Matthew 6:9-15

I am thankful for the people who, when I was a child, led me to pray. The Lord’s Prayer was one I learned in elementary school when we began each day by praying this prayer and pledging allegiance to our nation’s flag.

At the time and for a considerable part of my life, the prayer was routine and came from my mind, not my heart. It was really not until adulthood that I studied the prayer and came to understand it is a perfect model that teaches us how to pray.

The prayer, given for our benefit by the Lord, consists of several parts and deserves careful attention. Christ Jesus said we should not pray using “vain repetitions, as the heathen do.” We must not be like them because our heavenly Father knows “what things ye have need of before ye ask him,” said Jesus.

“After this manner,” He tells us. He did not say use these same words, and we do not find the apostles using this exact prayer. The Lord, who knows everything we need before we ask, gives us a pattern by which we should pray.

“Our Father” is the one to whom we pray, and there is so much that deals with our relationship in these two words. Humble yourself in obedience to the command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” We must never pray to angels or saints. Pray only to our Creator who reconciled us to Himself through His precious Son.

To hallow the name of God is the same as saying His name is holy, and to recognize the attributes we know about God. He is holy, just, merciful, gracious and so much more. Our purpose is always to glorify God.

We anticipate the Second Coming of Christ Jesus when He will set up His kingdom. Sin, sadness and even Satan will not be present in that kingdom. We understand that in the present our happiness comes through submission to His will. Our desire is for all believers to be more and more obedient to the Lord.

“Give us this day our daily bread,” He said. We ask our Father every day that in His mercy He will supply our necessities. The Jews called sins “debts.” Jesus said we ought to ask forgiveness of our sins, and we must be mindful to be as forgiving of other people as our Father is to us.

Ask, Jesus said, that we would be led away from temptations that would take us out of God’s will for our lives. God rules over everything and everybody in this world. It is well within His power to answer our prayers and grant our requests. May He always be honored and glorified.

Remember, Christ Jesus said, to have a heart for forgiveness. If we will not forgive other people, we cannot expect our Father to forgive us.

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As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to believe that President Richard Nixon was forced to resign from office — ultimately by his fellow Republicans — because of his corrupt political acts and those of his aides.

For instance, one of the key revelations of the Watergate investigation was that the 1972 Nixon re-election campaign had employed a “dirty tricks” unit. Led by the infamous Donald Segretti, a small group of Republican loyalists did their worst to spy on perceived opponents and disrupt the campaigns of Democratic candidates by spreading lies and misinformation about concocted sexual misdeeds and other invented transgressions.

Such political dirty tricks were, of course, hardly unprecedented in American politics or the exclusive province of Republicans. Nixon’s predecessor in office, Lyndon Johnson, was a skilled political manipulator of the highest order. Nonetheless, there was a sense in the early 1970s that the Nixonites had taken things to new and dangerous depths that were undermining American democracy.

Oh, that such virtuous attitudes were prevalent in the American body politic today. In the era of Donald Trump, political campaigns and movements don’t just pursue outrageous pranks to disrupt rallies or spread absurd lies about their opponents. Today, the political Right openly courts and coerces foreign governments and spends millions of dollars on underhanded schemes to disrupt the campaigns of selected opponents.

Donald Trump’s attempted extortion vis a vis Ukraine is the current poster child for this kind of shameful behavior, but especially in light of the impeachment acquittal last week, it seems sure to be far from the last such example.

One of the latest and more egregious examples of this newly bold brand of dirty tricks has been on display in North Carolina in recent days. As has been reported by the Charlotte Observer and other outlets, a group that is, by all indications, a conservative dark money funder called Faith and Power PAC, has recently spent more than $2.4 million in support of Democratic state Sen. Erica Smith in her U.S. Senate primary contest with former state Sen. Cal Cunningham and three other contestants.

