North Duplin guard Brady Byrd fires a 3-pointer from the corner during first-half action against Bear Grass Charter on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Dylan Tyndall (12) gets fouled on an open-court layup by Bear Grass Charter’s Mason Lytle during second-half action Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Bear Grass Charter’s Dawson Gardner (23) trips over North Duplin’s Tev Collins as they battle for a third-quarter rebound Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin sophomore Trashawn Ruffin (54) muscles his way toward the basket against a Bear Grass Charter defender Friday evening. Ruffin pumped in a game- and team-high 19 points during the Rebels’ double-digit victory. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Four staunch quarters of defense and unselfish offensive play provided the result North Duplin desired on the hardwood Friday evening.
Sophomore center Trashawn Ruffin poured in a game-high 19 points and eight teammates scratched in the scorebook during a 63-35 romp over Bear Grass Charter.
“We played a little better,” ND head coach Jeff Byrd said while he walked toward the locker room after the game.
Ruffin established his presence early.
The 6-foot-3, 307-pound sophomore flexed his muscle underneath the basket and accounted for the Rebels’ first five points — a layup and old-fashioned, three-point play. His presence helped establish an inside-outside game that the Bears couldn’t match on their end of the court.
Constant stoppages led to a disjointed offensive flow during the opening quarter. North Duplin scrapped for every loose ball and rebound, and cobbled out a 12-9 advantage.
Defense spearheaded the second quarter.
Byrd switched to a taller lineup of players who controlled the glass. The Bears went cold offensively and managed a meager five field goals during a 16-minute stretch.
“Defense was a big difference,” Byrd said. “We’ve been playing man, but we’ve started to mix in a little zone and I think we moved better, which we weren’t doing at the start of the year.
“It was a lot better than against Lejeune [on Wednesday]. I didn’t see any quit tonight. The other night, I thought we laid down a little bit.”
North Duplin stretched its 18-point margin at halftime to 50-22 after three quarters. Ruffin, junior Micah Lesasane, senior DuJuan Armwood and senior Thomas Morrisey capitalized on their size and athleticism.
Byrd also credited the ball movement.
The offensive execution inside led to some open looks on the perimeter. Armwood, Brady Byrd and Luke Kelly combined for four 3-pointers on the night.
“Offensively, when we share the ball, we look better,” coach Byrd said.
Lesasane finished with 10 points, followed by Armwood with nine. Brady Byrd and Kelly tallied five points apiece.
North Duplin (2-2 overall) travels to county rival James Kenan on Tuesday.
