North Duplin’s Tateyawna Faison pulls down a rebound during a recent game. The Rebels suffered a four-point road loss Friday evening at Union. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SMITHFIELD — Freshman Demetrius Elliott led three Southern Wayne players in double figures with 13 points Friday evening during a 51-43 conquest of Quad County 3A rival Smithfield-Selma.
“Demetrius played the game well, hit key baskets [with] no turnovers and played great defense from the guard position,” SW head coach Brian West said. “Chris continues to play well with this extremely young team. [I’m] just proud of our growth as a unit and super excited about the years coming forward with a bunch of young talent that works hard.”
Jayden Hardy provided 13 points for the Saints, who earned a regular-season sweep of the Spartans. Chris Carmon chipped in 11 points.
Douglas Wynn Jr. and Jaylen Bowden scratched for four points apiece.
Southern Wayne (8-14 overall, 4-8 QCC) returns home Tuesday for a QCC battle with Wilson Fike.
SW girls cruise
SMITHFIELD — Southern Wayne triumphed for the third time in last four outings Friday evening with a 52-17 shellacking of Quad County 3A rival Smithfield-Selma.
Nevaeh Hines-Bass paced the Saints’ offense with 18 points.
Senior center Wilberline Senatus just missed a double-double with career highs of nine points and 12 points. Myhirah Hunter and Kyren Strong provided eight points apiece.
Aaliyah Williams tallied six points.
The Saints (9-13 overall, 6-6 QCC) entertain Fike on Tuesday.
Rebel girls stunned
ROSE HILL — North Duplin’s quest for a third consecutive Carolina 1A regular-season championship took a hard dive Friday evening.
The Rebels missed 12 free throws in the fourth quarter and 15 overall during a 43-39 loss to Union.
Senior Ariyona Spearman tossed in 21 points for the Spartans, who seized sole possession of the conference lead at 7-1 with one week remaining in regular-season play.
North Duplin fell to 6-2 in conference action.
According to the scorebook, the Rebels shot 3 of 6 from the free throw line before the disastrous fourth quarter occurred. They converted a paltry 25 percent (4 of 16) in the final eight minutes.
Junior point guard Addy Higginbotham collected nine points, four assists and three rebounds. Reece Outlaw contributed nine points and eight rebounds. Lilly Fulghum scored six points.
Tateyawna Faison stayed busy with eight points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and two steals. Meghan Martin notched three points and eight rebounds. Abigail Norris provided four points and five rebounds.
North Duplin (13-7 overall) returns home Tuesday for senior night against Rosewood.
