Smithfield-Selma’s Cameron Adams, right, blocks a shot attempt by Southern Wayne’s Chris Carmon during second-half action Friday evening. Adams was called for a foul on the play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Dylan Tyndall (21) drives past Smithfield-Selma’s Carson Horne and toward the basket during their Quad County 3A game in Dudley Friday evening. The Saints defeated the Spartans, 58-44. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Terdarius Butler, one of six seniors recognized before tip-off, soars to the basket for two points on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s bench applauds their seniors as the final seconds tick off the clock during a 55-7 dismantling of Quad County 3A opponent Smithfield-Selma on Friday evening. The Saints did not allow a point in the second half. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s D’Azia Smith (32) forces Smithfield-Selma’s Ellie Pilkington to pass the ball to an open teammate during third-play Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Dylan Tyndall, left, is fouled on the way to the basket by Smithfield-Selma defender Jordan White in their Quad County 3A game Friday evening. The Saints improved to 11-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Dylan Tyndall, left, is fouled on the way to the basket by Smithfield-Selma defender Jordan White in their Quad County 3A game Friday evening. The Saints improved to 11-9 overall and 8-4 in conference play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Chris Carmon eyes the basket after stealing the ball against Smithfield-Selma on Friday evening. Carmon scored eight points for the Saints, who have won 11 games in a season for the first time since 2018-19. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
The Southern Wayne Marching Saints, the pride of southern Wayne County, kept a senior night crowd fired up with not only ‘When The Saints Go Marching In,’ but with other toe-tapping and body-swaying tunes on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s cheerleaders have brought enthusiasm and spirit to every game this season. But their work at home isn’t done. The Quad County 3A Conference tournament is less than two weeks away and more than likely, they’ll be on hand to cheer on the Saints during the 2023 NC High School Athletic Association playoffs. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s choral group, Saint Sound, performed a beautiful and harmonic rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ before tip-off the varsity boys’ basketball game during senior night Friday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
The Southern Wayne Junior Air Force ROTC presented the colors during the national anthem. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — This senior night script couldn’t have been written any better. Supported by a large home crowd and serenaded by a talented marching band, 13 Southern Wayne seniors tasted the sweet nectar of victory Friday evening.
Junior DuJuan Armwood pumped in a game- and team-high 18 points during the varsity boys’ 58-44 conquest of Quad County 3A foe Smithfield-Selma.
Senior Jamaiya Bass led four Saints in double figures with 14 points during their 55-7 throttling of the hapless Spartans, who failed to score in the second half.
Before the varsity boys tipped off, the band’s drum corp played a cadence and cheers erupted for the Saints’ senior class of athletes who paraded to center court escorted by their respective parents.
David Lee, SW athletics director, introduced cheerleaders Alivia Cox, Grace Tyndall and Kaylee Brock. Next were girls’ hoops standouts Bass, Elaina Lane, Juliana Pierre-Louis and Ta’Niyah Bass. The final group consisted of varsity boys – injured Chris McDuffie, Jylon Council, Terdarius Butler, O’Shay Faison, D’Untae “Big Baby” Wright, O’Shay Faison and Naquan Kornegay.
Parents, friends and relatives pulled out their iPhones and took numerous pics to freeze the milestone moment in time.
“Please give all of these seniors a round of applause for their dedication and commitment for four years to our athletic program,” Lee said.
Boys
Despite a fragmented start, Southern Wayne rolled to its 11th win overall and eighth in 12 QCC outings this season. The last time a Saints team accomplished that feat occurred during the 2018-19 campaign.
“We started off with our seniors … not a normal lineup and they came out there with good energy to get us going,” Saints head coach Brian West said. “They kicked it off [well] and their brothers came behind them and took care of business.”
The conference foes tested each other from the outset.
Each team employed a full-court press after a made basket. The strategy caused each to create space for passes and shorten the clock. At times, both the Saints (11-9 overall, 8-4 QCC) and Spartans took quick shots.
Southern Wayne seized a 10-point lead and entered halftime ahead 27-20.
The Saints opened the third period with an 11-2 run that all but deflated the Spartans’ aspirations of picking up just their second win overall and second in conference play this season.
SSS closed the gap to on back-to-back 3-pointers from Elijah Bailey, but could get no closer. Armwood, Chris Carmon and Eli Boykin dominated the offensive glass, which led to offensive stickbacks that helped keep the Spartans at bay.
Carmon, Donovan Armwood and TyQuavious Williams provided eight points apiece. Boykin added five for the Saints, who improved to 6-3 on their home court this season.
“There’s been a camaraderie the whole season,” West said. “It’s a special team because they like to be around each other and they like to have fun. They [the underclassmen] wanted to send their [senior] brothers out on top.
“A win is a win either way you look at it.”
Girls
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall in the locker room.
Dismayed by his team’s listless start, Saints head coach Ricky Lofton held a “come to Jesus” meeting at halftime.
“We came out so flat the beginning of the game, playing with no energy at all,” said Lofton, whose team led 24-7. “The second half, we came out and played a little better.”
Indeed.
Southern Wayne’s smothering and active full-court pressure did its normal damage. The Saints converted their first five shots from the floor and cruised to their 22nd QCC in 24 tries since the league’s inception a year ago.
Meanwhile, the defense pitched a rare second-half shutout.
SSS shot 0 for 10 from the floor.
“I was very happy because we should have never been in that predicament,” Lofton said. “Overall, the girls did a great job in the second half, moved the ball, got open shots and didn’t turn the ball over which is what we should have done in the beginning.
“We came out with a win and I’m happy for the seniors.”
Bass grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. Glaspie just missed a triple-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and nine steals. Lane delivered 13 points, six steals and four assists.
Nygeria Hamilton provided 11 points, five rebounds and five steals. Kyren Strong (three steals) and Aniya Smith provided four points apiece.
Southern Wayne (16-5, 10-2) caps the final week of regular-season play with road outings at Fike on Tuesday and county rival Charles B. Aycock next Friday.
