North Duplin freshman Trashawn Ruffin (54) partially blocks a shot attempt by Lakewood’s Bobby Henry that still managed to drop into the bucket Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Thomas Morrisey pulled down this rebound and fired an outlet pass which started a fast break against Lakewood on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin senior Cole Beavers avoids any contact with Lakewood’s Bobby Henry after he lost control of the ball during second-half play Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin senior Brady Byrd grabbed the rebound and looked for an open teammate during play against Lakewood on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Tateyawna Faison, left, and teammate Reece Outlaw, right, chase after a loose ball during their Carolina 1A battle against Lakewood on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin sophomore Luke Kelly makes a ‘no-look’ pass to a teammate and avoids the trap on the baseline during fourth-period play against the Leopards Friday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin head JV boys coach Nick Nielsen watches his team play defense against Lakewood in the fourth quarter. The Rebels are 12-1 overall and 2-0 in Carolina 1A Conference play this season. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Lilly Fulghum looks for some help after grabbing a loose ball on the baseline on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Lily Brothers, left, and Tateyawna Faison, right, block a shot by Lakewood’s Precious King during first-quarter action Friday evening. King finished with 14 points for the Leopards. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin sophomore guard Addy Higginbotham (5) drives past a Lakewood defender while teammate Reece Outlaw (4) follows the play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s student section waits for the start of the varsity boys’ game against Carolina 1A rival Lakewood on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Closely guarded by a Leopard defender, North Duplin’s Branson Martin makes a bounce pass to an open teammate during fourth-quarter play Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Deja vu. One year ago, Lakewood’s Leopards escaped North Duplin in the closing seconds.
It happened again Friday evening.
Senior Bobby Henry delivered the go-ahead basket and sophomore Nakai Owens drained a free throw with 3.5 seconds remaining to lift the Leopards past the Rebels, 49-47.
“We battled back,” ND head coach Jeff Byrd said.
A turnover-filled first quarter allowed Lakewood to grab a nine-point lead. The Rebels threw the ball away on nine occasions and missed their first seven shots from the floor.
Cole Beavers provided North’s first two points on free throws.
The Rebels shaved the deficit to 24-21 at halftime and knotted the physical affair at 29-29 on Brady Byrd’s scoop and score midway through the third period. The crowd-awakening basket sparked a 9-2 run that included an open-court assist from Byrd to Levi George around the two-minute mark.
Momentum slowly shifted in the fourth.
George and frontcourt mate Trashawn Ruffin each fouled out four minutes apart.
Lakewood capitalized on their absence in the paint.
“That was big … a difference maker,” coach Byrd said. “Levi, I thought he had four [fouls] and that was my fault. I probably wouldn’t have started him out there. Not having Richard [Noble] tonight didn’t help.”
Noble missed the game due to an injury.
North Duplin struggled to secure defensive rebounds and further compounded its troubles with missed free throw attempts. Four consecutive clangs off the iron enabled the Leopards to push the ball upcourt and grab a 47-45 lead on Henry’s basket.
“I think our free throws hurt at the end, but I think one of our biggest [problems] was when they missed free throws, they got the rebound,” Byrd said. “They got four in a row one time and that’s the difference. All you’ve got to do is be physical and box out.”
The Rebels shot 67 percent (14 of 21) from the stripe for the game, but converted just three of nine attempts in the final eight minutes.
Beavers connected on an assist from Eli Morrisey, which closed the gap to 48-47 with just under 30 seconds left on the clock. Owens followed with his free throw that sealed the Leopards’ 22nd win over the Rebels since 2005.
Morrisey paced the Rebels’ offense with 10 points, while George and Brady Byrd tallied nine apiece. Beavers scratched for eight points. Ruffin collected seven points.
North Duplin (5-8 overall) dropped to 0-2 in league play.
Girls
The Rebels battled another physical team. Agressive-minded Lakewood applied pressure from the opening tip, but North Duplin didn’t back down.
Despite 23 turnovers, the Rebels prevailed 45-24.
“We’re just tough … and tired,” ND head coach John Oliver. “I told them to look at what they had just done. They didn’t play last night and you did. That ought to encourage you to get tougher.”
Coming off a hack-fest that led to 61 fouls and 86 free throw attempts against Bear Grass Charter the night before, the Rebels needed the first 10 minutes against Lakewood to recharge their batteries.
North Duplin (11-1, 2-0 Carolina) got its transition game untracked and slowly pulled away to a 13-point lead by halftime. The advantage swelled to 18 in an ugly third period that included several stoppages in play due to fouls and held-ball possessions.
The Rebels eventually claimed their fourth straight win over the Leopards.
“We held them to 12 points in the second half,” Oliver said. “Our defense creates offense and if we hadn’t been able to get those steals and those baskets, it would have been a much tougher game.”
Reece Outlaw stuffed her stat sheet with 18 points, six steals and two assists. Addy Higginbotham supplied 13 points, six steals and four assists. Tateyawna Faison collected eight points and seven rebounds before she fouled out in the final period.
Lilly Fulghum and Meghan Martin snared five boards apiece.
JV
Tev Collins scratched for 14 points during North Duplin’s 43-31 conquest over Lakewood.
Sophomore multi-sport athlete Luke Kelly added 12 points for the Rebels, who improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 against Carolina 1A opposition this season.
Rahmear Gates chipped in four points. Branson Martin knocked down his only basket – a 3-pointer – in the opening quarter.
North Duplin continues league play Tuesday at Union and returns home Friday to face Rosewood.
