North Lenoir Boys Secure Season-Opening Win Over Spring Creek
The North Lenoir boys’ basketball team opened the 2024-25 season with a hard-fought 45-36 victory over Spring Creek. The Hawks, coming off an 8-16 campaign last year, displayed resilience in a game that saw multiple lead changes.
Trailing 10-8 after the first quarter and 19-17 at halftime, North Lenoir turned things around in the second half. They edged ahead 33-32 by the end of the third quarter and closed out the game with a strong final frame to secure their first season-opening win since 2018.
“It’s good to get everyone in; it makes it fun and exciting to get back to practice when everyone gets a chance to get involved,” head coach Anthony Lofton said postgame. Despite the win, Lofton noted areas for improvement, particularly at the free-throw line. “We missed a lot of free throws. We didn’t have our legs yet because most of our guys are coming off the football field just last week,” he added.
Indeed, over half of the Hawks’ roster has only had one or two practices under their belt, with the football season ending just last Friday night following a playoff exit against Ayden-Grifton. The quick transition from gridiron to hardwood showed in the team’s early rust but didn’t deter their resolve.
The offense found some spark through Anton Black’s contagious high motor play. Black is a long framed wing player that caused problems on defense and when attacking the basket. At the point guard position, Julian Veal and Jakell Cannon took turns pushing the offense Veal being more of a outside threat and Cannon using his quickness to attack the heart of the opponents defense.
Lofton had high praise for freshman Zion Williams, who stepped up in key moments. “I’m happy. Zion is a freshman, and I thought he did a good job stepping in and making plays at the end,” Lofton said. “I’m tickled to death because the more he gets on the court, the better he’s going to get.”
The Hawks showcased a balanced scoring effort:
Anton Black: 9 points
Julian Veal: 7 points
Justin Gooding: 6 points
Jaquell Garner: 5 points
Malik Fuller: 4 points
Damion Gooding: 4 points
Keyshon Sparrow: 4 points
Jakell Cannon: 4 points
Landon Oliver: 1 point
Zion Williams: 1 point
With a solid start under their belt and more practice time ahead, the Hawks aim to shake off the rust and build momentum as the season progresses. Their blend of returning players and emerging talent sets the stage for a promising campaign.
