PEMBROKE — The revenge game. The rubber match. The decider. Call it what you want, but anticipation has been building for the last three weeks over the regular-season finale between Lumberton and Purnell Swett.
From the social media trash talking, both fan bases and teams are ready to decide who takes the regular season series between the two rivals after the boys team split both meetings already this season. In the girls matchup, Lumberton looks to stay in a tie for second in the Sandhills Athletic Conference, while Purnell Swett looks to win its first league game of the season.
Since meeting in the Robeson County Shootout boys championship game, both teams have taken different winding journeys to close out their regular seasons.
Purnell Swett lost nine of its next 10 games after claiming its first Shootout title in over a decade in 68-66 win at UNCP in December, including an 85-62 defeat at Lumberton on Jan. 18. The last six games during that stretch were played without Shootout MVP Xavier Jones who was out due to a suspension.
Jones returned to the lineup last Tuesday, and since has provided two double-double performances as the Rams (10-12, 3-10 SAC) have topped Jack Britt and Hoke to put a breath of hope in the Rams heading into the rivalry matchup.
Lumberton (15-8, 7-6 SAC) won six of the next nine games after falling in the Shootout title game, and has taken down Pinecrest twice. While that was the high mark for the Pirates in the last two months, they currently are in a two-game losing streak, which is the longest of their season.
The lightning-quick guards will take center stage in this matchup, much like they have in the previous meetings.
Jordan McNeill has virtually locked in county Player of the Year with his play this season, averaging more than 20 points and eight rebounds a game. Aiding him within the offense has been the emergence of a wealth of guards that have emerged in different games to provide a lift. Sophomore Jadarion Chatman posted a triple-double against Richmond and leads the team in assists at 5.2 a game.
Purnell Swett’s backcourt of Darriante Parker and Zack Carter have combined to average more than 30 points, seven boards and six assists a game this season. Carter’s numbers dropped without Jones in the lineup, but since his return the senior is averaging nearly 14 points a contest.
Lumberton’s girls have won nine of their last 10 games, and four in a row heading into the matchup against the Lady Rams. In the previous meeting, Lumberton shook off a slow start to pull away from Purnell Swett with a 59-30 win.
Another slow start hit the Lady Pirates earlier this week as they trailed 8-6 after the first quarter against Scotland.
Madison Canady leads Lumberton (17-5, 10-3 SAC) this season into her final regular-season basketball sporting a scoring average of 19 points a game. She has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Rachel O’Neil has provided a lift on the wing, and is averaging more than 10 points a game in the last three games. O’Neil also brings a streak of nine games with at least one made 3-pointer into the contest.
During Purnell Swett’s (4-17, 0-13 SAC) nine-game losing streak, its first conference win of the season has eluded it in several close games over the past few weeks. The Lady Rams’ closest chances at that first league win both were to Hoke when they lost both games by one possession. Friday’s game will be the final home game for five players on the team.
Purnell Swett’s last win over Lumberton in girls basketball came 15 games ago in January 2012.
