Greene Central’s Imajae Dodd throws down a vicious slam in the Rams’ 90-64 win over Wilson Beddingfield Tuesday. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy

SNOW HILL — It didn’t take Greene Central long to erase the nightmare of last Friday’s loss at Kinston.

After managing just 25 points in the Eastern Carolina 2A Conference tournament final, the Rams equaled that number in the first quarter on Tuesday as they steamrolled Wilson Beddingfield, 90-64, in the first round of the state playoffs.

The second-seeded Rams (20-7) will host South Granville at 7 p.m. in Thursday’s second round.

“Against Kinston, we were scared and tentative,” GC coach Theodore “Blue” Edwards said. “Tonight, we wanted to attack and be aggressive from the opening tip. I thought we did a good job of that.”

GC fell behind 3-0 but then scored the game’s next 8 points and were never threatened.

UNC-Wilmington commit Imajae Dodd was once again a man among boys with 23 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

His off-the-backboard slam on a pass from B. J. Corbitt with 4:16 left in the game gave the Rams a 75-53 advantage and electrified the home crowd.

“We’re an inside-out team and Imajae got a lot of good looks inside,” Edwards said. “He used his size to tremendous advantage.”

Dodd’s dunk-a-thon exhibition took its toll on Beddingfield’s paint protectors Avery Huggins and Raekwon Batts, both of whom battled foul trouble.

Huggins did match Dodd with 23 points, but spent long stretches of the contest on the bench and was largely invisible on defense after picking up three fouls in the first half and his fourth in the third quarter.

Dodd’s interior running mate, Donte Johnson, also turned in a nice effort with 10 points and six boards.

Corbitt added 16 points and six assists.

On Thursday, the Rams will battle a South Granville team that knocked off GC’s conference foe West Craven 80-69.

“They beat a very good West Craven team and they’ve won 21 games, so we know they’ll be a challenge,” Edwards said. “We’ll be ready.”            

GREENE CENTRAL 90, WILSON BEDDINGFIELD 64     

Beddingfield      9              17           13           25—64 

Greene Central 25           20           20           25—90

BRUINS—Avery Huggins 23, Trevon Brantley 11, Gattis 9, Best 8, Speight 4, Batts 4, Best 3, Smith 2.

RAMS—Imajae Dodd 23, B. J. Corbitt 16, Donte Johnson 10, Pridgen 9, Hudson 9, Suggs 6, Gay 5, Taylor 3, Smith 3, Evans 2, Pigford 2, Petteway 2