North Lenoir boys outlast North Pitt in overtime behind Veal's 30-point game

North Lenoir boys outlast North Pitt in overtime, 71-65

North Lenoir picked up a key home conference win Tuesday night, edging North Pitt 71-65 in overtime in a game that was as frantic as it was entertaining.

The Hawks improved to 8-14 overall and 5-5 in conference play with the win, moving into fourth place in the league standings. North Pitt dropped to 5-15 on the season.

The pace was fast from the opening tip, with both teams pushing the ball up and down the floor and turning the game into a back-and-forth battle that stayed tight into the final minutes of regulation.

Ju Veal led all scorers with a game-high 30 points, setting the tone early with 15 points in the first half. AJ Black added 13 points, while Cris Veal finished with 12. Off the bench, Darion Witherspoon provided a spark in the fourth quarter, knocking down two clutch three-pointers that helped keep North Lenoir within striking distance and force overtime.

In the extra period, the Hawks were able to create just enough separation to secure the win.

North Pitt was led by Trey Pittman, who scored 25 points in the loss.

North Lenoir will be back in action Wednesday night when it hosts West Craven for senior night.