Northside owned boys’ basketball in Beaufort County this past season. The Panthers ran roughshod on the local competition by toppling Washington in Christmas-tournament action and going 4-0 against Southside.

Some late-season injuries derailed the Panthers, though. It cost them in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference championship, which they lost to state-championship bound Pamlico County. The result was a tougher postseason draw that saw them bounced in the second round at Triangle Research.

Still, they were the lone team to represent Beaufort County in the NCHSAA playoffs. The team made strides from last season, which was expected with seven seniors on this year’s roster. There’s plenty of hope for next season because, even with so many players departing, guards Jonathan Clark and Rashod Smith will both be back next season. The duo averaged over 37 points per game.

Terra Ceia demonstrated similar year-to-year continuity. In doing so, the Knights had to bounce back after losing the most impressive group of players it had seen in decades and their head coach. They endured all that — thanks, in part, to freshman guard Omarion Blount and a returning guard in Johannes VanEssendelft — to return to the NCISAA playoffs.

 

FIRST TEAM

RASHOD SMITH, GUARD, NORTHSIDE

Rashod Smith broke onto the scene last season as a freshman. This year, the Panther phenom showed growth as a sophomore that helped put together a 22-5 record for Northside. He averaged 20.4 points and 7.1 assists per game, proving himself to be arguably the most gifted player in the entire county.

 

DEMETRIUS EBRON, GUARD, SOUTHSIDE

This season was not an easy one for senior guard Demetrius Ebron or Southside. It took him and the Seahawks until senior night to earn a win in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference. Still, with a relatively young team around him, Ebron cemented himself as one of the area’s best guards with 14 points and nearly three steals per game.

 

JONATHAN CLARK, GUARD, NORTHSIDE

The chemistry between Jonathan Clark and Rashod Smith was one of the most exciting parts about this past basketball season. They were creative in their playmaking, especially between each other. Clark’s style was a louder complement to Smith. He contributed, on average, over 17 points and five rebounds per game.

 

BRYSON RADCLIFFE, FORWARD, NORTHSIDE

Bryson Radcliffe battled an injury late in the season. It affected his abilities in the post, but he rarely let it keep him off the court. He — along with Clark, Smith and Braeden Cooper — was one of four Panthers averaging in double digits. He also hauled in 6.4 rebounds per game.

 

THOMAS EDWARDS, FORWARD, WASHINGTON

Like Southside, Washington had a tough outing this season. The Pam Pack struggled to put together a complete 32-minute game all season long. Edwards’ development from his junior campaign was one of the team’s highlights this season. He was more effective in the paint on offense and defense, and further spread the court by sharpening his outside shooting.

SECOND TEAM

BRAEDEN COOPER, GUARD, NORTHSIDE
OMARION BLOUNT, GUARD, TERRA CEIA
DREYLON BROOKS, GUARD, WASHINGTON
PARKER BOYD, FORWARD, NORTHSIDE
WILL WARREN, FORWARD, SOUTHSIDE

HONORABLE MENTIONS

TAYEVON BLACKLEDGE, GUARD, WASHINGTON
CHANDLER CUTHRELL, GUARD, PUNGO
ZACH GREEN, GUARD, SOUTHSIDE
JOHANNES VAN ESSENDELFT, GUARD, TERRA CEIA
TYSHAWN ROBERSON, GUARD, WASHINGTON
URIAH LAWRENCE, GUARD/FORWARD, WASHINGTON
BRANDON SULLIVAN, FORWARD, SOUTHSIDE
DAWSON JACKSON, FORWARD, NORTHSIDE
IVORY MOORE, FORWARD, SOUTHSIDE
ALEX VANSTAALDUINEN, FORWARD, TERRA CEIA