Dec 27

Dec 27 Different outcomes for Ayden-Grifton, North Lenoir in Parker's Holiday Classic

North Lenoir head coach Anthony Lofton diagrams a play on his clipboard during a timeout against D.H. Conley on Thursday evening. Rudy Coggins/Neuse News

AYDEN - Youth has reigned supreme for both Ayden-Grifton and North Lenoir on the hardwood this season.

And both are headed in opposite directions after opening-day play in the 2019 Parker's Holiday Classic.

Quinton Mitchell drained the nets for 22 points to help Ayden-Grifton avenge an early loss to North Pitt, 71-66. The third-seeded Chargers (5-3 overall) oppose Greene Central today at 6 p.m.

Jamir Jones-Gatling delivered a 25-point performance in the Hawks' 64-49 setback against D.H. Conley. North Lenoir (0-7) meets North Pitt in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m. today.

Conley faces county rival J.H. Rose at 7:30 p.m.

"This win tonight felt really good, especially with it being in the Christmas tournament...huge," said AG head coach John Moye, who starts three juniors and two sophomores.

"It's a great win for the young guys we've got. We throw them into the fire and it's just good seeing them try to grow up a little bit."

The Chargers ended the opening quarter with an 11-3 run, but watched the sixth-seeded Panthers forge a 34-34 deadlock by halftime.

The former conference foes battled to ties at 36-36, 38-38 and 40-40 before Ayden-Grifton clawed its way in front with a 9-2 surge. The Chargers' advantage ballooned to 12 points in the fourth, but the Panthers refused to go away.

North Pitt shaved the deficit to single digits in the final two minutes.

"North Pitt is a tough team, they're a tough out," said Moye, whose team survived 24 turnovers. "Their record doesn't show how hard they really play. They're coached really well and there are some special things that are going to happen with that team eventually."

AG's Christian Shearouse provided 16 points, while teammate Deshawn Cox logged a double-double - 12 points, 13 rebounds. Garth Cornwell and Michael Honey tallied eight points apiece. Honey and Mitchell each snared seven rebounds.

*North Lenoir’s Jamir Jones-Gatling knocked down 25 points in a loss against D.H. Conley on Thursday evening. Rudy Coggins/Neuse News*

Hawks fall to DH Conley

Conley buried 10 three-pointers against North Lenoir's 2-3 zone defense.

The long-distance shots enabled the fourth-seeded Vikings to seize a commanding 22-8 lead after one quarter. The injury-plagued Hawks climbed to within 10 by halftime, but another outside barrage early in the third period all but sealed the outcome.

Nine turnovers compounded North Lenior's troubles.

"We were down by 10 and that was encouraging," Hawks head coach Anthony Lofton said. "That big spurt they did to start the second half got the separation [for them] and we could never recover then.

"At times I thought we played hard. This will be a good learning experience for us playing these games over the holidays, but after we did, I thought we played pretty decent the second quarter to keep it close.
Gatling scored 13 points in the second quarter and seven in the fourth.

"Jamir shot the ball real well and I thought Brandon [Wooten] rebounded the ball real well," Lofton said.

"But we've got to get more consistent. We're missing a lot of pieces, players we've got to get back healthy so we'll be able to play when conference season starts."

Lashawn Owens knocked down 22 points for Conley.