Blue Devils Storm Back to Edge Ashley 64-61 in Overtime Thriller at Brandon Ingram MLK Showcase
Blue Devils Storm Back to Edge Ashley 64-61 in Overtime Thriller at Brandon Ingram MLK Showcase
KINSTON, N.C. — The South Lenoir Blue Devils battled back from a double-digit deficit to secure a dramatic 64-61 overtime victory over Ashley High School on Saturday in the opening game of the 2025 Brandon Ingram MLK Showcase at Kinston High. The thrilling win pushed South Lenoir to a .500 record at 7-7, showcasing their resilience and balanced team play.
Coming off an emotional rivalry win over North Lenoir just two days earlier, the Blue Devils struggled to find their footing early. Ashley, coached by former Kinston High head coach Wells Gulledge, took advantage of South Lenoir's slow start to build a comfortable lead in the first quarter. However, standout performances from Gavin Brock (#2), Amari Edwards (#11), and Jacob Howard (#21) fueled South Lenoir’s comeback.
Ashley was led by Quinn Bentley (#20), who scored a game-high 23 points, and Keyon Jones (#24), who added 18. But it was South Lenoir's balanced attack that proved decisive, with Brock delivering 22 points, including six in overtime, while Edwards added 16 points and Howard chipped in 14.
The game’s first half saw South Lenoir trailing throughout, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Brock at the end of the second quarter cut Ashley’s lead to 26-23 at halftime. Despite Ashley extending their lead to five points by the end of the third quarter, South Lenoir came alive in the fourth.
Brock opened the final period with a critical three-pointer, and Howard followed with consecutive layups to give the Blue Devils their first lead of the game at 38-36 with 6:00 remaining. Both teams traded blows down the stretch, with Howard sinking a layup with 14 seconds left to put South Lenoir ahead 51-49. Ashley responded immediately as Jones drove to the basket for a layup, tying the game and forcing overtime after a potential game-winning shot for the Screaming Eagles rimmed out at the buzzer.
In overtime, South Lenoir’s defense stood firm, matching every Ashley bucket with timely scores. Brock took over offensively, hitting key shots to seal the three-point win.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our guys,” South Lenoir head coach Brandon Battle said. “Coming off a tough rivalry game and then battling back like this shows the character and heart of this team. We’re starting to figure things out, and it’s exciting to see what we can do moving forward.”
The Blue Devils will look to continue their momentum as they travel to Ayden-Grifton on Monday before hosting Kinston High on Friday in a much-anticipated conference matchup.
