Hobbton's Nina Devone eyes the basket before executing a play against Roseboro-Salemburg Middle Thursday. Devone was high scorer in the game. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

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Roseboro-Salemburg Middle's Quamine Williams goes up for 2 points during a barn-burner game with Hobbton. R-S won the game, the final one of the season. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

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Wildcat Calaeb Robinson splits the defense in the paint to get 2 points. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

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Ashley Hinterlinter tries to hold onto possession and score 2 points in Hobbton Middle's game against Roseboro-Salemburg. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

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The Hobbton Middle Wildcats and the Roseboro-Salemburg Leopards split the final game of their middle school season Thursday. The young Lady Wildcats had a run-away victory with the final 48-14. The boys game was a barn-burner that saw RSMS win, 42-40, with 2.5 seconds left on the clock.

The nightcap was an exciting game that saw the Wildcats lead most of three quarters of the game. They were down 10-7 after the first quarter but pulled ahead, leading 20-12 at the half. They had a 3-point lead, 26-23 after 3. They widened the margin out to 12 in the fourth quarter before Roseboro made a few shots and got a few turnovers at key times. The score was tied at 40 with 10 seconds left.

Roseboro coach Todd Wheeler said, “My boys did good. We played good defense. I’m proud of them. Hobbton has a good squad.”

“That was one of the hardest played games we have had all year. We didn’t get to the basket as much as we needed to tonight. They forced us to shoot a lot of outside jumpers. They played excellent defense. That doesn’t take away from the heart and hustle and the sportsmanship, and pride and character these young men have shown this year. I’m proud of them. It’s aways been that way for us this year. Its come down to the end in most every game we’ve played. These guys pushed to he limit every game right up until the end. I want to thank the parents for their support and the players for working so hard for the Hobbton community,” said Wildcat coach Jackson Temple.

Omar Farrior led the Wildcat effort with 14 points. Calaeb Robinson added 13 points.

Roseboro’s Quamine Williams led all scoring with 18 points. Keshon Baily had 8 and Zach Tanner had 6.

In the girl’s game, Hobbton jumped out to a 17-0 lead and never looked back. The Wildcats held the ball for most of the second quarter and led 22-3 at the half. After a 38-5 lead after three quarters, Roseboro start hitting a few shots as Hobbton put all the seventh graders in.

Nina Devone led the scoring with 27 points. MacKenzie Williams add 12 and Denise Lamb added 4. Delany Thornton and Tessa Hardison added 2 each. Hannah Fuller had 1.

For Roseboro, Diona Rich had 7 and Lebreia Williams had 5 points.

Wildcat Parenza Best said, “I’m proud of my eighth graders. In this last game, they played very hard. They came out with a blast. Today, they played very hard and made me very proud. They have worked hard the last couple of years.”