CLAYTON — Southern Wayne’s varsity basketball teams officially opened their Quad County 3A campaigns with victories over West Johnston on Friday evening.
Dontae Wright paced the Saints’ offense with 17 points in a 49-46 triumph over the Wildcats. Southern Wayne snapped a seven-game skid in league-opening games dating to 2014.
“Dontae hit some crunch baskets down the stretch and free throws to seal the game,” said Saints head coach Brian West.
Eli Boykins, the team’s top rebounder, pulled down 10 boards and tallied eight points. Chris Carmon contributed seven points and eight rebounds.
Southern Wayne (3-4 overall) returns to action Dec. 20 against perennial independent schools power Wayne Christian in the 10th annual Southern Bank-Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic. Tip-off is 3:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena on the University of Mount Olive campus.
Admission is $10 for a day pass and $25 for a tournament pass.
Girls
The Saints varsity girls halted a two-game slide and won their 15th consecutive QCC game, 37-31 over the Wildcats.
Sophomore guard Nevaeh Hines-Bass dropped 15 points, doled out three assists and collected four steals. Senior forward Jamaiya Bass provided 13 points, three rebounds and three steals.
Elaina Lane grabbed five rebounds. Senior forward Ta’Niyah Glaspie supplied eight rebounds, two blocked shots and three steals. Nygeria Thompson added 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Hines-Bass and Bass combined to sink 6 of 9 free throws in the final period.
The Saints (5-2) will defend their Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) tournament crown after the Christmas holidays. First-round pairings have not been released for the three-day event that will be contested at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.
Note
No make-up details have been announced on the East Wake varsity girls’ game that was postponed last Tuesday due to an on-campus shooting incident.
Play was suspended at halftime with the Saints ahead 23-7.
The varsity boys’ game was not contested.
Local law enforcement said no injuries or property damage were reported, but continue to investigate the incident.
