HOPE MILLS — Lumberton boys basketball coach Mackey Register liked what he saw from his team in the second half of Monday’s game at South View.

It was the first that left the Pirates searching for answers.

Paced by a career-high outing from senior guard Rian Holland, the Tigers used an uptempo attack to jump on Lumberton and never look back on their way to a 70-48 win. During last week’s loss to South View, Register blamed fourth-quarter mistakes on the defeat, but this time, Holland’s hot touch was too much.

“We’re still working on some things, especially defense,” Register said. “(Holland) didn’t hit all those outside shots at our place, but at home, shooters know all their sweet spots.”

Possession after possession, Holland drove the lane or hit a jumper in the early going and scored 10 of his team’s first 16 points. By the end of one, South View had built a 25-8 and advantage and never saw its lead dip below double digits the rest of the way.

Holland lit up Lumberton for 24 in the opener, but didn’t hit a single shot from long distance. On Tuesday, he drained 6-of-11 from long range and poured in 21 before the halftime break.

“He always has the green light,” said South View coach Wendell Wise. “He’s earned it.”

As a junior, Holland finished second in Cumberland County scoring at 20.5 points per game. Ahead him was UNCP freshman Alex Bradley, a pint-sized guard who starred at Pine Forest.



The Pirates utilized a soft man-to-man and a sagging zone against Holland but on each occasion, the sharpshooter made them pay.

Lumberton’s deficit swelled to as many as 28 before a brief run early in the fourth quarter cut the margin to 16 at 58-42. Montrae Strother was the Pirates’ leading scorer for the second straight contest after chipping in with 13 points and four assists.

“I’m proud of our guys and the way they fought in the second half,” Register said. “In the locker room at halftime, we challenged them to step up and get to the boards. We dominated on the rebounding end those last two quarters.

“I’m excited to go home and look at film and see how much we did beat them by on the boards.”

Register says he’ll continue to tinker with different lineups until certain players build chemistry with other teammates on the floor. Lumberton has had little time to prepare for the basketball season thanks to football and it has shown thus far.

The Pirates host top-ranked county foe Fairmont on Friday night.

“We aren’t there and I think everyone sees that,” Register said. “But we’re working and that’s all I can ask.”

Lumberton’s girls lose sloppy road game

South View’s girls basketball team hit four free throws in the final 62 seconds Monday night to capture its first win of the season, avenging a previous loss to Lumberton with a 47-41 decision.

The Lady Tigers (1-1) maintained a six-point lead most of the fourth quarter before Keanna McNeil’s three-point play in the lane with 1:08 remaining cut Lumberton’s deficit to two at 43-41. South View responded at the charity stripe and forced two stops at the other end to prove the final tally.

The Lady Pirates (1-1) weren’t as crisp as they looked in last week’s win over the Lady Tigers and it showed early. McNeil’s layup late in the first quarter gave Lumberton its first points of the game nearly seven minutes in. By that point, South View was ahead by 10, taking advantage of as many turnovers — eight — as Lumberton had field goal attempts.

Azaya Graham supplied the Lady Pirates with their only lead of the game two minutes into the second half after scoring a layup and a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions. The 21-19 margin was short-lived as Kanesha Lankford chipped in back-to-back second-chance baskets to regain the lead.

BOYS: South View 70, Lumberton 48

LHS 8 9 15 16 — 48; SV 25 16 14 15 — 70

Lumberton — Montrae Strother 13, Sheridan 8, Suggs 6, Revels 5, Dees 4, Williams 3, Sampson 3, Phillips 3, Johnson 3; South View — Rian Holland 34, Calvin 9, Booker 7, Vinson 7, Creammer 5, Wiggins 4, Jewell 4; 3-Point Goals — LHS: Sampson, Johnson. SV: Holland 6, Calvin; Intentional Foul — SV: Calvin; Records — South View 2-0, Lumberton 0-2.

GIRLS: South View 47, Lumberton 41

LHS 6 8 16 11 — 41; SV 12 7 14 14 — 47

Lumberton — Keanna McNeil 15, Graham 8, Ratley 6, Bowden 6, Ingram 4, Jones 2; South View — Kanesha Lankford 15, Jasmine Brown 11, Chinyere Bell 10, Williams 9, Gorrell 2; 3-Point Goals — LHS: Graham 2, McNeil. SV: Williams; Records — Lumberton 1-1, South View 1-1.