North Duplin head girls’ basketball coach John Oliver watches his team from the sideline during a recent game. The Rebels have a 13-day break before playing in the 2023 Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
TRENTON — Freshman Abigail Norris and sophomore Lilly Fulghum turned in career-best performances during North Duplin’s 60-39 trouncing of Jones Senior on the hardwood Wednesday evening.
Norris, a 5-foot-8 center, provided a career-high eight points off the bench and picked Jones Senior for two steals. Fulghum poured in a career-best 11 points and added five steals, three rebounds and three assists to her stat sheet.
Addy Higginbotham dropped in a game-high 22 points, collected six steals, dished out three assists and pulled down two rebounds. Backcourt mate Reece Outlaw supplied 13 points, six steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Meghan Martin registered three rebounds and four points.
On Tuesday, the Rebels endured a shocking, 41-38 loss at James Kenan.
Outlaw emerged as the top scorer with 19 points. Tateyawna Faison scored eight points, followed by Higginbotham with seven. Fulghum and Eva Quintanilla scratched for two points apiece.
Senior Lillie Kornegay and freshman Y’Anna Rivers each logged a double-double for the Tigers. Kornegay tallied 13 points and snatched 12 rebounds. Rivers knocked down 13 points, grabbed 14 boards, collected five steals and blocked four shots.
Senior RonNyia Joyner doled out five assists, while freshman Aleyah Wilson had five points and five steals.
Kenan improved to 3-1 this season.
Athletics director Ricky Edwards announced Thursday morning that the Rebels’ trip to Wayne Christian on Friday has been cancelled.
North Duplin (5-1 overall) returns to action Dec. 27 against Southwest Onslow on opening day of the third annual Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletics Winter Classic. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.
The Rebels oppose perennial 2A juggernaut Farmville Central on Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m. They conclude Classic play Dec. 29 against Neuse Six 2A member Eastern Wayne.
JK boys turn back Rebels
WARSAW — TJ Oates torched the nets for a career-high 29 points during James Kenan’s 88-78, non-conference conquest of county rival North Duplin inside Harmon Gym on Tuesday evening.
Tyquise Wilson added 14 points and dished out eight assists for the Tigers, who extended their win streak to 14 over the Rebels. Darius Howard had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Jeremiah Hall had 12 points and four assists. Stephone Stanley scored 10 points. Kel Artis blocked three shots, pulled down 10 rebounds and logged six points in the scorebook.
“We executed very well in the first half [with] 65 percent of our points coming off assists,” Kenan head coach Taylor Jones said. “I was very proud of how we moved and flowed on offense despite what North Duplin was trying to do [defensively]. In the third quarter and into the fourth, the game got choppy with a lot of fouls. We sustained a lot of foul trouble and I was proud of our overall game play.”
The Tigers (2-1 overall) visit Kinston on Friday.
North Duplin meets Wayne Prep on Dec. 20 during opening day of the 2023 Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus.
Admission is $10.
