By RUDY COGGINS
Assistant Editor
CALYPSO - The trap developed perfectly in the corner and North Duplin head boys’ basketball coach Ricky Edwards could foresee a turnover.
Don Tyrell had other ideas.
The Neuse Charter guard escaped trouble and found teammate Eli Ayres wide open on the perimeter. Ayres squared up, drained the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining and propelled the Cougars past the Rebels, 61-60, on Tuesday evening.
It was the season opener for the Carolina 1A rivals.
Edwards tipped his hat to Ayres, who logged 10 of his 13 points in the final quarter.
“We were just trying to keep them from having an open look,” Edwards said. “I thought we might get it [on the trap] and they got it out to him. [He] just hit a big shot. Have to give him credit.”