All Bert Potter asked of his Bethel Christian Academy boys basketball team was to not get caught up in the moment.
When it was all said in done, the Trojans relished in it.
Conor Rivero scored 22 points and Bethel dominated Parrott Academy in every facet of the game Monday, most importantly the scoreboard in its 62-40 win over the Patriots for its first win over its county private school rival in a decade.
Davon Edwards added 14 points and Jordan Stallings 10 rebounds in a game where the host Trojans (14-4) outhustled, outrebounded, outshot and all-around outplayed Parrott (3-6).
“Basketball is such an emotional game. I just tried to keep them calm so we could run stuff,’” Potter said.
“I told them that if they stay calm and play as a team then they’d do well.”
Bethel held a 40-25 rebounding edge, shot 44 percent (22 for 50) to Parrott’s 35 (15 for 43), committed fewer turnovers (14 to 21) and hit 14 of 25 free throws to Parrott’s 3 of 6 night from the line.
Even with the disparity in the statistics the Patriots had a chance, but Ben Potter ended any sort of comeback bid.
Parrott cut a double-digit lead down to two at 38-36 to start the fourth period, when Potter, who hadn’t attempted a field goal all night, drained the first of back-to-back 3-pointers that turned a two-point lead into an eight-point advantage and the Trojans never looked back.
From that point Bethel closed it out by outscoring a team it hadn’t defeated since the early 2000s — and only “twice in modern school history,” Potter said — 24-4.
“We were running the offense and it just happened to come to me in the flow of the offense,” Ben Potter said. “My role on the team is, sometimes down the stretch, is to hit big 3s.”
John McLawhorn was a bright spot to an otherwise forgetful night for Parrott. The freshman forward scored 14 points and had a team-best seven rebounds.
“We were just outplayed in every facet of the game,” first-year Patriots coach Shivar Person said.
“(The Trojans) simply were the better team.”
The game was nip-and-tuck early, with Parrott holding a 13-11 advantage after the first quarter. But Bethel’s defense clamped down and its offense got going, especially in the final period, to pull off what is considered, historically, an upset.
“We’ve got some experiences players that are really starting to play well,” Bert Potter said. “It was an enjoyable game to watch and coach.”
BETHEL CHRISTIAN 35, PARROTT ACADEMY 31
The Trojans rallied from a big first-half hole to defeat the Patriots.
Kelsey Worthington scored a game-high 14 points and Carly Sanderson added eight for Bethel, which trailed 12-5 after the first period and 18-6 during the second quarter before rallying for the win.
Erin Hughes led Parrott (4-5) with 12 points and Brooke Uken added seven. Haley Moody scored seven points for Bethel (9-6).
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.
BOYS
Parrott Academy 13 8 9 10—40
Bethel Christian 11 10 12 24—62
PATRIOTS (3-6) — John McLawhorn 14, Killinger 6, Rasberry 6, Quinn 5, Staskelunas 4, Beamon 3, Piner 2, Spear, Larouque, Tyler, Fazio.
TROJANS (14-4) — Conor Rivero 22, Davon Edwards 14, R. Pridgen 8, Potter 6, T. Pridgen 4, Stallings 3, Truett 3, McCleary 2, Dula, Barnett, Davis.
GIRLS
Parrott Academy 12 9 3 7—31
Bethel Christian 5 8 9 13—35
PATRIOTS (4-5) — Erin Hughes 12, Uken 7, Bailey 4, Carlye 2, Banker 2, Beyer 2.
TROJANS (9-6) — Kelsey Worthington 14, Sanderson 8, Moody 7, J. Worthington 4, Fulcher 2, Sowers.