North Duplin’s No. 32 Abigeal Brown, prepares to inbound the ball as the Rebels battle to the final buzzer. (Kareem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
The North Duplin Lady Rebels stepped onto their home court for the first time this season, looking to build on the momentum of last year’s remarkable run. But standing in their way were the battle tested Wayne Christian Lady Eagles, already carrying two wins this season and prepared to make this matchup anything but easy. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, this game delivered all the intensity fans could ask for.
First Quarter: Rebels Strike Fast
North Duplin wasted no time setting the tone, with No. 12 Reagan Herring scoring the first basket on a smooth layup. Moments later, No. 32 Abigeal Brown muscled through the lane for another strong finish, putting the Rebels up early. Wayne Christian responded with a basket of their own before No. 3 Abby Rose of the Eagles added a crucial score and drew a foul. She went 1 for 1 at the line, tightening the game.
The Eagles called a timeout with 3:52 left in the quarter, hoping to slow North Duplin’s early surge. But the Rebels stayed in control, extending the lead to 11–2 before the Eagles earned another trip to the free-throw line coming up empty. A late defensive stand, including a big block by No. 32 Abigeal Brown, helped North Duplin end the first quarter ahead 11–3.
Second Quarter: Defense Dominates, Rebels Maintain Control
The Rebels opened the second quarter with another quick bucket, but the Eagles immediately matched it. North Duplin’s defense continued to shine as No. 10 Maggie Brown delivered a powerful block, while the Eagles kept fighting for a spark of momentum with defensive stops of their own.
A foul on No. 3 Abby Rose sent her to the line, but the Rebels couldn’t convert. Still, North Duplin held a firm 15–5 advantage with 3:55 remaining. After a timeout from Coach Kornegay, the Rebels came out energized, scoring consecutive baskets through No. 3 Abby Rose, who was becoming the focal point of the offense.
Wayne Christian battled back with a layup, but North Duplin continued to build on its lead. No. 32 Abigeal Brown earned a trip to the line late in the half but couldn’t knock down the free throws. The Rebels carried a confident 19–9 lead into halftime.
Halftime Standout Performances
North Duplin’s No. 3 Abby Rose dominated the first half, putting up 13 of the team’s 19 points and proving to be a threat from all areas of the court. Defensively, the combination of No. 32 Abigeal Brown and No. 10 Maggie Brown provided multiple crucial blocks that helped maintain the Rebels’ control.
Wayne Christian, however, found rhythm late in the second quarter and showed they were far from out of the fight, scoring six points to keep the game within reach.
Third Quarter: Eagles Rally Back
The Rebels came out strong after halftime, with No. 12 Reagan Herring adding another basket to extend the lead. The Eagles responded at the free-throw line, going 1 for 1, and soon after, No. 3 Abby Rose of North Duplin countered with a free throw of her own.
Wayne Christian began heating up, powering through with a series of quick baskets and a made free throw, cutting the deficit to just five. With the score tightening to 24–19, the Eagles continued applying pressure, forcing a North Duplin timeout to regroup.
The Eagles struck again out of the break, trimming the lead to just three before No. 3 Abby Rose delivered another clutch basket to give the Rebels breathing room at 26–21. A pair of free throws splitting the pair pushed the Rebels further ahead, but Wayne Christian closed the quarter strong.
After capitalizing on turnovers and second-chance opportunities, the Eagles closed the gap to 27–24 heading into the thrilling final quarter.
Fourth Quarter: A Battle to the Final Buzzer
With eight minutes left, both teams were locked in for the final push. Wayne Christian opened with a quick basket, making it a 27–26 game. A foul on the Rebels sent the Eagles to the line, but they couldn’t convert.
North Duplin struggled to capitalize on their possessions, and the Eagles nearly took advantage before missed free throws stalled their momentum. Then came a huge moment No. 15 Camden Cox of the Rebels drilled a key shot, extending the lead to 29–26 with just over four minutes remaining.
But the Eagles refused to back down. After a score by No. 3 Abby Rose pushed the Rebels ahead 31–26, Wayne Christian responded with defensive pressure, steals, and points at the free-throw line. Another split trip to the charity stripe made it 31–29.
The Eagles then found their moment a clutch three pointer to tie the game at 31–31. Seconds later, another basket gave them their first lead of the night, 33–31.
North Duplin’s No. 10 Maggie Brown added a free throw to cut it to 33–32, but time wasn’t on the Rebels’ side. As the final seconds wound down, Wayne Christian held on, completing an incredible comeback to take the win.
Final Score: Wayne Christian 33, North Duplin 32
