Suffolk News-Herald

Bryan Breedlove’s three-pointers got Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ahead of host Windsor Friday night. A balanced attack and a double-double by Adam Gillette kept them there.

The Saints (1-1, 0-0) brought home their first victory of the season, a 60-34 win over the Dukes. Gillette’s 15 points and 10 rebounds were tops in the contest, and Breedlove dropped in 14, edging Todd Harrell by a point.

Breedlove swished his first four trey attempts throughout the first half on Friday, his last one coming with three minutes to go, giving NSA a 26-14 lead. Windsor wouldn’t score more than four points for the remainder of the game.

&uot;My coaches told me to shoot some three’s in practice, and it obviously worked,&uot; said Breedlove. &uot;I was hitting them in warmups, but I was still surprised that I made them during the game, because I’m used to playing down low.&uot;

That was Gillette’s territory, as he exasperated the Duke defense with a multitude of layups and defensive rebounds. &uot;I’m a big guy, but I’m quick for my size, so I used my quickness to get around them,&uot; he said. &uot;The coaches were telling me to get more aggressive, so I got up for this game.&uot;

While their defense held Windsor to seven first-quarter points, five Saints scored to grab a 17-7 lead. Bo Garner, Gillette, Willis Taylor and Harrell led their team on a 6-1 run to open the second quarter, but the Dukes scored consecutive points for the first time, dropping in six of their own to get as close as 23-14. Breedlove sank his fourth three-pointer of the night to end the run, and Gillette and Harrell sank three free throws to go up 31-16 as the half ended.

Neither team scored consecutive points throughout the third quarter, which ended with NSA up, 43-25. Harrell dropped in four points in the first minute of the final period, and Gillette scored two quick buckets for a 52-27 lead. Ryland Gwaltney dropped in three free throws for his first points of the night, and Gillette outleaped a pair of Duke defenders for his 10th rebound. Gwaltney and Harrell combined for the Saints’ final five points to end the contest. NSA will visit Poquoson on Monday.

The victory completed a clean sweep for Suffolk in boy’s basketball, as Lakeland whomped host Deep Creek 87-56 and Nansemond River (1-0, 1-0) opened its season with a win over host Oscar Smith (final score unreported). Mike Camp led the Cavaliers (2-0, 1-0) with 21 points, Eric Ruffin had 13, and Tyrone Parker and 12.

Both teams will compete today in the Tip-Off Classic at Nansemond River. Lakeland opens the tournament a 2 p.m. against T.C. Williams, and the Warriors play in the final game at 8 p.m. against Woodbridge.

The local public school girls teams weren’t as lucky, as Lakeland fell 60-57 to Deep Creek and the Lady Warriors fell to the Lady Tigers (final score unreported). Alecia Harris led the Lady Cavaliers with 13 points, and Shadonna Cox and Natasha Whitworth each had 11. Lakeland visits Great Bridge on Tuesday, while the Lady Warriors host Indian River.