Southern Wayne Saints’ No. 1 Jaylen Carr passes Warriors defenders with slick moves for a very contested layup. (Kareem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
WILSON — The Southern Wayne Saints and the Hunt Warriors delivered an intense, back-and-forth matchup marked by momentum swings, defensive pressure, and standout individual performances. Despite a strong start and a late surge from the Saints, the Warriors pulled away to secure a 67–59 victory.
First Quarter: Saints Find Their Shot Early
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm at the opening tip. The Warriors were first on the board after drawing a foul and converting one free throw, but the Saints quickly answered with a layup from No. 1 Jaylen Carr. Each team traded baskets as the pace picked up, with No. 12 Imeir Kornegay knocking down an early jump shot for Southern Wayne.
Hunt briefly gained the upper hand with two quick baskets, but the Saints stayed composed. Layups from No. 2 Douglas Wynn and jumpers from No. 5 Jayden Moore kept Southern Wayne within striking distance. A big three-pointer by No. 1 Jaylen Carr gave the Saints the lead, followed by another contested jumper from No. 5 Jayden Moore.
Momentum fully swung when No. 5 Jayden Moore buried a deep three, pushing the Saints to a six-point advantage. The Warriors responded at the free-throw line, converting both shots to close the gap. Southern Wayne finished the quarter on top.
Second Quarter: Saints Maintain a Narrow Lead
The Warriors opened the second quarter with a layup, but Southern Wayne answered immediately with another strong finish from No. 5 Jayden Moore. A basket by No. 2 Douglas Wynn extended the Saints’ lead to five.
Hunt stayed aggressive, earning trips to the line and converting consistently, while the Saints continued to rely on sharp shooting. No. 5 Jayden Moore stayed hot from beyond the arc, drilling another three to keep the Saints ahead.
Defensive pressure intensified on both sides, leading to steals and tough finishes in traffic. No. 1 Jaylen Carr and No. 5 Jayden Moore combined for several key plays, including a flashy layup after a steal by No. 5 Jayden Moore. Despite the Saints’ efforts, the Warriors stayed close with timely free throws and a late layup to end the half.
Halftime Score: Hunt Warriors 36, Southern Wayne Saints 38
Halftime Recap: Saints Control the Paint
Southern Wayne entered halftime with a two-point lead after an impressive first half. The Saints applied constant pressure, particularly inside the paint.
• No. 5 Jayden Moore led all scorers with 14 points, showcasing his accuracy from three-point range.
• No. 1 Jaylen Carr dominated inside with 11 points, giving the Saints a steady interior presence.
Third Quarter: Warriors Surge Ahead
Hunt came out of the locker room firing. Back-to-back layups gave the Warriors the lead, and Southern Wayne struggled to respond offensively. The Warriors capitalized on the drought with another layup, stretching the lead to six and forcing a Saints timeout.
The momentum didn’t slow. Hunt knocked down a big three and continued to pressure the Saints with steals and fast-break finishes. The score ballooned to 50–38 Warriors before Southern Wayne finally found relief with a basket from No. 3 Zymeir Vick.
The Saints attempted to chip away with additional buckets from No. 3 Zymeir Vick and No. 4 Jacob Graham but Hunt answered once more at the buzzer to close the quarter firmly in control.
Fourth Quarter: Saints Fight Back, Warriors Finish Strong
Southern Wayne opened the final quarter with renewed energy. No. 1 Jaylen Carr scored early, then followed with a tough layup through traffic after a steal, igniting a potential comeback. Another strong finish from No. 1 Jaylen Carr cut further into the deficit as the Warriors briefly struggled to find their footing.
Despite continued turnovers from Hunt, the Saints couldn’t fully capitalize. A big layup from No. 21 Jeremiah Armwood brought Southern Wayne closer, and another basket from No. 1 Jaylen Carr kept hope alive.
Hunt finally broke the drought with a tough layup in traffic plus the foul, sealing the momentum. Though the Warriors stumbled late, they did enough to hold on as time expired.
Final Score: Hunt Warriors 67, Southern Wayne Saints 59
