North Duplin freshman Lily Brothus dribbles upcourt during first-half action against Lejeune on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin marching band members Harley Faulk, left, and Sam Henderson play the National Anthem before the girls’ game against Lejeune on Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Meghan Martin and Lejeune’s Jazz Miller battle for a rebound Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Richard Noble, left, and Tra Ruffin, right, double team Lejeune’s Devon Charles during second-half action Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Lejeune’s Jack Priddy manages to pull down an offensive rebound against North Duplin’s Levi George (20) and Thomas Morrisey (42) while teammates Richard Noble (30) and Tra Ruffin (54) watch. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Pick up the intensity.North Duplin head boys’ basketball coach Jeff Byrd delivered that reminder at halftime.
His plea didn’t fall on deaf ears.
The Rebels opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run and kept the momentum in their 58-49 non-conference conquest of Lejeune on Tuesday evening. Senior transfer Richard Noble torched the nets for a career-high 24 points, while Levi George chipped in 11.
North Duplin’s girls, meanwhile, had no trouble during their 67-9 romp over the Devilpups. The Rebels extended their home court win streak to 12 and regular-season win streak to 11.
“I don’t think we had that same intensity as we did the other night [vs. Jones],” Byrd said. “I tried to explain to them that win is over with, let’s focus. They’ve got to come to play every game, just not walk on the court.”
North Duplin (2-0 overall) turned a precarious one-point advantage into a 12-point cushion barely two minutes into the third period. Noble, 6-foot-3 forward Tra Ruffin and senior guard Cole Beavers hit key baskets during the surge.
The Devilpups (1-1) closed to within 42-35 on Connor Shec’s, buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Lejeune found some traction with its full-court press and created some turnovers. The visitors shaved the deficit to 50-47 on Andre Charles’ bucket in the paint, but could draw no closer.
“I think they killed us on the boards,” Byrd said of the Devlipups’ second-chance opportunities in the second half. “That’s our strong point. If we don’t rebound, we’re in trouble. I think we had a lot more turnovers this week than last week … let the pressure bother us.”
Noble and Beavers combined to drain six free throws in the final 79 seconds to seal the outcome. The Rebels converted 10 of 18 free throws in the last quarter and shot 15 of 26 (57.7 percent) at the stripe for the game.
ND girls now 2-0
Junior guard Reece Outlaw collected all of her game- and team-high 16 points in the first quarter as the Rebels picked up their fifth consecutive win over the Devilpups.
Outlaw picked Lejeune for seven steals and dished out four assists.
Freshman Lilly Fulghum knocked down a career-high 14 points, while sophomore Addy Higginbotham stuffed her stat sheet with eight points and six assists.
Barton softball signee Kasey Jones and Meghan Martin notched eight and six points, respectively.
Rebels head coach John Oliver played his reserves for 12 minutes in the second half.
North Duplin travels to Union for a non-conference game Friday.
