DEEP RUN—South Lenoir’s first game at home on Tuesday looked a lot like the previous three on the road.
Playing their opening contest at Jimmy Smith Court following three consecutive wins away from Deep Run, the Blue Devils did what they’ve done all season — lay waste to their opposition.
For the second time this season, the victim was Richlands as the Devils (4-0) used an early 15-0 run to put away the Wildcats 65-35 and remain undefeated.
The SL girls weren’t as fortunate. They stumbled their way through most of the game and dropped a 44-37 decision to a Richlands squad they had defeated on the road a week ago.
The Devils rarely missed a step although they didn’t play their best basketball.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m nitpicking, but I know we can play better,” SL coach Jeremy Barnett said. “We did plenty of good things tonight, but we were too careless with the basketball and didn’t do as good a job on the boards as we’ve been doing.”
SL turned the ball over 28 times but more than made up for their own ball handling woes with an active, ferocious pressure defense that harassed the Wildcats into giving up the ball on 35 possessions.
The Devils collected 18 steals, which led directly to 28 points, almost the entire margin of victory.
“I have no issues with the way we played defense,” said Barnett, whose team has not allowed more than 35 points in a game so far this season. “We’ve been a tremendous defensive team all year, which has helped generate some easy baskets on the offensive end.”
Richlands led 4-2 just over a minute into the game before SL dropped its defensive curtain.
Seven of the next 8 Wildcat possessions ended in turnovers, and by the time the carnage had ended, the Devils led 17-4.
Only once (17-8) did the lead dip below double digits again.
“Once we established ourselves defensively we were able to create some separation,” Barnett said. “That’s the same formula we’ve used in every game and hopefully it will continue.”
The Devils received numerous outstanding individual performances.
Jonte Midgette led all scorers with 20 points, while 6-8 center Jaquan Wooten dominated the interior with 11 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and a pair of assists.
The two combined for one sequence that summed up the entire game. Midgette misfired from 3-point range, but Wooten grabbed the offensive rebound and then made a nice pass back to Midgette, who was streaking into the lane and easily converted a layup.
That type of teamwork by the Devils was on display most of the contest.
“It says a lot about this team that they can win a game by 30 points and still not be satisfied,” Barnett said. “They know they didn’t play as well as they’re capable and they only want to get better.”
Dion Jones added 11 points and 5 steals for SL, which hosts Pamlico Tuesday.
RICHLANDS 44, SOUTH LENOIR 37
After scoring the game’s first 4 points, the SL girls (2-2) fell into a lethargy from which they never recovered.
Previously winless Richlands reeled off the next 13 points and never trailed again, although the Devils did close to within one early in the third quarter and to within two, 34-32, on a free throw by Meosha Franklin with 3:21 left in the game.
The Wildcats (1-2) closed out the game by hitting 7 free throws down the stretch.
SL turned the ball over 34 times and shot just 22 percent (12 of 54) from the floor. Adding insult to injury, the Devils connected on only 7 of 19 attempts from the free throw line.
Demyia West paced SL with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Girls Box
Richlands 13 7 7 17—44
South Lenoir5 12 6 14—37
WILDCATS (1-2) – Jennie Washington 14, Caliyah Toudle 13, Kalina Taylor 10, Monssen 3, Nunu 2, Batchelor 2, Martin, Scurlock.
BLUE DEVILS (2-2) – Demeyia Adams 10, West 8, Franklin 7, Suddeth 6, Epps 4, Meready 2, Gates, Williams.
Boys Box
Richlands 8 6 11 10—35
South Lenoir17 19 20 9—65
WILDCATS (0-2) – Toudle 8, Cottle 6, Marshall 6, Hayes 4, Harrington 4, Jackson 3, Rivers 2, Batchelor 2, Davis, Barber.
BLUE DEVILS (4-0) – Jonte Midgette 20, Jaquan Wooten 11, Dion Jones 11, Mickens 8, Williams 5, Cooper 5, Whaley 3, Stroud 2, Kelly, Williams, Turner, Huffman.