North Lenoir's Emmenia Lynch drives down the lane in the Hawks' victory over Southern Wayne Monday. Photo by William "Bud" Hardy / Neuse News

LA GRANGE | While the North Lenoir girls were putting the finishing touches on an impressive home-and-home sweep of Southern Wayne to open the season, NL’s boys were unable to duplicate the formula Monday at Wooten Gymnasium.

Twelve-point winners in Dudley a week ago, the Lady Hawks never trailed en route to a 70-40 rout in their home opener.

NL built an 11-point halftime edge and then blew the game open by outscoring the Saints 22-6 in the final frame. Emmenia Lynch led the Hawks with 17 points, while Kanijah Taylor added 14 points and 13 rebounds and Integrity McPhail contributed 10 points.

McPhail provided NL a spark in the second quarter with three consecutive 3-point bombs that helped turned a four-point game into a double-digit margin.

NL led 31-20 at the break and the advantage never dropped below 11 in the second half.

The boys contest was the opposite of the girls as the Hawks, 79-68 winners in Dudley, couldn’t find the same gear in the rematch.

Southern Wayne jumped to a quick 22-13 lead, increased the margin to 14 by intermission, and never let off the gas in posting an 82-68 victory.

It was a game the Saints had looked forward to.

“We knew we couldn’t let them beat us again,” SW coach Dwight Smith said. “We felt like they took something away from us by winning on our home court. Tonight, we were more focused and just wanted it more.”

The smaller Hawks were unable to stop SW’s impressive inside game.

Six-four bookends Mikhail Pocknett (22 points, 9 rebounds) and Jalen Thompson (7 points, 8 boards) had their way with the Hawks in the paint.

“Almost every team we play is going to be bigger than us,” NL coach Anthony Loftin said. “We have to compensate by playing good, pressure defense from foul line to foul line. We didn’t do a very good job of that tonight and they picked us apart.”

Saints guards Daetwon Barnes and Jamari Lynch collected 16 and 13 points, respectively, largely because the Hawks couldn’t stop their dribble penetration. When SW’s guards missed, their interior players were there to clean up the mess.

The Saints outrebounded the Hawks 48-42 and grabbed 16 offensive boards, leading to 27 second-chance points.

“The first time we played we did a better job blocking out and playing defense,” Loftin said. “We came up short in both of those areas tonight. We have to get a little tougher or it’s going to be a long season.”

The Saints led by as many as 23 in the second half. The final 14-point margin was the closest NL was able to get.

Jordan Blow paced the Hawks with 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Nyjai Koonce added 11 points, and Jordan Brown chipped in with 10.

“The good news is that we didn’t quit,” Loftin said. “The season’s young and we have a lot to work on, but at least the effort is there.”     

Boys

SOUTHERN WAYNE 82, NORTH LENOIR 68

Southern Wayne              22           24           18           18—82 

North Lenoir                       13           19           15           21—68 

SAINTS—Mikhail Pocknett 22, Daetwon Barnes 16, Jamari Lynch 13, Deandre Wright 10, Thompson 7, Melvin 5, Demetric Wright 5, Anderson 4.

HAWKS—Jordan Blow 14, Ny’jai Koonce 11, Jordan Brown 10, Gatling 8, Sears 8, Kee 6, Hawkins 4, Wooten 4, Copper 2, Becton 1.

Girls

NORTH LENOIR 70, SOUTHERN WAYNE 40

Southern Wayne              10           10           14           6—40

North Lenoir                       14           17           17           22—70

SAINTS — D’Mia Wright 17, Samiya Bess 10, Baldwin 6, Elliott 4, Melvin 2, Maye 1.

HAWKS — Emmenia Lynch 17, Kanijah Taylor 14, Integrity McPhail 10, Mason 9, A. Lynch 9, Kornegay 7, Kittrell 4.