Southern Wayne’s Jacob Graham (11) and Maurice Battle (20) trap East Wake guard Haywood Ruffin during second-half action Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Hayden Stroud (12) looks for an open teammate during second-half action against Quad County 3A rival East Wake. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jaden Moore poured in a game- and career-high 31 points during a loss to Quad County 3A JV boys’ rival East Wake. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin and Hobbton meet next Tuesday in Newton Grove for sole possession of the Carolina 1A boys’ basketball race as first-half league play concludes.
The Rebels climbed to 3-1 in league action with a 46-38 road conquest of Rosewood Friday evening.
“Big win tonight,” ND head coach Jeff Byrd said. “Offensively, we struggled in the first half … took a while to settle down. We were playing a little too fast and out of control, not moving the basketball. We played some very good defense.
“We did well contesting shots and rebounding.”
Donovan Armwood and Michael Lesasane led North Duplin’s offensive attack with 10 points apiece. DuJuan Armwood scratched for nine points.
Luke Kelly and Trashawn Ruffin scored six points apiece.
The Eagles led 21-17 at halftime.
North Duplin (7-9 overall) outscored Rosewood 16-4 in the third quarter and avenged a loss during final-day action of the 11th annual Greater Neuse River Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic in late December.
Outlaw, Higginbotham lead ND
Reece Outlaw logged a double-double — 14 points, 10 steals — during North Duplin’s 37-8 romp over Carolina 1A girls’ basketball rival Rosewood on Friday evening.
The Rebels claimed their eighth straight win over the Eagles.
Addy Higginbotham provided 13 points, seven steals, three rebounds and five assists. Meghan Martin notched four points and six rebounds. Frontcourt mate Tateyawna Faison had a quiet night with two points and five rebounds.
Abigail Norris added two points.
North Duplin collected 24 steals as a team.
The Rebels (10-6 overall, 3-1 Carolina) conclude first-half conference play Tuesday at Hobbton.
Goldsboro dominates SC girls
SEVEN SPRINGS — Unbeaten Goldsboro forced 38 turnovers and cruised past Spring Creek, 65-32, on the Neuse Six 2A girls’ basketball scene Friday evening.
Trinity Daniels just missed a double-double – 13 points, eight rebounds – in the Gators’ loss. Kiarah Pearson contributed 11 points. Emily Williams and Heather Alexander tallied three points apiece.
Natalie Jackson recorded two points.
The Cougars departed “The Swamp” 16-0 in all games and 4-0 against Neuse Six 2A opposition.
Spring Creek (6-9 overall, 1-2 Neuse Six) entertains Beddingfield on Tuesday.
Saints JV boys fall
DUDLEY — Southern Wayne erased a double-digit, second-half deficit, but got bit by the turnover bug in the final period Friday evening.
East Wake capitalized on 10 fourth-quarter miscues and exited “The Halo” with a 71-58 victory in Quad County 3A play.
Down 51-41, Hayden Stroud’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the third period ignited a 10-0 run.
Jaden Moore, who pumped in a career-high 31 points, attacked the basket and scored twice during the offensive surge. Teammate Maurice Battle capped the run with his only basket – a fade away 3-pointer in front of the Saints’ student section.
The Warriors responded with a 7-0 spurt.
Kam Diggins’ basket momentarily stopped the momentum.
East Wake scored 13 of the game’s final 18 points to seal the outcome.
Stroud finished with nine points for Southern Wayne, which is the guest of West Johnston next Tuesday. Ivory Moore contributed seven points, while Diggins ended up with four points.
