North Duplin’s Meghan Martin, with ball, has her path to the basket blocked by Union’s Cianna Cobb, center, and Rittana Murphy during their game Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin guard Addy Higginbotham, left, drives the baseline against Union’s Ariyona Spearman during second-half play Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Who was this Meghan Martin?
Lacking confidence in her playing ability, the North Duplin senior experienced that long-awaited “coming out” party Tuesday evening.
It couldn’t have come at a better time.
Reeling from a disappointing two-point loss last Friday, Martin helped the Rebels regain their footing in Carolina 1A play. She just missed a double-double with a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds during North Duplin’s 59-34 rout of Union.
The double-digit triumph created a four-way tie for the league lead at 2-1 with Union, Lakewood and Rosewood.
“Whatever it was, it should have been there the whole time,” ND head coach John Oliver said of Martin’s effort. “That takes a lot of pressure off of Tateyawna [Faison] when she plays like that. If our team had played half as good as they played tonight, we’d have beaten Lakewood.”
Indeed.
In a rematch of last year’s Carolina tournament final, the two teams played a ragged opening quarter.
Union sharp-shooter Ariyona Spearman opened the scoring with a 3-pointer. A returning all-conference performer, the senior tallied 17 points. She endured a late third-quarter injury and did not return to the game.
The Rebels’ Addy Higginbotham dropped in the game-tying 3. Lilly Fulghum’s weakside offensive putback and Faison’s old-fashioned, three-point play pushed North Duplin in front 8-4 after one period.
Martin dominated the second quarter. She collected 11 points on five of six field goals with seven points, including a free throw, coming off of four offensive rebounds.
The absence of Martin’s boyfriend calmed her nerves.
“She told me she always gets nervous when he watches her play,” ND assistant coach Sandy McCarty said at halftime. “I told her he can’t come to any more of her games.”
Martin’s tenacity and Higginbotham’s consistent shooting, particularly a pull-up 3-pointer in transition, boosted North Duplin’s advantage to 29-14 at halftime.
The Rebels’ margin ballooned to 49-25 after three quarters.
“I think we played more in control [tonight] that we did at Lakewood,” Oliver said. “Our rhythm was there tonight. Reece [Outlaw] didn’t shoot the ball well tonight, but Addy did. That’s a good thing when you have two good shooting guards.”
Higginbotham turned in a 19-point performance and notched seven steals for the Rebels, who extended their homecourt win streak to 26 and improved to 27-2 against conference opposition in regular-season and tournament play since 2022.
Faison flirted with a double-double — eight points, nine rebounds. Outlaw provided six points, five rebounds and four steals. Lilly Fulghum contributed four rebounds and three assists.
Abigail Norris dropped in two baskets.
North Duplin (9-6 overall) is the guest of Rosewood on Friday.