The right-wing money dump appears to be part of an effort to put pressure on or even defeat Cunningham, who has enjoyed the support of the Democratic establishment and who many view as an especially formidable potential opponent for Republican Thom Tillis in November. For her part, Smith has disavowed the ads, but Tillis has been silent and it’s hard to view the scheme as anything other than an example of cynical Trumpian politics at their absolute worst.

Unfortunately, as a recent report from WRAL reporter Travis Fain illustrates, the phony pro-Smith ad scam is far from the only troubling campaign finance news in North Carolina of late.

Contrary to the silly assertions of apologists on the Right about “free speech,” the big money of plutocrats that’s used to buy both politicians and corrupt schemes constitutes a toxic plague on our democracy.

There’s also the ongoing saga involving indicted insurance executive Greg Lindberg and his alleged attempt to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. The scandal has already resulted in the guilty plea of former state Republican Party Chair Robin Hayes and some revelations involving Lt. Gov. Dan Forest — most notably that Forest is by far the largest recipient of Lindberg cash (more than $2 million in direct and indirect support from Lindberg and his associates) and it was Forest’s longtime chief of staff Hal Weatherman who first sought to bring Lindberg and Causey together — a development that was soon followed by Lindberg and his associates making big campaign contributions to Forest.

Meanwhile, Fain’s story also contains the latest confirmation that the outsized campaign accounts of Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore are fatter than ever — a fact that allows both men to continue to treat the Republican caucuses in the General Assembly and the policymaking apparatuses they control as personal fiefdoms.

Of course, neither of these latter two items is unprecedented. Former Democratic Senate leader Marc Basnight used the same technique to wield power in his caucus and former House Democratic Speaker Jim Black went to jail in a bribery scandal.

As they have with political gerrymandering, however, the Republicans of the Trump era make the politicians of bygone years look like amateurs when it comes to raking in huge amounts of cash and blatantly using it to advance their policy and personal agendas. Berger is even shamelessly using campaign funds to buy a personal residence in Raleigh.

The bottom line: Contrary to the silly assertions of apologists on the Right about “free speech,” the big money of plutocrats that’s used to buy both politicians and corrupt schemes constitutes a toxic plague on our democracy. The sooner Congress passes new, Supreme Court-proof laws to rein it in, the better.

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ST. PAULS — A 29-year-old Lumber Bridge man already charged with murder was among four people arrested Wednesday and charged with numerous drug crimes, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Michael Blackwell, who was out on bond on charges of first-degree murder and discharging a weapon into an occupied property, was returned to the county jail under a $1.85 million secured bond. Blackwell is also on probation for trafficking cocaine.

He was arrested on Wednesday after Drug Enforcement Division investigators, deputies with the Community Impact Team and SWAT operators with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office searched 390 Millionaire Road in St. Pauls and seized quantities of heroin, cocaine, Oxycodone pills, Suboxone strips, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Five firearms and $1,277 in cash also were seized.

Blackwell, Mickey Jeffries, 26, of St Pauls; Zebian Bullard, 23, of St Pauls; and Michael Blanks, 65, of Lumberton, are each charged with trafficking opium or heroin, possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, conspiring to sell or deliver heroin, trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, conspiring to sell or deliver cocaine, trafficking opioids, possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule II- and III-controlled substance, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a drug dwelling, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Blackwell also was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Jeffries and Bullard each received a $1 million secured bond, and Blanks a $100,000 secured bond.

Blackwell is one of four people charged in the Nov. 19, 2014, shooting death of Corey Bratcher, who was a senior at St. Pauls High School at the time of his death. Bratcher, 18, died after shots were fired into his Gina Boulevard home.

Blackwell was out after making a bond of $275,000. Three other men are out on bond in Bratcher’s murder. They are Angelo Burns of Shannon, $425,000 bond; Willie Fields of Lumber Bridge, $35,000 bond; and David Javon Morgan of Lumber Bridge, $55,000 bond.

Anyone with additional information or any information regarding drug activity in Robeson County is asked to call the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Division at 910-671-3191.

