North Duplin Lady Rebels secure fifth place at FCA Winter Tournament

Round 3: North Duplin vs. Eastern Wayne

The North Duplin Lady Rebels battled the Eastern Wayne Lady Warriors in Round 3 of the FCA Winter Tournament with fifth place on the line. From strong defensive pressure to timely scoring, the Rebels put together a complete performance to earn a 52–40 victory and claim the fifth-place finish.

First Quarter: Evenly Matched Up

North Duplin struck first as No. 3 Abby Rose opened the scoring. After a rebound, the Rebels were fouled, sending No. 11 Lilly Fulghum to the free-throw line, where she calmly sank both shots. Eastern Wayne responded quickly with a strong layup and a free throw to even the score at 4–4 early.

The Warriors briefly took control with a jump shot and another basket, forcing a Rebels timeout as Eastern Wayne built a six-point lead. Coach Kornegay used the timeout to refocus his team, and it paid off immediately. No. 11 Lilly Fulghum drained a big three-pointer, shifting momentum back to North Duplin.

Despite another Warriors basket, the Rebels closed the quarter strong. With just over a minute remaining, No. 32 Abigeal Brown hit a clutch jump shot to give North Duplin the lead. At the end of the first quarter, the Rebels edged ahead 13–12.

Second Quarter: Rebels Take Control

The Rebels opened the second quarter aggressively. After a foul, No. 11 Lilly Fulghum converted at the free-throw line, followed by a Warriors layup to keep things competitive. No. 32 Abigeal Brown answered with a jump shot, and after a Warriors timeout, the Rebels’ defense took over.

Steals by No. 3 Abby Rose and No. 32 Abigeal Brown led to easy baskets, while No. 10 Maggie Brown added points from the free-throw line. Coach Kornegay and Coach Wolfe called a timeout with the Rebels leading 19–15 to reinforce their game plan.

North Duplin continued to dominate, forcing turnovers and converting them into points. A steal by No. 11 Lilly Fulghum led to a layup by No. 3 Abby Rose, and despite a few missed opportunities late, the Rebels closed the half with a comfortable advantage.

Halftime Score: North Duplin Rebels 24, Eastern Wayne Warriors 15

Halftime Recap

At halftime, North Duplin led by nine points behind balanced scoring and relentless defense. No. 3 Abby Rose led all scorers with 9 points, while No. 11 Lilly Fulghum added 7. The Rebels’ defensive pressure produced multiple steals, setting the tone for the game. Eastern Wayne showed fight early but struggled to match North Duplin’s intensity in the second quarter. With fifth place on the line, both teams prepared for a decisive second half.

Third Quarter: Rebels Extend the Lead

Eastern Wayne struck first in the third quarter, hoping to spark a comeback. After a steal and two made free throws, the Warriors showed renewed energy. North Duplin responded immediately, as No. 32 Abigeal Brown finished a layup and converted the and-one opportunity.

The teams traded baskets, but the Rebels continued to answer every Warriors run. No. 11 Lilly Fulghum and No. 3 Abby Rose each scored key baskets, forcing another Warriors timeout. Despite Eastern Wayne cutting the deficit to six at one point, No. 3 Abby Rose knocked down a huge three-pointer to swing momentum back in the Rebels’ favor.

Late steals and fast-break baskets helped North Duplin pull away. By the end of the third quarter, the Rebels held a commanding 42–29 lead.

Fourth Quarter: Rebels Finish the Job

With eight minutes remaining, North Duplin stayed focused. Baskets by No. 10 Maggie Brown and No. 12 Reagan Herring kept the pressure on, while the Warriors attempted to close the gap with trips to the free-throw line and a couple of quick scores.

Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, but the Rebels never relinquished control. Their defense remained strong, and their offense continued to respond whenever Eastern Wayne scored.

Final Score: North Duplin Rebels 52, Eastern Wayne Warriors 40