North Duplin’s Dylan Tyndall knocks down two of his 13 second-half points as East Bladen’s Lee Barnes comes in late to defend during their second-round game in the NC High School Athletic Association Class 1A playoffs Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
East Bladen’s Peyton Tatum gets his hand on a shot by North Duplin’s Branson Martin. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s DuJuan Armwood (10) scores against East Bladen’s Rodney Lacewell during fourth-quarter play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Micah Lesesane scores over the out-stretched arms of East Bladen defender Rodney Lacewell. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — North Duplin lived by the “next man up” mantra Friday evening.
Micah Lesesane endured a third-quarter injury.
Donovan Armwood fouled out.
The absences disrupted the team’s normal “five-man platoon” system, but Dylan Tyndall and Branson Martin convincingly filled the void.
The duo combined for 12 fourth-quarter points and helped vault ninth-seeded North Duplin past East Bladen, 76-63, in round two of the NC High School Athletic Association Class 1A boys’ basketball playoffs.
Next up?
Defending state champ Wilson Prep awaits Tuesday.
“We just wanted it more, wanted to win badly,” Tyndall said. “That was it.”
East Bladen had other thoughts.
The upset-minded Eagles connected on five of their first six shots, including two 3-pointers from 6-foot-2 senior forward Lee Barnes.
North Duplin also contended with a clogged up zone defense.
East Bladen used its length and quickness to shut down the passing lanes, and also controlled the glass. Offensively, the Eagles built a three-possession advantage and led 15-12 after the first eight minutes.
“I thought we looked bad the first half,” Rebels head coach Jeff Byrd said. “I didn’t think we had any energy, was just jogging around and weren’t getting after them. We were just going through the motions.”
The Rebels tied the game at 20-20, but entered the break down 28-24.
Although Byrd couldn’t repeat his halftime “speech,” the team responded.
North Duplin forged ahead 29-28.
The Eagles moved back in front before Armwood converted an offensive putback. Tyndall delivered back-to-back 3-pointers, which helped extend the margin to 39-30.
East Bladen climbed to within 41-35.
Tyndall and DuJuan Armwood provided key baskets, which gave North Duplin its biggest lead – 47-35 – with 59.1 seconds left in the third period.
“I made my first shot and I was in the groove, I guess,” the soft-spoken Tyndall said. “We just started playing tougher with the basketball and we weren’t going to let them take it from us.”
Martin spearheaded an early fourth-quarter run. He chased in underneath on an assist from Donovan Armwood and completed a four-point play after getting fouled on a 3-pointer that swished the net.
Armwood added two free throws to make it 58-46.
Silent for nearly 2 1/2 quarters, the partisan North Duplin crowd woke up.
Tyndall added two baskets, including a traditional three-point play, late in the fourth. Armwood easily sank free throws and Trashawn Ruffin converted an offensive putback.
The Rebels led 73-57.
“We knew going into the season he [Tyndall] could shoot the three and tonight he got into a little groove,” Byrd said. “That’s the kind of player he is. I thought by far that’s the best game he’s played [this season]. The second half they played our tempo, which is what we talked about at halftime.
“We trapped, pressure and pushed the ball up court. We made them get in man [defense] and I thought we were quicker in some places. That’s what happened.”
Armwood pumped in 18 points for the Rebels, who will play a third-round postseason contest for the first time since 1997. Tyndall tallied 13, followed Lesesane with 12. Martin scratched for 11.
North Duplin shot 23 of 27 from the free throw line.
“We advance and that’s all that matters,” said Byrd, whose team improved to 17-9 overall and collected its 13th consecutive victory.
