Hawks sweep North Pitt

By David Rouse
Published in Sports on February 8, 2004 2:00 AM

• Print
• Email

Courtesy Kinston Free Press

LAGRANGE -- North Lenoir junior Justin Dunn added another chapter to his growing legend Friday night, exploding for 16 of his 30 points in the pivotal third quarter of the Hawks' 74-55 win at home against North Pitt.

Dunn's effort couldnât have come at a better time as the win forged a tie for first place in the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference with the visiting Panthers. The Hawks (18-4, 6-2) lost in overtime earlier this season at North Pitt (15-4, 6-2).

Katie Maloney and the Hawks warmed up for Tuesday's home showdown with first-place SouthWest Edgecombe by blowing away the Panthers 69-51.

"I wasn't worried about scoring, my offense just came to me," Dunn said."I got to the basket, made a couple of shots and it got me going."

With the Hawks clinging to a 31-28 halftime lead, a Dunn dunk with 6:42 remaining in the third period started a 9-2 run that ended with Dunn finishing a traditional three-point play. After North Pitt answered with a 6-0 run of its own, Dunn buried a 3-pointer that began an 11-4 run that pushed the Hawks lead to 51-40.

Dunn outscored the Panthers by himself in the third quarter, 16-15.

"He's Superman," North Lenoir coach Charlie Stevens said of Dunn. "But I'm really proud that all the kids chipped in. They continually made that extra pass tonight."

Kevin Lee had another workmanlike effort for the Hawks, posting a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds with four blocked shots and two steals. Despite being in foul trouble for much of Friday's game, North Lenoir's Leon Best added 14 points.

Ryan Little led North Pitt with 21 points, while Jeremy Wilder had 12 and David McCrary added 10. The Panthers play at home against South Lenoir Tuesday.

With two games left in the regular season, North Lenoir hosts SouthWest Edgecombe Tuesday and travels to Tarboro on Friday. Stevens said his team needs to keep its focus on trying to win those games to force a coin-flip for the right to host the conference tournament at North Lenoir.

"We control where we go," Stevens said.

"It was kind of ugly in the beginning," said North Lenoir coach Wayne Floyd of his girls team, which outscored North Pitt 24-9 in the third period. "But in the third quarter, we encouraged them to play hard and they responded."

Maloney had a game-high 26 points to lead the Hawks (20-2, 8-1). Lonnie Jones had 19 points and Tiera Broadie added 10 for North Lenoir. North Pitt was led by Shanita Fulford's 17 points and Stephanie Moore's 11.