Five Jones Senior players were recognized on Senior Night for the boys team Friday before the Trojans’ contest against Pinetown Northside. Those players are, from left, Anthony Ellis, Bryan Jones, Xavier Pegues, Syheen Sauls and Nykee Scott. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

TRENTON | Jones Senior wasn’t leaving without a fight, but Pinetown Northside’s Rashod Smith was equipped for battle.

 Smith scored 35 points and dished seven assists, helping the Panthers defeat the Trojans 73-57 Friday and spoil their Senior Night. Pinetown Northside (15-7, 8-4 Coastal Plains Conference) led for most of the game, but couldn’t hold Jones Senior (4-16, 3-9 at bay until the end.

 “We got off to a slow start, but were able to battle together and get the win, which is the ultimate goal every game,” Northside coach Jared Adams said.

 Jones Senior started hot, as Bryan Jones’ 3-pointer keyed an 8-2 advantage to start the game. The Trojans cooled off considerably, missing 12 straight shots during a 17-2 Panthers run, but fought back with a spurt of their own. Nykee Scott’s basket inside put the Trojans back up 20-19 midway through the second, but Smith’s two free throws keyed a 14-2 run for the Panthers to close out the half.

 Smith kept the Trojans at bay in the third quarter, scoring 13 points and dishing out three assists as the Panthers pushed their lead to 18.

 “We just stuck to the gameplan,” Smith said. “We’re a 3-point shooting team and we knew they were going to fall, so we just kept our heads in the game.”

 Jones Senior would score the last seven points of the third to trail 56-45 and a Detorian Brown free throw brought the team within 58-50 with 5:57 remaining, but the Trojans couldn’t get further.

 The game was the last regular-season contest for Jones, Scott, Anthony Ellis, Xavier Pegues and Syheen Sauls, players Jones Senior coach Dexter Cannon said he was appreciative of.

 “They work hard and a majority of them didn’t have a lot of playing time early on,” Cannon said. “I wish the results were better for them, but everyone had a good time tonight and that was the important thing. Now we have to get ready for the (CPC) tournament Monday against Tarboro.”

 Kenneth Winfield had 12 points, with Zach Green and Jonathan Clark adding 10 each for Pinetown Northside. For Jones Senior, Jalin Hall had 12 of his 16 points in the second half and Brown scored all 15 of his in the same timeframe.

 PINETOWN NORTHSIDE 73, JONES SENIOR 57

 PN      17        16        23        17 — 73

 JS       10        14        21        12 — 57

 PINETOWN NORTHSIDE — Rashod Smith 35, Kenneth Winfield 12, Jonathan Clark 10, Zach Green 10, Turner 4, O’Neal 2

 JONES SENIOR — Jalin Hall 16, Detorian Brown 15, Scott 9, Pegues 6, Jones 5, Dej. Brown 4, Ellis 2

 Three-pointers: PN — Smith 4. JS — Hall 3, Det. Brown 2, Jones.    

 In the girls' game, Pinetown Northside withstood a rough shooting night to defeat Jones Senior 52-18.

 Despite shooting only 25 percent in the game, the Panthers (9-9, 6-6) forced the Trojans into 14 percent shooting while causing 51 turnovers.

 "Despite the rough shooting night, we wanted to come out and pressure the ball, force turnovers and score (in transition)," Northside coach Michelle Leathers said.

 Jones Senior (2-17, 2-10) played defense well and got within 9-8 on a Ryan Case basket late in the first, but Gabby Slade answered with a 3-pointer to spark a 14-2 run. The Panthers led 31-14 at halftime and applied more pressure in the second half, running their lead to 34 and holding the Trojans to four points.

 This was the final regular-season game for Trojans seniors Case, Nyeisha Battle, Charunique Becton and Jasmine Brimage, a quartet Jones Senior coach Tina Nelson said she will miss.

 “They brought a lot of leadership and energy to the team,” Nelson said. “We’re going to miss their contributions next year.”

 PINETOWN NORTHSIDE 52, JONES SENIOR 18

 PN      15        16        14        7 — 52

 JS       8          6          2          2 — 18

 PINETOWN NORTHSIDE — Prentiss Thomas 12, Foster 9, Godley 7, Somers 6, Holloway 6, Slade 5, De. Spencer 4, Di. Spencer 3

 JONES SENIOR — Becton 5, Brimage 4, Christiansen 3, Case 2, Foye 2, Beckwith 2

 Three-pointers: PN — Slade.