There were wild variations in the Warriors’ play Tuesday night at home, but Nansemond River High School’s boys’ basketball team pulled away from Grassfield High School in the second half for a 57-47 season-opening win.

“We played a season in one game,” NR head coach Ed Young said. “We showed our absolute best, our absolute worst and a whole lot in the middle.”

The best came in the first quarter, when senior guard Devon Oakley scored eight of his game-high 16 points.

The Warriors were all over the boards then, as well. The Grizzlies shot 3-for-11 from the field during the period, and Nansemond River rebounded all of their misses. The Warriors went 8-for-11 and collected two of those misses. They led 17-7 entering the second quarter and 31-21 at halftime.

Then the third quarter turned the game on its head.

“As well as we played in the first quarter, we played equally as bad in the third,” Young said.

Grassfield won the period, 17-7. During a stretch extending from the second to the third quarter, Nansemond River missed 15 straight free throws.

When the dust settled as the fourth quarter began, the game was tied at 38.

Young said the Warriors held a 41-40 lead and were not playing well when he called a timeout after about three and a half minutes had expired.

“I didn’t even go in the huddle, I let them figure it out,” Young said, figuring his presence might have been more disruptive than helpful.

They did figure it out.

Senior center Daniel Wallace got a slam dunk, Oakley converted a three-point play and the team regained its stroke at the charity stripe. After going 4-for-23 in the first three quarters, the Warriors went 9-for-12 in the last one. Junior wing player Scott Spencer was especially clutch, going 3-for-4 from the line in the final minute to seal the win.

The Grizzlies had seven turnovers in the period, and the Warriors scored on three of them.

Oakley ended up with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. Wallace had 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, Spencer produced 10 points, six boards, three assists, five steals and three blocks and senior forward Marvin Branch contributed seven points and 11 rebounds.

Nansemond River (1-0, 0-0) will host Great Bridge High School on Friday at 7:15 p.m.