounds) and Kennedy Jackson each had 11 points. Guard Cooper Cox had five rebounds and five assists.

But Cannon got 40 rebounds and 12 steals compared to Wesleyan’s 19 and five, and that was where the game was won for the Cougars.

Freshman post player Jakaila Gaskin had 16 points and eight rebounds. Maya McCorkle had 13 points, five assists, and two steals. Madison Drayton led the way with 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

BOX SCORE
Wesleyan Christian — Hannah Forester 5, Sara Kate Carr 20, Cooper Cox 3, Lexi Powell 3, Blythe Cunningham 11, Kennedy Jackson 11, Taylor Hawley 2
Cannon School — Jakaila Gaskin 16, Maya McCorkle 13, Khloe Thompson 7, Madison Drayton 18, Hina Nakamura 2, Brooke Busby 8, Jaiden Thompson 7