North Duplin sophomore Tristyn Blust waits at the scorer’s table to enter a recent game. The Rebels are 4-2 after a 38-point win over Spring Creek on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Once rivals on the Carolina 1A Conference scene for nearly two decades, North Duplin and Spring Creek wrapped up their regular-season series on the hardwood Friday evening.
Tateyawna Faison logged her fifth double-double of the season – 14 points, 11 rebounds – during the Rebels’ 59-21 romp over the Gators. The senior center blocked seven shots.
Brennan Chambers and Nathan Jackson combined for 47 points to lead the Gator boys past the Rebels, 61-53.
Girls
Now 4-2 overall with first-year head coach Jon Kornegay, North Duplin connected on 25 field goals and cleaned the glass for 37 rebounds.
Senior point guard Abby Higginbotham provided a season-high 15 points, including nine from 3-point range. She distributed eight assists and picked the Gators for three steals.
Lilly Fulghum contributed nine points. Abby Rose filed six points, three rebounds and one assist on her stat sheet. The sister tandem of Maggie and Abigeal Norris Brown recorded six points and five rebounds apiece.
Eva Quintanilla snared six rebounds.
Trinity Daniels tallied eight points and eight rebounds for the Gators. Heather Alexander contributed six points and seven rebounds, while Natalie Jackson had three points and four rebounds.
Spring Creek shot 9 of 48 from the floor.
The Rebels return to action Dec. 23 in the Fellowship of Christian Athletics Winter Classic at Lenoir Community College. Opening-round pairings for the three-team, eight-day tournament have not been released.
The Gators (2-4) continue a five-game road swing Jan. 3, 2025 at Rosewood.
Boys
Chambers notched a double-double — 28 points and 13 rebounds. The junior converted of 12 of 16 attempts at the free throw line and had four steals.
Jackson supplied 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. Jackson Rose provided six points, one rebound, one assist and two steals.
Jalen Johnson and Josh Lewis each had three points.
ND statistics were not available.
Spring Creek (2-4) returns to action Dec. 27 at New Bern. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Rebels (0-3) hit the court Dec. 20 against perennial independent powerhouse Wayne Country Day in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic. Tip-off is 5 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
