Nothing but net as North Duplin’s No. 15 Camden Cox, buries both free throws adding to the Eagles’ deficit in the 4th quarter.
GOLDSBORO — The North Duplin Lady Rebels faced off against the Rosewood Lady Eagles in a defensive battle that turned into a commanding Rebels win, highlighted by a dominant fourth-quarter performance.
First Quarter: Defensive Standstill
The game opened with both teams searching for the first basket, as strong defense controlled the tempo early. With 3:43 remaining in the quarter, neither team had found the net. The Lady Rebels finally broke through at the 2:32 mark when No. 3 Abby Rose scored on a layup to put North Duplin on the board.
Following a timeout by Rosewood, the Eagles blocked a Rebels possession, but momentum quickly shifted back. A steal by No. 32 Abigeal Brown led to a fast-break basket by No. 10 Maggie Brown, extending the Rebels’ lead. The low-scoring quarter ended with North Duplin ahead 4–0.
Second Quarter: Momentum Shifts
Rosewood struck first in the second quarter to get on the scoreboard, but North Duplin quickly answered with a big three-pointer from No. 12 Reagan Herring. After a Rebels timeout, Rosewood regained possession, but their shot went out of bounds.
The Eagles managed another basket, but the Rebels responded aggressively. A drive resulted in a foul, sending No. 11 Lilly Fulghum to the free-throw line, where she calmly sank both shots. The Rebels maintained control heading into halftime.
Halftime Recap
Both teams started fast but struggled to score consistently early. North Duplin led by five points at halftime, winning both the first and second quarters while dominating the paint. Key contributors included No. 3 Abby Rose, No. 10 Maggie Brown, No. 11 Lilly Fulghum, and No. 12 Reagan Herring, while the Rebels also capitalized at the free-throw line.
Rosewood struggled with a scoreless first quarter but showed signs of life in the second, putting up four points to keep the game within reach.
Third Quarter: Rebels Hold the Line
Rosewood opened the third quarter by going 1-for-1 at the free-throw line and later converted two more after a Rebels foul. North Duplin found its rhythm midway through the quarter with No. 11 Lilly Fulghum hitting a free throw and No. 12 Reagan Herring knocking down a strong two-pointer.
After a timeout, Rosewood hit a key three-pointer to cut the deficit to two, but the Rebels quickly responded. No. 11 Lilly Fulghum sank two free throws, No. 10 Maggie Brown added a jump shot, and No. 3 Abby Rose came up with a steal and layup late in the quarter.
Despite Rosewood’s efforts at the line, North Duplin closed the third quarter ahead 22–14.
Fourth Quarter: Rebels Take Control
With eight minutes remaining, the Lady Rebels shifted into another gear. No. 10 Maggie Brown opened the quarter by sinking two free throws, followed by a steal and an and-one layup by No. 11 Lilly Fulghum. Another steal led to free throws by No. 15 Camden Cox, and No. 3 Abby Rose added a point at the line after yet another turnover.
Rosewood connected on a three-pointer from No. 5 Sophia Davis, but it wasn’t enough to slow the Rebels’ momentum. North Duplin continued to dominate, pushing the score to 34–16 with 4:26 left in the game.
After another basket by No. 11 Lilly Fulghum, Rosewood called a timeout. Coaches Kornegay and Wolfe encouraged the Rebels to stay focused and finish strong. North Duplin did just that, adding more points at the free-throw line and another basket from No. 11 Lilly Fulghum to extend the lead to 41–16. North Duplin closed out the game with authority, outscoring Rosewood by 22 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Final Score: North Duplin Lady Rebels 44, Rosewood Lady Eagles 19
