In a decisive semifinal match, the Lakewood Lady Leopards defeated the North Duplin Lady Rebels 67-50, securing their place in the conference championship. This victory not only avenged a prior loss by the Lakewood varsity boys team but also ended North Duplin’s two-year reign as conference tournament champions.
The Lady Rebels opened the scoring, but Lakewood quickly responded through standout player Jasmine Crumpler. After North Duplin regained the lead, Trinity Bell evened the score, setting the stage for a competitive first quarter. Areona McKoy soon took charge, forcing a steal and using a screen from Jahmai Rich to hit a midrange shot, giving Lakewood a 6-4 advantage. The first quarter concluded with Lakewood holding a narrow 14-9 lead.
As the second quarter began, North Duplin scored first, but Rich quickly countered with a basket from McKoy’s assist. Lakewood began to find its rhythm, controlling the pace and extending the lead to 19-13 midway through the quarter. A late surge, led by McKoy and Rich, pushed the score to 25-13 with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Bell added a basket shortly before halftime, giving Lakewood a strong 27-15 lead.
Despite trailing, North Duplin refused to back down in the second half. The Lady Rebels aimed to chip away at Lakewood’s substantial lead, but every effort was met with an answer from McKoy, who continued to penetrate the defense and finish strong. With the score at 46-38 and just under six minutes left in the game, Lakewood’s head coach, Lofton Kerr, called a timeout to refocus his team for the final stretch.
North Duplin’s Abigeal Norris kept the pressure on with a midrange jumper, but Rich responded with free throws to maintain Lakewood’s lead. As the clock wound down, North Duplin sought a final push while in the bonus, yet McKoy delivered a crucial floater through traffic, effectively sealing Lakewood’s victory at 67-50.
After the game, Coach Kerr reflected on the significance of defeating the defending champions. “Anytime you beat North Duplin, defending champs the last couple of years, that’s big,” he commented. He praised his team for overcoming adversity during the match, particularly in the fourth quarter where victory was paramount.
Kerr acknowledged the physical style of play exhibited by North Duplin, particularly Norris, stating, “They’re aggressive, and we knew that coming in. But our girls battled.” He also pointed out Jahmai Rich’s performance, noting that while she has room for improvement, her defensive contributions were vital.
The coach highlighted the importance of contributions from both Trinity Bell and Jasmine Crumpler. “When Trinity Bell scores and plays well, I feel like we’ve got a good chance of winning,” he mentioned, adding that he encourages Crumpler to take open shots to build her confidence.
Looking ahead, Lakewood is set to face the East Bladen Eagles in the conference championship on February 20, 2024. Results from this highly anticipated match will be available in the e-edition on Tuesday.
