Sports

FAISON — The North Duplin Rebels advanced to the next round of the state championship with a commanding 58-45 victory over the Gates County Barons. The Rebels maintained control throughout the game, using strong defensive pressure and efficient scoring to hold off their opponents.

WARSAW — The Clinton Dark Horses secured a dominant 14-4 victory over the James Kenan Tigers in varsity baseball action. Clinton’s offense surged early, while James Kenan struggled with control in the first few innings before settling down. Despite a late push from the Tigers, Clinton maintained control and closed out the game with a strong defensive showing.

Southern Wayne High School’s varsity baseball team claimed a well-earned victory over the visiting South View Tigers in a game defined by strong pitching, opportunistic base running, and defensive adjustments. The Saints took control early and maintained their momentum to secure the win, despite South View’s efforts to mount a comeback.

Spring Creek High School will have a new football coach in the Gators’ 2025 campaign, as Dr. Ronald Wise, who had served in the position for two years, abruptly resigned this week.

In Saturday afternoon’s third and final championship bout, North Duplin and Lakewood faced off once more for the boys’ title. An early lead for the Rebels was quickly erased, giving Lakewood their 21st straight win and the conference regular season and tournament titles.

Saturday afternoon saw the girls’ Carolina 1A championship basketball game between No. 3 Lakewood and No. 1 North Duplin, the regular season champs. After a tight first half, the Lady Rebels blew their lead open to take the 57-47 win and the conference championship.

The North Duplin Rebels showcased their defensive strength and efficient scoring in a commanding 46-17 victory over the Rosewood Eagles in the conference semifinals. From the opening tip, North Duplin controlled the pace, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to secure their place in the championship game.

In a rematch from the final game of the regular season, the Hobbton and North Duplin boys squared off once more in the Carolina 1A conference tournament semi-finals on Tuesday night at Lakewood, with the winner advancing to the championship game. A back-and-forth game until the final minutes, the North Duplin Rebels came out on top with a 49-45 win.

SPRING CREEK – The Beddingfield Bruins secured a commanding 55-32 win over the Spring Creek Gators on their home court, using a relentless defensive effort and an efficient offense to take control early and maintain their lead throughout the game. Despite Spring Creek’s attempts to rally, the visiting Bruins capitalized on key turnovers and scoring opportunities to secure a decisive victory.

SPRING CREEK – In a game filled with fast breaks, intense defense, and clutch shots, the Spring Creek Gators held off a late surge to secure a 67-62 victory over the visiting Beddingfield Bruins. A strong first half gave Spring Creek the edge, but Beddingfield’s late rally turned the final minutes into a dramatic showdown.