Greene Central Rebounds with 66-51 Victory Over North Pitt Behind Second-Half Dominance
Greene Central Rebounds with 66-51 Victory Over North Pitt Behind Second-Half Dominance
After a tough 58-51 loss at home to Beddingfield earlier in the week, Greene Central bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating North Pitt 66-51 on the road Friday night in their Eastern Plains Conference opener. The Rams, now 3-1 on the season, used a trademark second-half surge to overcome a hot-shooting Panthers squad that led at halftime.
North Pitt, which fell to 1-5 on the year, came out strong, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and holding a narrow 35-34 lead at the break. However, the Panthers couldn’t withstand Greene Central’s relentless pressure and energy in the second half. The Rams held North Pitt to just two field goals in the third quarter, outscoring them 22-5 in the period and 32-16 overall in the second half.
Evans Leads the Charge
Senior point guard Dontrez “Trez” Evans was the catalyst for Greene Central’s victory. Evans poured in 27 points—all in the first three quarters—while wreaking havoc defensively with 8 steals. His aggressive play set the tone early, scoring 14 points in the first half and an electrifying 13 in the third quarter to help the Rams pull away.
“Trez is seriously a one-man press,” said Greene Central head coach Blue Edwards. “His ability to be a ballhawk on defense and get those steals—it’s a problem for opposing teams. We need everything he gives us. He’s doing a good job for us this year being more vocal.”
Evans also showcased his improved shooting touch, knocking down two three-pointers. “Coach has been getting on my shot, and I’ve been working on it,” Evans said after the game.
Balanced Scoring Fuels Rams
Nine different players scored for Greene Central in a true team effort. Sophomore Josh Cetnar added 13 points, continuing to establish himself as a reliable scoring option. DJ Williams chipped in with 7 points, and Nick Avent contributed 6.
“Having those three point guards—Josh Cetnar, Mike Suggs, and Trez Evans—on the floor at the same time was strategic,” Edwards said. “All three are ball handlers, all three can make plays, and tonight was the night we needed that.”
Panthers Struggle After Strong Start
North Pitt started the game on fire, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and riding the hot hand of sophomore J’Khye Dixon, who led the Panthers with 12 points. Despite holding a one-point lead at halftime, the Panthers struggled to generate offense in the second half.
Coach Edwards on the Team’s Resilience
“The message tonight was we gotta bounce back. We’ve got a lot of games left,” Edwards said. “The biggest thing tonight was starting aggressive and keeping that attacking mentality.”
The Rams’ second-half dominance has become a hallmark of their play. “I think that happens for us every game,” Edwards noted. “I just tell them to relax and play basketball and make plays. They’ve been a second-half team, and I’m confident in that and hopefully they won’t let me down.”
Looking Ahead
Greene Central’s victory sets a strong tone for the start of conference play, as the team looks to build on last year’s 11-15 record. With Evans leading the charge and a roster full of young contributors stepping up, the Rams have positioned themselves as a team to watch in the Eastern Plains Conference.
North Pitt, now 1-5, will need to regroup quickly after the loss. Despite the setback, the Panthers showed flashes of promise, particularly in the first half.
(3-1) Greene Central faces (2-2) Kinston High at Kinston on Thursday.
Attention all local sports enthusiasts! Do you have insider information on your favorite local sports team? Submit to The Score below and let our team of experts bring it to life. Don't miss out on the chance to share what happened at your local sporting event - submit now and become part of the story!
Neuse News Sports is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to cover all schools, all sports, and all athletes in Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties.
We provide this free sports news by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local sports news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News Sports with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
