North Duplin sophomore Addy Higginbotham, back, attempts to keep possession against East Columbus in second-round action of the NC High School Athletic Association 1A playoffs last winter. Higginbotham is one of four starters back for the Rebels, who enjoyed a record-setting, 22-win campaign - the program’s best season since 1990.|(Rudy Coggins/mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO – North Duplin returns four starters off last year’s girls’ basketball team that posted the program’s best hardcourt campaign in three-plus decades.
Led by a crew of underclassmen, the Rebels swept the Carolina 1A regular-season and tournament crowns for the first time since 1990. Their historic journey ended with a third-round playoff loss at Wilson Prep.
So, is a repeat possible?
Undoubtedly.
“We have the potential to be as good or better,” said Rebels head coach John Oliver. “I told the girls we’ve got to work hard and gel … find our own identity. We’re not the team we were last year.”
But North Duplin is darn close.
Back are junior guard Reece Outlaw, sophomore guard Addy Higginbotham, sophomore forward Tateyawna Faison and junior forward Meghan Martin. The quartet combined for nearly 80 percent of the team’s scoring last winter.
The Rebels averaged 50.5 points a game.
Oliver said Outlaw has been selected as the team captain.
“I told her [Outlaw] and Addy that they’ve got to be my leaders and set the pace, in fact they’ve got to turn it on more,” Oliver said. “I expect them to do the same as they did last year [and] Tateyawna to come along more. Martin should be better.
“I’m not going to put pressure on the freshmen, but I see potential.”
Opponents can expect pressure defense, which fuels the Rebels’ offensive engine. Outlaw shoots well from the perimeter, especially in transition or off of screens.
Higginbotham likes to slash toward the basket and draw contact. She led the team in free throw attempts a year ago.
Faison and Martin have the chore of cleaning off the glass. Both are capable of consistently producing double-doubles, one of the factors that helped spark North Duplin’s unforgettable run.
“I’m doing the same thing I’ve been doing for years,” Oliver said. “It worked last year and I’m not changing anything … other than the offense a little bit.”
North Duplin puts its 10-game home win streak on the line today at home against Jones Senior. Tip-off is 6 p.m.
