South Lenoir Edges North Lenoir 70-68 to End Rivalry Skid
South Lenoir Edges North Lenoir 70-68 to End Rivalry Skid
DEEP RUN, N.C. — Rivalry games bring out the best in teams, and Thursday night’s battle between South Lenoir and North Lenoir was no exception. South Lenoir defeated their rivals in a thrilling 70-68 victory, led by standout performances from Jacob Howard and Gavin Brock, as well as a clutch free-throw finish by junior Amari Edwards. The win marked South Lenoir’s first victory against North Lenoir since 2020, snapping a nine-game losing streak to their rivals.
The Blue Devils (6-7, 1-5) entered the game needing a win badly after dropping six straight contests and delivered in front of a raucous home crowd. South Lenoir exploded offensively in the first quarter, with Amari Edwards and Jacob Howard each scoring six points to fuel a 20-8 lead. By the second quarter, the Blue Devils extended their advantage to as much as 33-18, but North Lenoir (4-11, 2-2) wasn’t going down without a fight.
Hawks junior guard Cristian Veal put North Lenoir on his back, scoring 11 of his game-high 28 points in the second quarter to narrow the deficit to 10 points at halftime, 35-25.
“More than anything, I was just happy for the guys to experience this,” South Lenoir head coach Brandon Battle said. “This team has been getting closer and closer, and they are starting to figure it out. Once we figure that out, the only team that can beat us is us.”
In the third quarter, Veal continued his dominance, dropping 10 more points, including two of his five three-pointers, to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 51-49 heading into the fourth quarter. Malik Fuller chipped in with 13 second-half points, finishing with 16 overall, as North Lenoir seemed poised to complete the comeback.
Despite Veal’s heroics, South Lenoir answered with poise. Howard and Brock combined for 13 fourth-quarter points, reclaiming the lead for the Blue Devils. Brock was given the green light by Coach Battle late in the game, scoring seven crucial points in isolation plays.
“He said, ‘Go to the bucket,’ and that’s what I did,” Brock said. “My teammates trusted me, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
Jacob Howard, playing in his final home game against North Lenoir as a senior, finished with a team-high 17 points. “It has always been different playing North Lenoir,” Howard said. “Whether it’s basketball, football, or baseball, playing them is always special. It felt good getting out there and playing those guys.”
With 15 seconds remaining and South Lenoir holding a slim two-point lead, Amari Edwards, who transferred from North Lenoir over the summer, sealed the win with two clutch free throws, finishing with 13 points.
“He’s been really good,” Brock said of Edwards. “He came over here, and he brought his energy and everything!”
For North Lenoir, Veal’s 28 points led all scorers, followed by Fuller with 16 points, Anton Black with 10, Julian Veal with 9, and Landon Oliver with 3. South Lenoir’s balanced attack included Howard’s 17 points, Brock’s 14, Edwards’ 13, Kamarion Graham’s 8, Braden Barnett’s 6, and Kamden Winter’s 6.
“It felt good, man,” Battle said of the win. “Jacob’s a senior, and this was his last time playing them on our home court. I’m just happy for the guys to have this experience.”
South Lenoir will next play at Kinston High School in the Brandon Ingram Showcase on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. North Lenoir will host Ayden-Grifton on Friday night.
