CREEKSVILLE – With 10 seconds on the clock and Weldon trailing Northampton East by two, the Chargers called a timeout.

As the teams huddled with East trying to hold on for the win and Weldon strategizing how to take it, controversy arose as referees checked to see if Weldon had any timeouts remaining.

According to the scorer’s table they did not and the Chargers were assessed a technical foul.

Jeremy Taylor made both foul shots, giving East a 53-49 lead with 10 seconds remaining.

There were still 10 seconds remaining on the clock as Weldon left the floor and headed to the locker room, ending a physical match-up between these two rivals.

Weldon took an early 3-0 lead after an Anthony Faulcon foul shot and Carlton Polley deuce.

East’s Jeffrey Long scored three straight baskets, including a three-pointer, to give the Rams a 7-3 advantage.

Dontre Person converted two free throws to cut the lead to two.

Josh Reddish took Long’s pass to the hoop for two and Mike Corbin scored after a Weldon turnover as the Rams took an 11-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Chargers came on strong in the second quarter, scoring 11 unanswered points to take a 16-11 lead.

East got a basket from Long and two Taylor buckets to retake the lead (17-16).

Two Weldon deuces put the Chargers back out front, but a putback by Taylor and basket from Reddish sent the Rams to the locker room with a 21-20 lead at the half.

The lead changed seven times in the third quarter as the teams traded baskets.

Person’s field goal at the buzzer gave Weldon a 32-31 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Charger Brandon Boone sank the front end of two foul shots to start the fourth.

James Jefferson and Taylor each converted a three-point play to give East a 37-33 lead.

Person’s three from deep beyond the arc cut the lead to one but Long answered with a trey for East.

The teams exchanged baskets and with less than one minute on the clock Person’s second trey of the quarter brought Weldon within two (49-47).

Reddish made one foul shot to extend the lead to three but Kennedy Boone’s basket with .24 on the clock brought the Chargers within one.

Taylor converted the one foul shot before hitting his final two free throws as East won by four, 53-49.

Long led the Rams with 19 points followed by Taylor with 16.

Reddish scored 11 points, recorded five boards and two blocked shots.

East struggled from the line shooting just 31 percent on 9-of-29, including 5-of-12 in the final 60 seconds of the game.

In junior varsity action James Long scored 12 points as East fell to Weldon by a count of 60-35.

East will host North Edgecombe Friday night.

Northampton-East (53): Jeffery Long – 19, Jeremy Taylor – 16, Jsoh Reddish – 11, J. Jefferson – 3, D. Anderson – 2, M. Corbin – 2

Weldon (49): Brandon Boone – 19, Dontre Person – 11, K. Boone – 6, A. Faulcon – 3, C. Polley – 3, A. Blount – 2, D. Person – 2, E. Parker – 2, L. Jenkins – 1