BOYS' BASKETBALL: Spring Creek sends Ocracoke back to the coast

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on February 22, 2017 9:57 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- No drama.

Spring Creek High defined such sentiment on Tuesday evening, using two deafening runs to physically punish Ocracoke, 85-54, in opening-round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A boys' basketball playoffs at "The Swamp."

The Gators were active from the outset, using their athleticism to at first stun, then properly dismantle, the Dolphins' motion attack. Through the opening eight minutes, SC forced six Ocracoke turnovers and turned its own end of the floor into a who's who caucus at the rim.

A prize fight of similar unfolding would have likely been stopped.

"I thought our defense was really good to start," SC head coach Taylor Jones noted. "And we shared the ball really well -- guys were continually looking for each other."

Ocracoke refused to simply pack it in, however.

Courtesy of a 14-point second quarter from senior forward Matteus Gilbert, the Dolphins outscored SC 20-17 and trimmed the Gator advantage to 41-27 at the break.

Then SC unleashed its second blitz.

Senior guard Najee Young -- silent for much of the opening half -- went to work in the third period, tormenting Ocracoke defensively and finding his usual offensive rhythm otherwise.

Over the course of a frenzied six-minute span, No. 2 (Young) scored 14 of his team-high 20 points and effectively stifled any notion of a Dolphin rally.

"He's the only (SC) kid that's been in the state playoffs," Jones said. "And I expect him to play well... Najee was who he's been all year."

Young's sterling effort was complemented by sophomore Dominique Morse, who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Junior Tahj Edwards tallied 12 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore point guard Landon Smothers went for eight points and four rebounds.

In total, 10 different Gators scored.

Ocracoke was led by Gilbert, who finished with a game-high 32 points. Carson O'Neal, Kalai Samick and Liam Caswell scored five points apiece for the Dolphins, who finished the season with a 10-17 record.

Spring Creek, now 21-6 on the year, will gather its playoff bearings for a matchup with Perquimans on Thursday -- one its coach insists won't alter the team's defensive moxie or willingness to divide success on offense.

"We have to continue to share the ball and play great defense," Jones said. "And if we do those things, we'll be just fine."