BOYS' BASKETBALL: Gators escape Rebels on the road

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on January 20, 2017 9:59 AM

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CALYPSO -- Prior to the start of Monday morning's holiday shootaround, Spring Creek varsity basketball coach Taylor Jones gathered his team in the jump circle at "The Swamp."

Less than 72 hours removed from a stirring road triumph at Carolina 1-A Conference nemesis James Kenan, his directive was spartan.

"You can't sneak up on anyone at this point," he maintained. "We're all-in together."

Never was that notion more evident than Thursday evening at North Duplin, whose inspired play in front of a raucous assemblage pushed the Gators to their versatile max before ultimately claiming rights to a pulse-pounding, 68-64 victory.

The triumph -- an intense, chippy melodrama -- moved SC to 10-5 overall and 5-1 in Carolina 1-A play.

North Duplin opened quickly, courtesy of all-everything forward Luke Britt. The junior was electric, scoring twice at the rim in succession and dialing once from distance in the game's opening minutes.

His performance set the tone for the hosts, who connected on half a dozen treys in the first half alone -- and eight for the contest.

Spring Creek countered with a balanced approach, getting buckets from six different players to keep pace with the green-and-gold's in-game shooting drill.

"North Duplin was on it tonight," Jones said. "Their personnel is really good -- they can matchup with anyone... and they were on fire."

At the break, North Duplin led 35-33.

Matters turned in the third period, however, as Spring Creek point guard Najee Young took his place on the game's marquee. The senior hawked passing lanes, generated turnovers and raced the basketball in transition -- a much-needed shot of life for the scrappy visitors.

"Our responses were phenomenal," Jones said of his team's ability to turn the game around. "But every time we made a run, they cut it back."

Cue Gator sophomore Dominique Morse.

The forward picked up Young's defensive effort in a blinding fourth stanza, and provided SC with what appeared to be an insurmountable 65-59 advantage on a triple from the left wing with 3:25 remaining.

But the fun was just getting started.

Both teams traded fouls and free throws over the final minutes, with neither gaining significant leverage until Young was fouled on a hit-ahead inbounds play with six seconds remaining. The whole of Calypso leaning on him, the senior ripped cord on both attempts and watched with relief as North Duplin's last-gasp heave missed wildly at the buzzer.

Spring Creek 68, North Duplin 64.

"We shot the ball really well early... it was fun to be a part of," Rebels' head coach Ricky Edwards said of the matchup. "But the turnovers in the third hurt us a little."

Young and Morse led the Gator charge with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Junior forward Tahj Edwards tallied 10 points and four rebounds.

Britt's line included 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. ND senior Terrion Addison chipped in with 13 points and seven boards.

Both teams return to action this evening in a heavy-hitting slate of Carolina 1-A contests. North Duplin (3-10 overall, 2-4 CC) will be the guest of Neuse Charter, while Spring Creek travels to Roseboro for a date with surging Lakewood.

Varsity action for both teams begins at 7:30 p.m.