North Lenoir Survives James Kenan Comeback to Secure Third Straight Win
North Lenoir Survives James Kenan Comeback to Secure Third Straight Win
In a thrilling finish, the North Lenoir Hawks (7-14, 5-5) held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from James Kenan (7-9, 3-6) to escape with a 51-50 victory Tuesday night. The win marked the Hawks’ third straight triumph, following key victories over East Duplin and Wallace-Rose Hill, and helped them move into fourth place in the conference standings, just a half-game behind Wallace-Rose Hill (9-5, 5-4).
The battle between the Hawks and Tigers was tight from the start, with North Lenoir clinging to a narrow 15-14 lead after the first quarter. But in the second period, the Hawks' defense put on a dominant display, shutting out James Kenan for the entire quarter. “At halftime, we held them to 15 points. I thought we were right on target on defense, did a great job,” said North Lenoir head coach Anthony Loftin. “We had some breakdowns in the second half and they had some guys hit big shots at the end, but I’m proud of my boys for sticking it through and not getting down on themselves.”
After halftime, North Lenoir surged ahead, building an 18-point lead in the second half. However, James Kenan refused to go away quietly, storming back in the final minutes. The Tigers cut the deficit to just one point, 51-50, with five seconds remaining, sending the Hawks to the free-throw line with a chance to seal the game. North Lenoir missed both attempts, giving James Kenan one final opportunity, but a rushed half-court heave with three seconds left fell well short, allowing the Hawks to secure the victory.
Junior guard Cristian Veal was instrumental in the Hawks’ success, scoring 14 of his team-high 19 points in the first half while also knocking down 6-of-7 free throws. His brother, Julian Veal, recently returning from injury, added 15 points, hitting five three-pointers. “Just the confidence,” Cristian said of his performance. “I was a little shaky in the first quarter, but my coach told me to be confident and take my shots, and I started hitting them.” On playing alongside his brother again, he added, “It felt good, man. We got a little connection—we just like seeing the ball go through the hoop.”
AJ Black provided another strong all-around performance, contributing 11 points while being a force on the boards and defensively. “AJ goes for every rebound,” Loftin said. “He brings the energy that we need.” Black himself acknowledged the effort it took, saying, “I was a little tired, but I knew I had to put it all out there to win.”
Despite the near collapse, North Lenoir’s ability to close out a tough game was a testament to its growth and resilience. With just two regular-season games remaining—against South Lenoir on Feb. 11 and Kinston on Feb. 13—the Hawks know they must finish strong to secure a playoff berth. They currently sit at 31st in the 2A East RPI rankings, with only the top 32 teams earning a spot in the postseason.
With a chance to push for a playoff spot, the Hawks will look to build on their winning momentum as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.
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