Rams Win Behind Sophomore Duos
In a tale of two halves in Snow Hill, the Greene Central Rams displayed a blend of resilience mixed with halftime adjustments to secure a 74-56 win over North Lenoir. Despite trailing in the first half, the Rams never appeared out of contention, showcasing a poised demeanor that belied the scoreboard.
The initial quarters saw North Lenoir set an assertive tempo, leading 12-8 in the first and edging out 24-23 by halftime. Yet, this lead, while notable, didn't quite capture the undercurrents of the game where the Rams, led by sophomores Mez Coppedge and DJ Williams, seemed just a step away from swinging the momentum in their favor.
DJ Williams, reflecting on the team's early performance, acknowledged the slow start but emphasized the shift post-halftime, "When we first came out, we couldn’t get going. We got going late; we came out strong in the second half because of good defense. Energy is what won it for us—the press and energy.”
This sentiment underscores the Rams' unwavering spirit and tactical pivot that fueled their second-half surge.
Williams further stressed the importance of a strong defensive outset, "We got to come out and play good defense with energy as soon as we come out and do not wait until we get down." His words highlight a lesson learned and a strategy for future games.
Mez Coppedge, reflecting on the team's early-season form and their improvement to a 2-3 record, attributed the team's success to the enhanced quality of practice sessions and teamwork.
“Everything is getting better; it all started at practice. Earlier in the year, practice wasn’t good. We progressed at practice and it showed in the game. We are getting better at our defense and communication, and it’s leading to more rebounds, steals, and breakaway runs.”
Coppedge also pointed out the halftime adjustments that catalyzed their performance, "It was the energy and better communication. We started off 2-3 and they were hitting their shots, we change to man, kept working on our communication which lead to more stops on defense."
Coppedge's dominant presence was evident in his impressive 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 dunks, while Williams supported with a solid 16 points, including two three-pointers and two dunks. Trez Evans also contributed significantly with 9 points.
For North Lenoir, junior guard Malachi Ramsey fought valiantly, scoring 17 points. Genesis Wiggins, impactful from the outset with first-half three-pointers, ended with 19 points.
This game, more a display of strategic adaptation than a comeback, leaves North Lenoir at 2-4, gearing up for their December 12th matchup against Southwest Edgecombe. Greene Central, now 2-3, looks forward to hosting Beddingfield on the same date, with renewed confidence and a clear game plan.
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