North Duplin senior Dylan Tyndall knocks down a fourth-quarter layup against Tarboro. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Tev Collins, right, dribbles past a Tarboro defender after escaping a trap on the baseline. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Branson Martin, right, defends against Tarboro’s Jaheim Armfield during first-half action Tuesday.
North Duplin’s Donovan Armwood looks for the call after getting trapped and fouled by two Tarboro defenders at midcourt Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin head coach Jeff Byrd, left, talks with his team during a brief timeout against Tarboro. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Donovan Armwood tallies two of his game-high 18 points against Tarboro’s Cam Harper during first-quarter action Tuesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Donovan Armwood, left, drives against Tarboro defender Reggie Bess before passing the ball off to a teammate during first-period play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Tarboro defenders Jaheim Armfield and Jay Dickens (5) can’t stop North Duplin’s Trashawn Ruffin from scoring during first-period play Tuesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Tarboro’s Kam McDowell (0) knocks the ball away from North Duplin’s Trashawn Ruffin. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Anthony Kornegay scores between Tarboro defenders Jay Dickens (5) and Kam McDowell (0) during first-quarter play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s DuJuan Armwood scores the Rebels’ first game of the game against Tarboro’s Jaheim Armfield. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Luke Kelly, middle, battles for the rebound against two Tarboro defenders on a free throw attempt. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Brady Byrd easily drains a technical foul free throw against Tarboro. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Micah Lesesane (40) scores against Tarboro’s Jay Dickens. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Donovan Armwood cashes in a layup past Tarboro defender Jay Dickens (5) during second-half play Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — A high-stakes basketball game against two talented opponents — one determined to pull off an upset — took place Tuesday evening in North Duplin’s gymnasium.
The electric atmosphere soon turned into chaos.
With just 80 seconds remaining in regulation, the game spiraled into disorder when tensions flared and a fight broke out behind the North Duplin and Tarboro benches.
Tarboro players — from the bench and court — immediately rushed into the stands. Duplin County Sheriffs, along with administrators and athletic officials from North Duplin, attempted to break up the melee.
Rebels assistant coach Jamie Wallace and coaches from the girls’ basketball team ushered the North Duplin boys — who were not involved in the scuffle — to the locker room. They remained inside until the incident had been handled.
The specific cause of the altercation remains undetermined.
Referees ruled the game official as they walked off the court.
Ninth-seeded North Duplin prevailed 90-70 and will entertain East Bladen in round two of the NC High School Athletic Association Class 1A boys’ basketball playoffs Friday. The Rebels earned the program’s first postseason win since 1988.
“I hate it ended like that,” Rebels head coach Jeff Byrd said.
Physical and chippy play, along with “chirping” from both teams surfaced after the opening tip-off. Officials assessed 13 fouls, including eight against the Rebels, in the opening quarter.
North Duplin maintained its composure.
Though the Rebels’ lead shrunk to single digits, they managed to find a spark just before halftime. Brady Byrd’s layup in transition sparked an 8-0 that gave North Duplin a 41-26 cushion at the break.
“By far, this is the most-athletic team we’ve played all year,” coach Byrd said. “Overall, I thought we executed what we wanted to do. We ran a couple of [different] defenses, I thought we moved the ball on offense. When we go spread [offense] and teams go man [on defense], we’ve got some athletes, too. I think they kind of got tired and frustrated.”
Constant stoppage in play elongated the second half.
North Duplin (16-9 overall) struggled to sprint back in transition and gave up numerous “and-one” opportunities to Tarboro. The scores allowed the 24th-seeded Vikings (8-14) to employ a trapping defense that led to fouls, and drew the ire of the Tarboro coaching staff.
“I told them at halftime to expect them to be more physical … take some shots at us [and] try to get us out of our game,” Byrd said. “I kind of pictured that. I told them we’ve just got to hold our composure and play just four minutes at a time.
“We may be up by 20 points, but it’s far from over.”
Play continued in the same manner.
The officials called six technical fouls and ejected Tarboro’s assistant coach, who walked off the court just as the melee unfolded in the stands.
The Rebels led 90-70.
A mere 1:20 remained on the clock.
“None of our players were involved,” Byrd said. “That’s a real good thing for me because Coach Wallace got them in here. I know they wanted to see what’s going on. They understood [that] we can’t do anything to get ourselves in trouble.
“We’re going to the second round.”
The teams combined for 70 fouls and 92 free throw attempts. Seven players fouled out.
Donovan Armwood led five Rebels in double figures with 18 points, while older brother, DuJuan, knocked down 14. Micah Lesesane and Brady Byrd tallied 13 apiece. Tev Collins scored 11.
North Duplin extended its win streak to 12 games.
