Greene Central’s Donte Johnson scores under the duress of Farmville Central’s Dyquavis Wilkins in Friday’s game. Photo by William “Bud” Hardy / Neuse News

SNOW HILL | A furious Greene Central comeback came up short Friday.

Farmville Central never trailed in a 72-64 victory over Greene Central in the second matchup between teams this season. The Jaguars (6-0) won 65-45 on Nov. 30 over the Rams (2-4) and seemed primed to get another convincing win until Greene Central cut heavily into the advantage.

In a game sold out 90 minutes before tipoff, the Jaguars dominated early and did their part to stifle what would’ve been a historic comeback.

“Any time you come over here in this environment, emotions are really high,” Farmville Central coach Larry Williford said. “It can be hard to get guys to settle down and get into the flow of the game, but I thought we did a good job (early) and our hands were very active.”

The Jaguars went up 8-2 to start the game and after a pair of layups from Donte Johnson brought the Rams within two, Dyquavis Wilkins’ 4-point play triggered a second 8-2 spurt. Farmville Central would also force 25 Greene Central turnovers, including 20 in the second and third quarters to establish control and when Justin Wright connected with 7:11 left in the fourth, the Jaguars would go up 64-43.

Kentrell Suggs and B.J. Corbitt would spark the comeback for the Rams as the two combined for 13 points in a 15-1 run to claw back, including a trio of 3-pointers. Greene Central would also force six Farmville Central turnovers and when Corbitt scored with 2:45 to play the Jaguars lead was cut to 65-58.

After forcing a stop, the Rams would turn the ball over again and Terquavion Smith would hit a corner 3-pointer to end the run and essentially put the game away.

Rams coach Blue Edwards said he appreciated the team’s effort to come back, but the miscues to get into the 21-point hole were far from ideal.

“We’ve been together long enough now that they know what not to do,” Edwards said. “I like the fact that my team didn’t quit (and) made it somewhat respectable, but I’m (ticked) off because we should’ve never put ourselves in that position to start with. I don’t know what it’s going to take other than more games (and) more practice reps to get the bad habits drilled out of our players.”

FARMVILLE CENTRAL 72, GREENE CENTRAL 64

FC           23           17           22           10 — 72

GC          15           12           15           22 — 64

FARMVILLE CENTRAL — Terquavion Smith 18, Justin Wright 18, Dyquavis Wilkins 12, Teel 9, Harper 6, Foskey 4, Owens 3, Moye 2

GREENE CENTRAL — Imajae Dodd 19, Donte Johnson 12, Kentrel Suggs 10, Corbitt 8, Pridgen 8, Smith 3, Taylor 2, Gay 2  

Fouled out: None.

Technical fouls: None.

Three-pointers: FC — Smith 4, Wright 2, Wilkins, Foskey. GC — Pridgen 2, Corbitt 2, Suggs 2, Johnson.  

In the girls’ game, Farmville Central never trailed in an 80-20 victory.

The Jaguars (5-0) made six of their first seven shots to start the game and never looked back, taking a 49-13 lead at halftime and forcing a running clock after Amiya Joyner’s basket with 7:07 in the third quarter making the score 53-13.

For Greene Central (0-6), the team could take solace in its highest scoring output of the season after a basket from Angel Hill with 4:13 to play gave the Rams its first game of 20 points.

“One of the positives I saw was the girls were trying to shoot more,” Rams coach Tammy Elbert said. “We’ve still got a lot of work with a young team and we’ve definitely got to break a few mental barriers. It’s been a tough start, but it’s expected with a young team and we’ve got to work on being stronger mentally through it.”

FARMVILLE CENTRAL 80, GREENE CENTRAL 20

FC           30           19           20           11 — 80

GC          8              5              2              5 — 20

FARMVILLE CENTRAL — Ja’Shyrah Carmon 15, Amiya Joyner 14, Ja’Niyah Willoughby 12, Janiya Foskey 10, Barrett 8, Dennam 6, Shepard 6, Williams 4, May 2, Staton 2, Pitt 1

GREENE CENTRAL — Mason 7, Hill 6, Wilkins 4, Davis 2, Thompson 1

Fouled out: None.

Technical fouls: None.

Three-pointers: FC —  Shepard 2, Carmon. GC — Mason, Wilkins.