RED SPRINGS — The girls basketball team at Red Springs High has been up and down during Steven Sinclair’s first season, but on Tuesday night against unbeaten conference leader East Columbus, the Lady Red Devils put it all together.

Led by Jasmine Murchison’s monster 24-point, eight-rebound effort in the post, Red Springs took a commanding lead in the third quarter and didn’t look back, beating the Lady Gators, 46-36.

Red Springs (7-12, 2-5) remains in fifth place in the Three Rivers, two games back of South Robeson, Fairmont and St. Pauls who are all in a three-way tie for second.

Pirates, Rams drop SEC road games

RAEFORD — Paced by four players in double figures and a quick scoring outburst midway through the second quarter, Hoke’s boys basketball team ran its Southeastern Conference unbeaten streak to seven Tuesday with an 81-63 home win over Lumberton.

Reigning SEC Player of the Year Tarique Thompson scored a game-high 18 points for the Bucks (18-2, 7-0) to offset Montrae Strother’s 16-point, four-assist tally for the Pirates (7-13, 2-5). Lumberton needs to win at least two of its final three games and likely one in the conference tournament to qualify for the 4A postseason.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us, but I like the way we’re playing defensively,” Lumberton coach Mackey Register said. “If we can win Friday night at Richmond, we’ve got a chance.”

In Rockingham, Purnell Swett’s road woes continued this season following an 81-56 loss to Richmond, the SEC’s second-place team.

The Raiders (15-5, 5-2) jumped out to a 17-point lead after the first quarter and pushed ahead 51-23 at intermission. Senior forward Mitchell Hill was Swett’s only player in double figures finishing with 13 points.

Lumberton’s girls hold on

RAEFORD — It’s not easy being the hunted and Lumberton’s girls nearly found that out the hard way on the road in Raeford. After beating Hoke by 35 at Lumberton last month, the Lady Pirates clawed their way back from an early 11-point deficit and held on for a 52-45 victory, staying out front in the Southeastern Conference.

Keanna McNeill led the way with 22 points while Aliyah Ratley tallied 15 points and six steals. Lumberton (16-4, 6-1) is three wins away from a regular-season league crown.

Baker leads Devils to OT win

RED SPRINGS — Glenn Patterson has been waiting patiently for Jameson Baker to break out of a season-long scoring slump and over the last two games, it appears he has found his touch.

Fueled by a season-high 30 from the junior guard, Red Springs beat East Columbus in overtime Tuesday night, 66-57. Senior forward Quinn Lowery chipped in with 20.

 “It looks like Jameson is getting into a groove and settling down a bit,” Patterson said.

Fairmont sweeps Vikings

CERRO GORDO — Double-doubles from Kwinton Hinson and Na’Jewell Ingram helped Fairmont’s boys and girls’ basketball teams sweep West Columbus Tuesday night in Cerro Gordo, 80-63 and 57-44.

Fairmont (18-3, 7-0) grabbed some breathing room early in the fourth quarter and went on to win its 35th consecutive Three Rivers Conference game. Hinson finished with 27 and 10 while Charlton Townsend, playing in just his fourth game back from injury, had a season-high 11 points and 10 rebounds.

In the girls contest, Ingram pulled down 17 rebounds to go along with a game-high 26 points.

Canady stays hot for St. Pauls

ROWLAND — Dustin Canady hits five 3-pointers and scored 19 points Tuesday night as St. Pauls continued its wining streak post-Fairmont with a 64-52 win at South Robeson.

The Bulldogs (14-6, 6-1) coasted to their third straight victory with a balanced scoring attack. Malik Livingston scored 19 while Deion Gilchrist chipped in with 11.

"Dustin is playing in games like the way he's playing in practice," St. Pauls coach Travis Lemanski said. "He's been shooting the ball well and you can tell he's playing witconfidence."