Greene Central Edges North Lenoir in Chaotic Rivalry Thriller
Greene Central Edges North Lenoir in Chaotic Rivalry Thriller
SNOW HILL — The latest chapter of the Greene Central–North Lenoir rivalry had everything: constant whistles, momentum swings, emotional runs, and two programs separated by just 11 miles battling down to the final seconds. In the end, Greene Central emerged with a 41–37 win in its season opener, holding off a determined North Lenoir squad that refused to fade.
It’s the Rams’ third straight victory over the Hawks and their fifth in the last six matchups, trimming a series North Lenoir has historically led 22–12 since 2009.
Both Sides Navigate a Whistle-Heavy, Stop-and-Start Night
The pace never truly settled as both teams dealt with a high volume of fouls and stoppages that prevented either offense from finding consistent rhythm.
For North Lenoir, foul trouble struck early when Tysheena Lynch — the Hawks’ leading scorer from game one — picked up quick fouls and spent long stretches on the bench. Her limited availability forced the Hawks to adjust their rotations and lean more heavily on their supporting cast.
Greene Central head coach Tammy Elbert acknowledged the chaos both teams had to battle through.
“They did an outstanding job pulling it out,” Elbert said. “We do got somethings to work on but they fought through the chaos and pulled out the win.”
Hawks Get Key Contributions From Frazier and Samples
Despite adversity, North Lenoir rallied throughout all four quarters.
Freshman guard Cassidee Frazier delivered 9 points, including two momentum-swinging threes in the second half that ignited the Hawks’ best run of the night.
Myracle Samples added 7 points and kept attacking the basket, helping North Lenoir stay within striking distance each time Greene Central tried to pull away.
The Hawks trailed just 11–6 after one, 15–12 at halftime, and 25–21 entering the fourth — well within range in a game where scoring came at a premium.
Rams Counter With Senior Defense and Late Scoring Surges
Greene Central’s response came from a veteran core that’s been through tight games before.
The backline trio of An’Nyshia Wooten, Jayce Russell, and Kharma Schuster protected the paint, blocked shots, and controlled key defensive rebounds that kept North Lenoir from taking the lead during its second-half push.
“On the backline of the defense, was huge on blocking shots and rebounding,” Elbert said. “We have a senior class, that’s been here for four years and putting in work and its coming together.”
Offensively, the Rams leaned on two double-figure scorers:
Azaria Mumford — 12 points, 8 after halftime
An’Nyshia Wooten — 12 points, 9 in the second half
Wooten embraced the moment when the Hawks came charging late.
“When that happened I knew we had to step up,” Wooten said. “They started hitting a bunch of threes and this was a game I didn’t wanna lose, this game is going to set a example how we work for the rest of the season.”
Small Margins Decide a Tight, Local Rivalry
In a four-point game, the free-throw numbers mattered:
Greene Central finished 7–12, while North Lenoir went 7–20, leaving valuable points at the line.
Still, both teams produced defining stretches.
North Lenoir’s second-half surge tightened the gym and put pressure squarely on the Rams’ seniors. Greene Central’s defensive backbone and timely scoring gave them just enough cushion to survive.
The result wasn’t pretty, but it was absolutely one that reflected the rivalry’s intensity — and the competitiveness of two programs that expect to keep improving.
