Rosewood’s Hunter Sasser looks for an open teammate against Neuse Charter defender Klayton Tew during second-half play in their Carolina 1A semifinal-round tournament game Thursday evening in Calypso. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Akari Johnson (1) and Neuse Charter’s Klayton Tew (10) watch a loose ball bounce towards the sideline. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Joseph Bailey takes a sip of water during a timeout against Neuse Charter. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Neuse Charter’s Klayton Tew (10) attempts to hold onto a loose ball around his teammates and a Rosewood defender. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Neuse Charter senior guard Tayvin Bradley scored 27 points against Rosewood. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Vance Carter (14) attempts to prevent Union guard Josiah Swinson from scoring during first-half play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Lucas Dail (10) and Christopher Kornegay (40) block a shot by Union’s Josiah Swinson. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Noa Quintanilla, on floor, battles for a loose-ball possession against Union’s Derik Aycock during second-half action Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Christopher Kornegay (40) blocks a shot while teammate Lucas Gregory looks on during second-half play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Christopher Kornegay, left, takes a shot over a Union defender while teammate Lucas Dail gets in position for the rebound. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Noa Quintanilla, right, blocks a shot by Union’s Xavier Allen during first-half action. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Head coach Nick Nielsen may have sent out an email to North Duplin’s teachers asking to pardon his junior varsity basketball players if they appear a little groggy in class Friday.
His request would undoubtedly hold merit.
The Rebels rallied from a double-digit deficit and claimed a 70-65, double-overtime thriller over Union during semifinal-round play in the 2024 Carolina 1A Conference tournament Thursday afternoon.
Second-seeded North Duplin faces Rosewood for the tournament crown today. Tip-off is 4:30 p.m.
Rosewood’s varsity boys weathered a pair of second-half rallies and turned back Neuse Charter, 54-42, in their semifinal-round clash. The Eagles (14-10 overall) seek their third consecutive tournament championship today against top-seeded North Duplin.
Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.
JV Boys
North Duplin 70, Union 65 (2 OT)
Josiah Swinson nearly beat the Rebels by himself.
The Spartans’ point guard tickled the twine for a game-high 30 points. However, he watched the final 5-plus minutes from bench after he collected his fifth foul with 1:35 left in the first overtime.
Union led 55-53.
North Duplin’s Lucas Dail provided the game-tying basket off a Spartan turnover. The Spartans moved back in front 58-55 before the Rebels’ Daniel Guo called “bank” on a 3-pointer with less than 60 seconds to go.
Each team misfired on their respective ensuing possessions, which set up a second OT.
Dail pushed the Rebels in front 60-58 and Union’s Derik Aycock answered with a 3-pointer. Duo drained his second trifecta, which put North Duplin back ahead 63-61 around the two-minute mark.
Tied at 65-65, the Rebels’ Lucas Gregory provided back-to-back baskets, which sealed the nail-biting comeback.
Dail posted 17 points. Carson Barwick helped ignite the second-half comeback with four 3-pointers. Holden Williams tallied 10 points, while Gregory finished with eight.
Officials called 52 fouls during the 40-minute affair. Six players fouled out – four from North Duplin and two from Union. The Spartans shot 22 of 49 from the free throw line, while the Rebels converted 12 of 26 attempts.
Varsity
Rosewood 54, Neuse Charter 42
David Lamm’s 3-pointer and consecutive baskets from Julius Coltrane boosted the Eagles’ advantage to 29-14 after halftime.
Senior guard Jayvin Bradley, the conference’s leading scorer, spearheaded a 15-3 run that allowed fourth-seeded Neuse Charter to climb within 32-29.
Rosewood answered.
Hunter Sasser started a period-ending 8-3 run with a 3-pointer and offensive putback. The Eagles led 40-32 after three quarters, but had to stave off the fourth-seeded Cougars one more time.
Bradley continued to fill up the basket and kept Neuse Charter within striking distance with five minutes to go. Rosewood tallied 12 of the game’s final 16 points and advanced to the finals.
Lamm provided 16 points before he fouled. Sasser scored 15, while Coltrane finished with 12. Shaw University football signee Micah Cox scored just four points, but helped control the boards each time the Cougars made a run.
Bradley finished with 27.
2024 Carolina 1A Conference
Basketball Tournament
Monday’s games
Girls
(at Lakewood HS, Salemburg)
Neuse Charter 47, Rosewood 23
Lakewood 58, Hobbton 18
Tuesday’s games
Boys
(at Neuse Charter, Smithfield)
Lakewood 69, Hobbton 64
Neuse Charter 79, Union 33
Wednesday’s games
Semifinals
(at North Duplin HS, Calypso)
JV Boys
Rosewood 49, Hobbton 40
Girls
Union 41, Neuse Charter 36
Boys
North Duplin 76, Lakewood 68
Thursday’s games
Semifinals
(at North Duplin HS, Calypso)
JV Boys
North Duplin 70, Union 65 (2 OT)
Girls
North Duplin 56, Lakewood 32
Boys
Rosewood 54, Neuse Charter 42
Today’s games
Championships
(at North Duplin HS, Calypso)
JV Boys
4:30 p.m. — Rosewood (12-9) vs. North Duplin (12-8)
Girls
6 p.m. — Union (18-4) vs. North Duplin (16-7)
Boys
7:30 p.m. — North Duplin (14-9) vs. Rosewood (14-10)
