Southern Wayne’s Kyren Strong (5) blocks a shot by James Kenan’s RonNyia Joyner during second-quarter play Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne point guard Naveah Hines-Bass drives between the double team of James Kenan’s Lillie Kornegay, right, and a teammate during fourth-period play Tuesday evening. Hines-Bass scored 21 points in the Saints’ loss. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Naveah Hines-Bass, right, plays defense against James Kenan senior Lillie Kornegay during first-half action Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Southern Wayne had the look it wanted.With 4.5 seconds remaining, Naveah Hines-Bass zipped an inbounds pass to teammate Nygeria Thompson underneath the basket. Thompson got bumped from behind and lost control of the ball.
A James Kenan defender picked up the loose ball, dribbled down court as time expired and celebrated the 35-33, non-conference win.
“It was our favorite play, always call it ‘red’ … our bread and butter play,’” SW head coach Ricky Lofton said. “Destiny [Bullock] set the pick on her girl. Bass threw it right to her, she was wide open … just lost the ball. All she had to do was go up [strong] with it. It was there.”
The Saints led 21-16 at halftime.
Kenan sophomore guard Gabriel Outlaw buried a 3-pointer and created a 24-24 deadlock just before the third quarter ended.
The teams traded two ties and lead changes during the first four minutes of the final period. Lillie Kornegay drained a game-tying free throw to make it 28-28. The Tigers grabbed their first lead, 31-28, on Alexis McClamb’s long-range bomb from beyond the 3-point arc.
Hines-Bass pulled the Saints to within one point on two occasions, the last coming at 34-33 with 51.7 seconds left in regulation.
Y’Anna Rivers converted the front end of a two-shot foul to push the lead back to 35-33. The Tigers (1-1 overall) had several opportunities to increase their advantage in the final 40-plus seconds, but either missed free throws or committed a turnover to keep Southern Wayne in the game.
“We’re just so young, don’t have great ball handling right now and we’ve just got to keep working,” said Lofton, who returns just Hines-Bass and Thompson from last year’s team that claimed the 2023 Quad County 3A tournament crown.
“I’ve got three freshmen out there [on the court] and they just don’t understand the game right now. They’re playing hard and tonight was a lot better than the first game we played against Goldsboro. We’ve got to keep knocking, keep trying.”
Hines-Bass delivered a game- and team-high 21 points, while Thompson chipped in 11. No other player scratched in the scorebook for the Saints, who shot a woeful 4 of 13 (30.7 percent) from the free throw line.
Rivers scored seven points for the Tigers, who get a rematch at home against the Saints on Dec. 5. Kornegay contributed six points, while teammates RonNyia Joyner and Alexis McClamb tallied five points apiece.
Southern Wayne (0-2) entertains perennial 2A powerhouse North Pitt, which reached the eastern regional title game last winter. The Panthers are 2-1 this season.
