MERRY HILL – Three-pointers often bring the shooter’s fans into the game, but Friday night one trey brought the entire gym to their feet.

With 6:04 left in the third quarter, Lawrence Academy senior sharpshooter Thomas Ward scored his 1,000th career point with his sixth trifecta of the night. Before a home crowd enjoying senior night, Ward received the game ball, which he then passed to his family.

The crowd then saw the Warriors go on to hand Pungo Christian Academy a 59-49 defeat.

Senior Shawn Smith gave the Warriors their first point of the night on a free throw. After a three-point play by PCA’s Brian Winslow, Ward hit three consecutive three-pointers, followed by a trey off the hands of senior Grantley Mizelle, giving Lawrence a 13-5 advantage.

The Raiders fought back behind the shooting of Winslow and Kyle Elliott to close the score. Two free throws by Charlie Carawan brought the Raiders to within three (18-15) at the close of the first quarter.

Winslow scored at the beginning of the second to bring the Raiders within one, but Andrew Barber followed with a deuce off an assist by Chad Simmons.

Following a Raider free throw, senior Erik Hughes split the defenders to score on the inbounds pass from Barber to put the Warriors ahead by four (22-18).

Simmons and Ward combined to score nine to close out the second, putting the Warriors ahead 31-27 at the half.

An Elliot three-pointer and deuce back-to-back pulled Pungo to within one (38-37) late in the third quarter.

A Simmons steal and lay-up followed by a basket off the hands of senior James Bostick helped Lawrence pull away.

Ward hit three shots from the charity stripe to close out the third quarter and give Lawrence a six-point (45-39) advantage.

Smith started the Lawrence rally in the fourth with a basket that was followed by a Barber trey. The Warriors closed out the quarter, hitting five free throws to secure the win.

&uot;I have to acknowledge how much Pungo has improved,&uot; rookie LA skipper Justis Bobbitt said. &uot;They had great guard play and shoot well when they were open. After beating them handily twice, they scared me.&uot;

Ward led all scorers with 32 in helping the Warriors improve to 7-3 inside the Tarheel Independent Conference.

In junior varsity boys’ action, the Warriors outscored PCA 18-1 in the third period to secure a 46-26 victory. Holden McClenney and Judd Whitehead led the Warriors with seven points each.

Lawrence (59)

Thomas Ward – 32, A. Barber – 6,G. Mizelle – 5, S. Smith – 5, C. Simmons – 4, J. Greisideck – 3, J. Bostick – 2, E. Hughes – 2

Pungo Christian (48)

Brian Winslow – 14, Charlie Carawan – 14, Kyle Elliot – 11, M. Sadler – 9