CHOCOWINITY — Northside coach Mike Procter new heading into his team’s regular season finale against area and Four Rivers Conference rival Southside that his team could not rely solely on star center Tony Peele for scoring if it wanted to win.
Procter’s Panthers answered the challenge as their balanced attack in the third quarter was the pivotal point in their thrilling 64-61 victory over the Seahawks.
Northside (12-10, 6-8) entered halftime trailing 36-31 but outscored Southside (5-15, 1-13) 20-9 in the third to enter the final quarter up 51-45.
The Panthers had three different players score four points or more during that run which proved as a cushion in the fourth quarter when the Seahawks rallied.
“We made a run in the third quarter where we were able to get the ball in to Tony and he was able to get it to Antonio Woods for a few baskets,” Procter said. “We were able to put (Tony) up by the foul line and let him pass.”
Peele would end up pouring in game-high 33 points while Woods added 15 for the Panthers.
“One thing we weren’t ready for was him shooting from the outside,” Southside coach Sean White said of Peele. “He did a pretty good job of that.”
Rokeem Miller scored 20 points to lead Southside while Kyle White scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to key a furious Seahawks’ rally. White, who hit three fourth-quarter threes, was able to tie the game up on a fastbreak layup after Peele missed dunk on the other end. White’s bucket made it a 60-60 game with: 50 showing on the clock.
Trailing 62-61, Southside had a prime opportunity to take the lead when, with :20 left in the game, the Seahawks worked a give-and-go to the inbounding Miller from halfcourt. The Southside guard drove the ball into the paint where Northside’s Tyler Waters put his hands up and stayed stiff as a statue to avoid a foul call. Waters’ presence was just enough to make Miller miss.
Peele rebounded the miss and would go to the foul line and make both this free throws to take a 64-61 lead.
The Seahawks had one last chance to tie the game up but missed on a three-point attempt as time expired.

Northside    14    17    20    13         64
Southside    18    18    9    16    –    61
Panthers (64)
Moore 6, Antonio Woods 15, Tony Peele 33, Sesson 2, Waters 4, Stanley 2.
Seahawks (61)
Stokes 2, Kyle White 16, Rouse 8, Rokeem Miller 20, Byron Murray 10, Rodman 6, Moore 2.