Northside had more than one highlight last week. The Panthers earned a claim of first place in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference. Beforehand, the team’s fans donned baseball caps to honor coach Mike Proctor and his battle with cancer.

Rashod Smith, once again, led the way for the Panthers. They continue to be arguably the most exciting team in Beaufort County.

Elsewhere, Northside and Southside’s girls each showed growth in losses to top-ranked CPC teams in Riverside and Pamlico County. Washington’s girls couldn’t secure first place in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference, but were able to rebound with a win against Greene Central. The boys are still chasing their first conference win.

Here are last week’s standouts:

 

RASHOD SMITH, NORTHSIDE

Rashod Smith again proved he’s one of the best that the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference — and all of Beaufort County — has to offer. Northside played one of its biggest games of the season Friday when it hosted a Riverside team unbeaten in the CPC.

Smith got off to a hot start when he knocked down a trio of 3-pointers right out of the gate. He finished the 77-69 win with a team-high 23 points. Coach Mike Proctor said Smith didn’t have his best game in a narrow loss at Riverside earlier in the season, so he took that as a challenge to drive the performance he had Friday.

 

JOHNATHAN CLARK, NORTHSIDE

When Smith is hot, oftentimes his running mate Johnathan Clark is, too. Proctor has called Clark the leader of this Panthers team. He looked like it in the way he’d take things over. After Smith’s hot start from long range, Clark followed with six points in the first quarter to fuel a 19-12 lead after the opening period.

Clark’s 22 points were spread throughout the game, which is a testament to his consistency. His contributions were marred only by a bit of foul trouble. He and Smith were able to spread the Knights’ defense in a way that opened things up for fellow guard Braeden Cooper, who had three 3s in the second half.

 

MICHAELA DIXON, SOUTHSIDE

Southside knew it would have its work cut out last Tuesday when it hosted Pamlico County. The Lady Hurricanes are far and away the best team in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference.

The Lady Seahawks demonstrated plenty of improvement from their 53-8 loss in Bayboro on Dec. 12. They left it all on the court in a 65-33 shortcoming. Michaela Dixon hit a pair of 3-poitners and led Southside with 11 points. She also grabbed six rebounds.

 

PRENTISS THOMAS, NORTHSIDE

Northside struggled offensively throughout its meeting with a stout Riverside club Friday at home. The Lady Panthers were on the backend of a tough two-game set that featured the Lady Knights and 1-A Coastal Plains Conference frontrunner Pamlico County.

It wasn’t until Ve’Era Holloway got a layup and Prentiss Thomas knocked down consecutive jumpers that Northside had back-to-back baskets. Thomas, only a sophomore, has grown as a shooter and a playmaker since the 67-25 loss in Williamston on Dec. 8.

 

DEMETRIUS EBRON, SOUTHSIDE

Despite picking up a win against Mattamuskeet on Jan. 11, Southside is still searching for its first conference win of the season. The Seahawks came within a shot of earning it at South Creek, but fell 65-62 on Jan. 13. They were then overwhelmed by a sharpshooting Pamlico County team on Tuesday.

Senior guard Demetrius Ebron had a breakout game in the close loss to the Cougars. He led the Seahawks with 22 points. He also added four rebounds, four assists and eight steals.