Being worn out is something the Nansemond River High School Warriors had not experienced this season, but the visiting Heritage High School boys’ basketball team gave them a taste of it on Friday.

The Warriors led at various points of the game, but the Hurricanes went on a 16-1 run to end the third period up by 12. They never let their hosts get within striking distance after that, leading to a 70-55 win.

“They beat us up inside,” NR head coach Ed Young said. “It’s the main reason they won the game.”

The Hurricanes’ three big men were 18-for-24 in the paint. Senior Corey White finished with 20 points, 14 coming in the second half; junior Romello Anderson finished with 13 points; and senior Troy Gibson finished with 11.

The Warriors were up 12-4 at the beginning of the game, and exited the first quarter still ahead 14-12.

Senior Michael Duncan of Heritage hit three shots from beyond the arc in the second quarter to help his team go up 34-31 at halftime.

For the game, the Hurricanes were 6-for-9 from three-point range, while the Warriors were 0-for-7.

The game was back and forth until the visitors’ run to end the third period changed the game, discouraging Nansemond River.

“You could see it in their eyes in the third quarter,” Young said of his players. “(Heritage) wore us out”

He did not think conditioning was the issue, however. His team did things to put itself behind, a position in which fatigue becomes magnified.

“We never got into any offensive sets,” he said, referring to planned plays. “You can’t play wild against a team that D’s you up.”

The Hurricanes’ defensive pressure was unparalleled in the Warriors’ experience this season.

“Nobody else will play that kind of defense the rest of the year until we see them again,” Young said.

Warriors senior Devon Oakley ended up with 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting; senior Marvin Branch had 13 points and 13 boards; and junior Scott Spencer was held to eight points and five boards.

“It’ll be an uphill climb now, because they’re in the driver’s seat,” Young said of Heritage. The Hurricanes are the only remaining undefeated team in the conference. “We’re going to have to have a monumental effort to beat them (at their place).”

Young is concerned is about his team.

“We’re not improving enough as get into the conference play,” he said.

Nansemond River (14-2, 3-1) will hit the practice court in earnest ahead of its next contest on Friday against host Lakeland High School (7-9, 1-3).