North Duplin girls’ basketball coaches, from left, Sandy McCarty (assistant), John Brothers (assistant) and John Oliver (head coach) react to a foul called in the first half Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Lily Fulghum waits to enter the game against Eastern Wayne on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin head varsity boys’ coach Jeff Byrd, left, talks with his team as Eastern Wayne attempts two free throws after the Rebels received a technical foul Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Eastern Wayne provided the first blemish on two otherwise spotless records during its non-conference visit to North Duplin on Friday evening.
The Rebels’ varsity girls committed a season-high 35 turnovers and had their 15-game home win streak snapped in a 57-44 loss.
“This loss will help us down the road,” ND head coach John Oliver said.
Sophomore Luke Kelly tallied nine points as the Rebels tumbled, 76-29, in the JV boys’ game.
Both teams enter the holiday break 7-1.
Athletic and quick from the opening tip, the Warriors weathered two second-half runs and exited with a 57-41 win on the varsity boys’ scene. The Rebels (4-4) suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
Girls
The Warriors raced to a 10-0 lead in the first 90 seconds and cruised to their sixth win in eight tries this season.
“This team did to us what we like to do to other teams,” Oliver said. “They were a lot smarter with the basketball, got into the passing lanes…just outplayed us. They were long [in the paint] because the passes we normally make, we couldn’t.
“We should have played better.”
Down 18-1, North Duplin converted its first field goal with 2:49 left in the opening quarter. Oliver’s group closed the gap to 21-13 after the opening quarter, but could get no closer.
“I think we kind of blew it in the first quarter, had all of those turnovers,” Oliver said. “I was trying to get them to settle down and make good passes. They were anxious…out there over trying.”
Oliver said the “good’ thing from the contest was the post play of Tateyawna Faison. The sophomore forward posted season highs in points (16) and rebounds (12).
“Ty came to play,” Oliver grinned.
Reece Outlaw contributed 13 points, three assists and seven steals. Play-making guard Addy Higginbotham doled out eight assists and collected five steals. Meghan Martin snagged six rebounds.
Boys
Disappointed with his team’s previous three outings, second-year ND head coach Jeff Byrd delivered an ultimatum — play hard or stay home.
“I just said you’re going to play with effort or you’re not going to play,” Byrd said. “Maybe they bought into that. I thought that’s as good as we’ve looked [on the court] since Jones Senior [at home].
Richard Noble’s 3-pointer off Cole Beavers’ assist helped the Rebels claim a 9-8 after one period.
The backcourt tandem of Zavion Burden and NyQuan Smith warmed up from behind the 3-point arc in the second period. The duo helped spark an 18-3 run that gave Eastern Wayne control of the game.
North Duplin climbed to within 26-18 at halftime.
Brady Byrd buried back-to-back 3-pointers, which ignited an 18-5 run. Levi George’s offensive putback and a basket off Cole Beavers’ assist closed the gap to 34-30. Beavers sank one free throw after he blocked a Warrior shot and got fouled on the defensive rebound.
The teams traded jabs early in the fourth.
Eastern Wayne (2-5) gained some breathing room with a 13-2 run fueled by a couple of North Duplin miscues. The Rebels went cold offensively and managed just one point over the final 3 1/2 minutes.
Coach Byrd said the Warriors dominated the boards, which heavily factored into the outcome.
Brady Byrd ended the night with a season-high 18 points. George chipped in 11, while Beavers notched six points.
“I’m proud of them,” coach Byrd said.
North Duplin returns to action Jan. 4, 2023, at Jones Senior.
