Nashara McNeill makes a steal for the Coats-Erwin girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

In front of a capacity crowd for Coats-Erwin’s Homecoming on Monday, the Falcons and visiting rival Dunn split middle school basketball games, with Coats-Erwin’s girls and Dunn’s boys each taking wins to stay atop the Harnett County Conference standings.

After strong defense and Dunn foul trouble helped Coats-Erwin take the advantage in the girls game, the Falcons weathered a fourth-quarter rally to hold on for a 39-32 victory.

Ashari Watlington had 12 points and Carleigh Hemby had 11 points to lead the Falcons (9-1).

SueAnna Bass had eight points. Nashara McNeill had four points. Anna Wilson and Madelyn Parker had two points apiece.

JaNiah Smith scored 18 points to lead the Greenwaves (6-4).

Evie Eller and Virginia Pope had five points apiece and Chyna Massey had four points.

With Smith on the bench for much of the first quarter after getting into foul trouble early, Coats-Erwin took a 9-5 lead at the end of the quarter. And after a closely contested second quarter, the Falcons led 20-14 at halftime.

Coats-Erwin shut out Dunn in the third quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points to take a 36-14 lead into the fourth.

Dunn came out hot in the fourth quarter, going on an 18-3 run. But the Falcons’ lead was too big for the Greenwaves to overcome and time ran out on the rally.

A strong start helped Dunn take a 51-41 win over Coats-Erwin in the boys game to stay unbeaten on the season.

The Greenwaves (10-0) are the only team to beat the Falcons (8-2) so far this season.

Nick Roberson had 13 points and Matthew Strickland had 11 points to pace the Greenwaves.

Qua’Shaun Williams had eight points. Ahmad Morris had seven points. Chandler Miles had three points. Ro’mello Pegues, ZyQuan Smith, Ezekial Dixon and Avery Ellington had two points apiece. Ke’Quan Kenner had one point.

Jayden Williams had nine points and J.J. Cowan had seven points to lead the Falcons.

Winston Waite, Grant Pope and A.J. Dewar had six points apiece. Zamonte’ McDougald had five points. Marquis Rosado had two points.

Dunn outscored Coats-Erwin 18-6 in the first quarter and led the rest of the way, also outscoring Coats-Erwin 14-10 in the second quarter to lead 32-16 at halftime.

The Falcons battled back in the second half, outscoring the Greenwaves 13-10 in the third quarter and 12-9 in the fourth, but could not overcome the deficit.

Dunn has its last home game of the season against Highland and Coats-Erwin travels to Overhills on Thursday. Dunn’s boys and Coats-Erwin’s girls both need just one more win to clinch a conference championship.

SueAnna Bass scores for the Coats-Erwin girls on Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Evie Eller moves up the floor after a steal for Dunn.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Ashari Watlington scores for the Falcon girls on Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Madelyn Parker secures an offensive rebound for Coats-Erwin.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

JaNiah Smith scores for the Greenwave girls at Coats-Erwin.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

A.J. Dewar scores for Coats-Erwin in Monday’s game with Dunn.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Chandler Miles shoots a 3-pointer for the Greenwaves.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Jayden Williams calls a play for the host Falcons.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Nick Roberson gets a basket for the visiting Greenwaves.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Matthew Strickland scores as Dunn improves to 10-0.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)