PINETOPS — Another game turned into another win for the SouthWest Edgecombe High varsity boys basketball team under first-year head coach Mike Mosley, but visiting North Lenoir made the Cougars work for it.

SouthWest, now 3-0, trailed 24-19 after the first quarter, but by halftime was ahead 35-34. The Cougars opened up a 51-41 lead by the end of the third quarter and carried that into the fourth quarter before the Hawks (0-3) made them sweat a bit.

“I think we were trying a little harder,” Mosley said of the improved defense by his team in the middle two quarters. “We got about a 10-point lead at about the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter and I think they thought it was over.”

Senior Ray Wooten collected his third double-double in as many games with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to go with seven assists and three steals. Junior point guard Zay Mayo tallied 19 points and senior Jaden Richardson produced 13 points. Senior Jamaury Wilkins contributed seven points and five rebounds.

“We’ve had three different people to lead us in scoring,” Mosley said. “We’re hoping that people won’t be able to zero in on one person.”

In their final nonconference game before starting 2-A Eastern Plains Conference play next week, the Cougars visit Washington on Friday.

NORTH LENOIR (68)

Brown 12, Jones-Gatling 16, Sears 17, C. Jones 2, Brooks 12, Cobb 4, Hill 5.

SW EDGECOMBE (76)

Wooten 23, Wilkins 7, Knight 8, Mayo 19, Richardson 13, Banks 2, Jones 4.

Score by quarters:

North Lenoir 24 10 7 27 — 68

SW Edgecombe 19 16 16 25 — 76

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lady Cougars foul-shooting woes continue in loss

PINETOPS — Foul shooting has been a problem in all three of SouthWest Edgecombe’s varsity girls basketball games this season, but it cost the Lady Cougars a chance at a win for the second straight outing in a 65-62 loss at home Wednesday to North Lenoir.

It was the third straight game that SouthWest, which was 17 for 38 at the foul line, shot less than 50% from the stripe. The Lady Cougars (1-2), who trailed by 12 at the half, rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter but the Lady Hawks (2-0) hit free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

SouthWest welcomed the return of senior post Alonee Smallwood, who had 13 points and 18 rebounds in her season debut. Senior Jada Battle had 22 points and 10 steals while sophomore Jer’Lisah Pridgen also had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Cougars finished with 49 rebounds, 33 coming in the second half as they mounted their comeback.

The 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference Lady Hawks, who beat SWE three times last season including the first round of the state 2-A playoffs, got 37 points from senior Ashanti Lynch, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career.

SouthWest will visit Washington on Friday in its last nonconference test before opening 2-A Eastern Plains Conference play next week.

NORTH LENOIR (65)

A. Lynch 37, Zayyad 17, J. Jones 4, S. Lynch 2, Humphrey 2, Wooten 2, Sparrow 1.

SW EDGECOMBE (62)

Battle 22, Pridgen 13, Smallwood 13, Dunn 10, Sampson 4.

Score by quarters:

North Lenoir 16 16 17 16 — 65

SW Edgecombe 10 9 24 19 — 62