CHOCOWINITY — It’s not a stretch to say Southside is struggling. The young squad is learning day by day, but wins have been hard to come by against the bevy of tough foes in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference.

It was no different when the Seahawks returned Wednesday from a lengthy weather-related layoff. Tarboro’s athleticism proved overwhelming in a 69-39 win.

The Vikings’ sportsmanship, on the other hand, left plenty to be desired. Head coach Reginald Bess put his starting lineup back into the game as Tarboro led by 30 points with less than two minutes remaining. In response, White had senior Elijah Moore hang onto the ball for the remainder of the game.

“I think it’s kind of poor sportsmanship on his part to put his seniors back in when I subbed my bench in. I told him that after the game,” Southside coach Sean White said. “Why would you bring your starters back in against my subs? I don’t understand that.

“I’m not going to let my guys be embarrassed that way. That’s why I held the ball and told them not to move.

According to White, Bess claimed he put his starters back on the floor to run a four-corners offense so as to evaporate the clock. White didn’t buy it.

“That’s just sorry,” White said. “Why can’t he run four corners with the guys that are in there? Why would you want to run four corners to delay when you’re up by 30? Leave your subs in there and let them play just like I was going to leave my subs in to let them play.”

Tarboro won the opening tip and needed just four seconds to score the first basket. Caleb Whitley proved cold-blooded for the Vikings. The junior captain pushed the pace of the game by creating and finishing transition opportunities.

The result was a 23-8 lead for the visitors after the first quarter. Southside defense showed more and more cracks as the game went on. A 3-pointer by Will Warren late in the second was one of just four made baskets in the period, and the Seahawks faced a 21-point deficit heading into the locker room.

“We’re trying to do better on defense. Obviously, the first thing is to get back,” White said. “We’re trying to make the court smaller on the defensive end by closing out. … Meet the pass at the player, make yourself a big body and defend the player on the pass.”

Southside struggled not only to match the shooting prowess of Whitley, but also couldn’t contend in the paint with 6-foot-7 senior forward Nico Barnes.

Southside, with the game essentially out of reach, played a more relaxed brand of basketball in the second half. It almost doubled its scoring output as Warren and Brandon Sullivan combined for three treys in the third.

Until the late shenanigans, the fourth quarter proved uneventful with each team playing deep off of its bench.