VANCEBORO — The visitors clad in black and green from North Lenoir came out of the gate with energy and athleticism Monday at West Craven in the opening game of the NCHSAA state 3A playoffs.
Problem is, the Eagles had more of both.
Demetres Abrams carved through the Hawks’ defense like a Ginsu and Josh Cuthbertson spent most of his night at a higher altitude, as the senior star hammered home six dunks in a 77-51 blowout win.
Abrams scored 28 points and his mate Cuthbertson posted 27 and 12 boards.
“Big ups to North Lenoir, they came at us really hard and scrapped with us really tough, but we got comfortable with ourselves and started playing our game,” Abrams said.
“I wanted to try and attack more tonight and not just be a three-point shooter. That causes long rebounds if I miss and I was focused on getting to the rim tonight.”
North Lenoir (13-14) enjoyed success the few times it was able to get the ball inside to Herculean-esque Billy Summers, who had 12 points.
However, the Eagles’ perimeter defense didn’t allow that to happen too often.
“West Craven was awesome tonight,” North Lenoir coach Anthony Loftin said.
“Their upperclassmen (Abrams and Cuthbertson) were awesome. Our plan was to get the ball inside and we did, it worked but their guard play was great defensively.”
The Eagles’ defenders forced the Hawks into numerous bad passes and turnovers, which led to West Craven layups or dunks.
West Craven (23-4) will receive a taller task Wednesday when Wilson Hunt comes to town. The Warriors destroyed their opening round foe, Nash Central, by a score of 70-34, Monday.
West Craven 19 19 19 20—77
North Lenoir 8 16 15 12—51
EAGLES (23-4) — Demetres Abrams 28, Josh Cuthbertson 27, Brown 8, Green 4, Cuthbertson 3, Fulcher 3, Oates 2, Reid 2.
HAWKS (13-14) — Billy Summers 12, Davis 8, Jones 7, Troy 7, Sutton 5, Carlton 4, Hough 4, Robinson 2, Wilkes 1.
