North Duplin’s No. 24 Noah Price attempts a jump shot against Union Spartans defenders at the start of the first quarter. (Kareem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — The North Duplin Rebels delivered a strong all-around performance Tuesday night, using defensive pressure and balanced scoring to defeat the Union Spartans, 64–46. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the Rebels set the tone and never fully relinquished control.
First Quarter: Rebels Get After It Early
North Duplin struck first as No. 24 Noah Price opened the scoring with a basket. The Rebels’ defense quickly made its presence felt, forcing a steal that led to a basket by No. 14 Quan Stevens. Union responded by getting to the free-throw line and converting both attempts, but the Rebels answered back with a basket from No. 32 Jae’lyn Ingram.
Momentum continued to build as a steal by No. 33 Carrell Phillips led to another bucket from No. 32 Jae’lyn Ingram, followed by a score from No. 33 Carrell Phillips to extend the lead. After a Spartan’s timeout, Union found some rhythm and converted a basket to spark a brief comeback.
The Rebels continued to apply pressure, with No. 50 Noah Bennett scoring and later adding a free throw. Union chipped away at the deficit with a free throw of their own, but North Duplin maintained the advantage heading into the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter: Rebels Take Command
Union opened the second quarter with a basket, but the Rebels quickly responded. After drawing a foul, No. 33 Carrell Phillips went to the line and knocked down one of two free throws. North Duplin’s intensity never slowed, as the Rebels continued to force turnovers and capitalize on second-chance opportunities.
Putback layups by No. 33 Carrell Phillips and strong drives from No. 24 Noah Price and No. 32 Jae’lyn Ingram fueled a scoring surge. While the Spartans managed a few baskets to stay competitive, the Rebels consistently answered back. By the end of the quarter, North Duplin had built a commanding lead, heading into halftime firmly in control.
Halftime Score: North Duplin Rebels 38, Union Spartans 17
Third Quarter: Back-and-Forth Action
Union came out of halftime with energy, scoring first with an and-one basket. The Rebels responded immediately with a layup by No. 32 Jae’lyn Ingram, followed by a steal and putback score from No. 33 Carrell Phillips.
Both teams traded baskets as the quarter progressed. The Spartans found success at the free-throw line, converting both attempts on a trip to the stripe, while the Rebels countered with steady scoring and another free throw from No. 14 Quan Stevens. Despite Union’s efforts, North Duplin maintained its lead at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Rebels Close It Out
With eight minutes remaining, the Rebels struck first with another layup from No. 32 Jae’lyn Ingram. Union answered at the free-throw line and ignited the crowd with a powerful dunk, cutting into the deficit.
The Spartans continued to battle, earning trips to the line, but North Duplin’s defense came up big. A key steal led to a fast-break layup by No. 40 Jaren Seyforth, helping the Rebels regain momentum. Both teams exchanged free throws in the closing minutes, but Union was unable to overcome the early deficit. The Rebels sealed the victory as the final buzzer sounded.
Final Score: North Duplin Rebels 64, Union Spartans 46
