Basketball Recap: North Johnston Snaps Four-Game Streak of Losses on the Road

After having lost a blowout in their previous game against Franklin Academy, North Johnston was happy to have turned things around on Friday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 39-36 win over the Louisburg Warriors. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted since December 10, 2024.

Despite the loss, Louisburg saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Micheal McLean went 6-for-15 en route to 20 points in addition to seven boards and three steals. The matchup was McLean's third in a row with at least 19 points. The team also got some help courtesy of John Lucas Anselmo, who posted four points.

Panthers

Previous 5 Games

11/21/25 @ Louisburg	39-36
11/19/25 vs Franklin Academy	35-66
11/18/25 vs Princeton	47-39
02/17/25 @ Beddingfield	46-54
02/14/25 vs Princeton	54-67

North Johnston's win ended a four-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-1.

Looking ahead, North Johnston will host Smithfield-Selma at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Panthers will need to watch out since the Spartans have now posted at least 55 points every time they've taken the court this season. As for Louisburg, they will hit the road for the first time this season to challenge Oxford Prep at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.