Behind Ashton Moore’s 25 points Nansemond River tipped off the Southeastern District basketball season with a 51-47 win at city rival Lakeland Friday night.

The contest looked like the season opener in many ways.

The Warriors survived two long scoring droughts to start each half. Lakeland had a 33-24 lead late in the third period but lost it in large part due to 23 turnovers.

The Warriors and Cavaliers combined to commit 55 fouls, meaning either side could’ve pulled away at the foul line. Instead, the Warriors shot 40.5 percent (17-of-42) at the line and the Cavaliers made 43.8 percent (14-of-32).

From Lakeland’s nine-point advantage late in the third, the shortest Warrior on the roster, Warren Beatty, hit a three-pointer to start turning the tide. With a trey and two at the line, Moore netted the last five points of the period to bring NR within a 35-32 deficit.

With a mix of spotting up for long jumpers and hitting shots by pulling up off the dribble, Moore was the main scorer when the Warriors needed him.

Beatty connected from long-range again to put the Warriors up 37-35 with 6:14 remaining. Those two treys were Beatty’s only field goals of the game, but they were pivotal.

Every point was tough to come by for the Warriors and Cavaliers. Lakeland held the Warriors to two points through the first seven minutes of the game.

Lakeland built only a 6-2 lead in that span and the first period ended 7-7.

Samson Worrell and Josh Beck hit threes early in the second to give Lakeland life. Moore answered with two triples for the Warriors. NR led 22-17 before Lakeland scored the last five points of the half on free throws.

The Cavaliers spent 9:54 of the first half in the bonus and 12:33 worth of the second half in the bonus but couldn’t take full advantage.

Lakeland blanked the Warriors for the first 4:18 of the second half. A pair of free throws by Moore cut the Cavalier lead to 25-24 at that point.

One Cavalier spurt of momentum, and more importantly eight points in 30 seconds, looked as though it could be the critical moment of the game all by itself.

Reggie Morris pulled down an offensive rebound and scored in the paint. A Cavalier steal as the Warriors tried crossing midcourt led to Ocie Ruffin draining a three from the right corner. After another Warrior turnover, Worrell hit a three from beyond the top of the key to put Lakeland up 33-24.

Once the combo of Moore and Beatty brought the Warriors back, it still wasn’t pretty down the stretch for the Warriors, but it was good enough to start the season with a win.

Shannon Evans banked in a three from the top of the key to make it 43-38 NR. Eryck Robinson hustled for a loose rebound 40 feet from Lakeland’s hoop and went on for a breakaway lay-in for a 45-38 NR lead with 3:29 to go.

Lakeland closed to within 48-44. Evans made a 2-for-2 trip to the line with 0:45 left and the Cavs couldn’t cut NR’s lead to a one-possession game.

Beck led the Cavaliers with 13 points. Worrell added 12 points. Rodney Goodman had nine points and 12 rebounds.

Besides Moore’s 25, Beatty and Evans chipped in seven points each for NR. Evans led the Warriors with seven boards.