Basketball Recap: Heide Trask Comes Up Short

Heide Trask was the 90-57 winner over East Duplin when they last played one another back in February of 2024, but their luck changed this time around. The Heide Trask Titans received a blow on Saturday as they fell 68-52 to the East Duplin Panthers. While losing is never fun, the Titans can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 456th, while the Panthers are ranked 225th).

Despite the loss, Heide Trask still got an impressive performance from Trey Cheatam, who dropped a double-double on 18 points and 11 rebounds. Cheatam has been hot, having posted eight or more boards the last five times he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Faqeeh Harmon, who posted 12 points.

East Duplin had a senior duo take command as Calvin Harper dropped a double-double on 21 points and ten rebounds and Jordan Hall went 5 of 6 on his way to 13 points and seven rebounds. That's the most rebounds Hall has posted since back in January of 2024. Another player making a difference was Zachary Ball, who went 5 of 8 on his way to 12 points.

Heide Trask's loss dropped their record down to 4-8. As for East Duplin, the win (which was their fifth in a row) raised their record to 6-1.

Heide Trask will be playing in front of their home fans against Varsity Opponent at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. As for East Duplin, a feisty cat fight will be fought when the East Duplin Panthers challenge the James Kenan Tigers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. James Kenan knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past five games -- so hopefully East Duplin likes a good challenge.