By John Clark
MOUNT OLIVE — Guards Dujuan Armwood and Dylan Tyndall sparked a 53-35 2nd half surge that carried No. 9 seed North Duplin to a 76-63 victory over No. 25 East Bladen in the 2nd round of the NCHSAA Class 1A Boys Basketball Playoffs Friday night.
The Rebels posted their 13th straight win and improved to 17-9, but now must travel to No. 1 seed Wilson Prep Tuesday night. The top-seeded Tigers (23-5) hammered No. 17 Northside-Pinetown 91-35 Friday night. Coach Aking Elting’s East Bladen squad completed their season with an 11-13 record.
East Bladen enjoyed a 28-24 halftime lead, but Branson Martin’s follow shot and a 3-point play by Brady Byrd edged the Rebels ahead 29-28. Eagle senior Peyton Tatum dropped in a lay-up off an assist from junior Kewone Maynor, but Micah Lesesane scored twice inside, and Tyndall drilled in a pair of 3-pointers for a 39-30 North lead.
Senior Lee Barnes nailed a 3-pointer for East, and junior Dominick Collins sank a pair of free throws. Lesesane popped in a 15-footer, Tyndall drove for a lay-up, and Dujuan Armwood tossed in 2 foul shots and a lay-up, before Maynor turned an assist from senior Rodney Lacewell into a lay-up that closed the gap to 47-37 at the 3rd quarter break.
Sophomore Keyshawn Kemp netted a lay-up off a Collins’ assist, and Collins pulled East to within 49-43 with an 8-foot jumper and 2 free throws. Dujuan Armwood and Collins traded free throws, before Martin’s 4-point play opened up a 54-44 Rebel lead.
Collins sent an assist to Maynor for a lay-up, and Barnes fired in another 3-ball, but 4 free throws and 2 baskets by Dujuan Armwood pushed the lead to 62-51. Collins threw in an 8-footer, a lay-up and 2 free throws, and Lacewell flipped in a 6-footer, but North’s Donovan Armwood and Treshawn Ruffin scored twice inside and Tyndall drove for a 3-point play and a 73-57 lead.
Maynor bombed in a 3-point shot, and Collins connected from 15 feet and added a free throw for the final Eagle points.
Collins led the Eagles with 19 points, 4 steals and 2 assists. Barnes scorched the nets with six 3-point baskets for 18 points. Maynor pumped in 8 points. Lacewell blocked 3 shots and snared 8 rebounds. Kemp totaled 8 points and 6 rebounds, and Tatum added 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Dujuan Armwood scored 13 of his 18 points for the Rebels in the 2nd half, and Tyndall pumped in all 13 of his points after intermission. Lesesane finished with 12 points, and Branson Martin added 11. Donovan Armwood tallied 9.
Barnes drilled in a pair of 3-pointers, and Tatum put back a rebound and hurled in a 10-footer to put East up 10-4 early. Lacewell hit a free throw, Collins popped in a 6-footer and Kemp dropped in a lay-up for a 15-12 Eagle lead at the quarter break.
Barnes bombed in 2 more 3-balls in the 2nd quarter. Kemp scored on a follow shot, Collins pumped in a 15-footer and a free throw, and Maynor drove for a lay-up and a 28-24 East halftime lead.
East Bladen 15 13 9 26 — 63
North Duplin 12 12 24 29 — 76
East Bladen (63) — Dominick Collins 19, Chace Butler, Sherman Long, Shannon Hankins, Lee Barnes 18, Kewone Maynor 9, Peyton Tatum 6, Keyshawn Kemp 8, Rodney Lacewell 3.
North Duplin (76) — Dujuan Armwood 18, Dylan Tyndall 13, Brady Byrd 5, Branson Martin 11, Tev Collins 2, Xander Mele, Thomas Morrisey, Anthony Kornegay, Luke Kelly, Micah Lesesane 12, Donovan Armwood 9, Treshawn Ruffin 6.
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