CREEKSVILLE – Whenever Northampton-East and Northampton-West meet, you can expect a tight game.

Friday night’s Tar-Roanoke Conference matchup didn’t disappoint as East held off West to take a 54-51 victory.

The lead traded hands three times in the first quarter before East went ahead as Javon Jordan took the inbounds pass to the net to put the Rams ahead 6-5.

Another Jordan basket and a bucket from Travis Mason extended the lead to five, 10-5.

The teams traded baskets, with West cutting the lead to one at 12-11.

Jordan hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to extend the East lead to 15-11.

The teams continued to trade baskets in the second, with West cutting it to one, and then East pulling back ahead.

A basket from Giancarlo Hasty sent West to the locker room at the half clinging to a 22-21 lead, their first lead since early in the first quarter.

The lead didn’t last.

Jeremy Taylor hit a basket to put East back out front 23-22.

After falling behind by five, 29-24, Javarrae Rook hit a basket to cut the Rams’ lead to three.

East answered, as Mason took Taylor’s pass to the hoop and then found the net again after coming up with a West turnover, extending the Rams lead, 33-26.

At the end of the third, East held on to a 34-29 lead.

East extended their lead to eight, 42-34, after a basket from Mason, two foul shots from Taylor, and two buckets by Adrian Sawyer.

After trading baskets, Hasty hit a trey to pull West within three, 45-42.

Three was as close as the Hurricanes could get, falling 54-51.

&uot;Our free throws, especially in the first four and five minutes of the fourth gave us a lead,&uot; said East head coach Donald Gibbs.

The Rams shot 10-of-17 from the line during the final quarter.

Sawyer led the East with 13 points.

&uot;Adrian is a senior and as captain of the team I expect him to step up and he did,&uot; Gibbs added.

Melvin Rook led the Hurricanes with 14 points.

East hosted Hertford County in a matinee game Saturday afternoon.

Northampton-East (54): Adrian Sawyer – 13, Travis Mason – 10, Tamarques Pierce – 10, J Jordan – 9, J. Taylor – 7, K. Shoulars – 4, E. Hyman – 1

Northampton-West (51): Melvin Rook – 14, Javarrae Rook – 11, Giancarlo Hasty – 11, J. Rook – 5, Q. Turner – 4, D. Ellis – 4, J. Long – 2