MERRY HILL – Lawrence broke open a close game in the second quarter here Monday night.

A 9-0 spurt to start the period pushed the Warriors to a 10-point advantage from which they never looked back as they downed Tarheel Independent Conference rival Pungo Christian Academy 62-29.

The Warriors held an early advantage, but a triple off the hands of Joey Oliver got PCA within one (9-8) at the end of the first quarter. They wouldn’t get closer.

Alex Hodges started the second with a hoop for the Warriors followed by a Frank Baker bucket. Judd Whitehead, the game’s leading scorer with 16 points, hit a deuce and a three-pointer to give LA an 18-8 advantage.

The Warriors continued to build that advantage when Marshall Ellis hit a bucket just before a three from Chad Oliver to give Lawrence a 14-point edge, the same they held at the intermission.

A barrage of triples started the third period as Ellis hit one followed by back-to-back threes from Pungo’s Oliver.

The Warriors then took over the contest, scoring 16 of the next 17 points.

Oliver hit the first five points followed by a Gray Harrell bucket. Whitehead then scored before an Ellis three-pointer. Harrell scored a deuce before Oliver closed out the quarter with a bucket and a triple as Lawrence led 50-21 heading into the final period.

&uot;We played better tonight than we have recently,&uot; second-year Lawrence coach Robert Kravitz said. &uot;Pungo played us tough at the beginning of the game.

&uot;We are improving and getting better with every game,&uot; he added. &uot;That was our first conference win this year, which we are pleased with getting.&uot;

Three Warriors were in double figures for the night, including Whitehead, Oliver, who had 13 points, and Ellis with 12 points.

The Warriors are 3-10 overall and 1-4 inside the league while Pungo dropped to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

Lawrence (62): Judd Whitehead – 16, Chad Oliver – 13, Marshall Ellis – 12, G. Harrell – 8, A. Hodges – 7, F. Baker – 4, J. Harrell – 2

Pungo (29): Joey Oliver – 9, K. Smithwick – 6, D. Bell – 5, S. Fletcher – 3, M. Braddy – 3, Z. Fortescue – 3