South Johnston battled throughout its Greater Neuse 3-A Conference varsity boys basketball game at East Wake on Tuesday night before the Warriors secured a 54-52 win.

South coach Brody Massengill noted that the hosts knocked down 11 shots from beyond the arc.

The Trojans took a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter.

“We played pretty well,” Massengill said. “Both teams played their guts out. It was fun.”

JaQuain Smith hit five 3-pointers and led South (10-12, 2-7) with 17 points. Jacob Thornton finished with 10 points for the Trojans and C.J. Ray added nine.

The league-leading East Wake girls took a 68-33 win.

South hosts Cleveland on Thursday for Senior Night.