Blackwell

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_thumbnail_Blackwell.jpgBlackwell

Blanks

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Bullard

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Jeffries

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_thumbnail_Jeffries.jpgJeffries

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LUMBERTON — Two St. Pauls men were arrested Wednesday after a traffic stop that led to the seizure of drugs, according to the Sheriff’s Office

James Robert Inman III, 29, and Martize Douglas, 29, are charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug vehicle, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Inman also was charged with possession of firearm by a felon. He was placed in the Robeson County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.

Because of a probation violation, Douglas was served with an outstanding order for arrest, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was placed under a $510,000 secured bond.

Sheriff’s deputies stopped a 2003 Ford Taurus, operated by Inman and Douglas, for a fictitious license plate on Broad Street in St Pauls. Quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, a firearm and $373 in cash were seized after a search of the vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding drug activity in Robeson County should call the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Division at 910-671-3191.

Douglas

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Inman

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CHARLOTTE — Valentine’s Day is here to inspire dreams and hopes of finding love, but the FBI warns that seeking romance online can lead to the nightmare of a broken heart and financial ruin.

The FBI is working to raise awareness of the threat of online romance scams, according to an FBI release. Scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners on dating websites, apps, or social media by obtaining access to their financial or personal identifying information.

“Romance scams are prevalent, especially during this time of year,” the release reads in part.

The FBI offers the following tips to consider when developing an online romantic relationship:

— Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the material has been used elsewhere.

— Go slow and ask questions.

— Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to go “offline.”

— Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests.

— Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.

— Never send money to anyone you don’t know personally.

An FBI case in Texas illustrates how bad online romances can go.

A woman in her 50s and struggling in her marriage met someone online who claimed to be a friend of a friend. The woman was happy to have found someone to chat with.

“He was saying all the right things,” she said. “He was interested in me. He was interested in getting to know me better. He was very positive, and I felt like there was a real connection there.”

That connection would end up costing the woman $2 million and an untold amount of heartache after the man she fell in love with — whom she never met in person — took her for every cent she had.

That sort of internet crime is on the rise, according to the FBI. The victims predominantly are older widowed or divorced women who are, for the most part, computer literate and educated. But they are emotionally vulnerable. And con artists know exactly how to exploit that vulnerability because potential victims freely post details about their lives and personalities on dating and social media sites.

Trolling for victims online “is like throwing a fishing line,” said Special Agent Christine Beining, a veteran financial fraud investigator in the FBI’s Houston Division who has seen a substantial increase in the number of romance scam cases. “The internet makes this type of crime easy because you can pretend to be anybody you want to be. You can be anywhere in the world and victimize people. The perpetrators will reach out to a lot of people on various networking sites to find somebody who may be a good target. Then they use what the victims have on their profile pages and try to work those relationships and see which ones develop.

“The internet makes this type of crime easy because you can pretend to be anybody you want to be.”

In the case of the Texas woman who lost everything, it was her strong Christian faith, which she publicized on her Facebook profile. This information gave “Charlie” an incredible advantage when he began courting her.

“I’m very active on Facebook,” said the woman, who agreed to share her story in the hopes that others might avoid becoming victims. “I thought it was safe.”

After she friended Charlie — without verifying his bogus claim that they had a mutual friend — “he would read my wall, I would read his wall,” she said. “We would post things, he would like things. Then it got to where we would share e-mails. We started sharing pictures.”

According to Beining, this is standard operating procedure for romance scammers, who assume other people’s identities to trick their victims.

“They make themselves out to be average-looking people,” the agent said. “They are generally not trying to build themselves up too high.”

The scammer’s intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, gain trust, and propose marriage, she said. He will make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, he will ask for money.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which provides the public with a means of reporting internet-facilitated crimes, romance scams result in the highest amount of financial losses to victims when compared with other online crimes.

Anyone who believes he or she is a victim of a romance scam should file a complaint online at www.ic3.gov.

Beining

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PEMBROKE — Freda Porter has been selected to serve as interim president of Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC, tribal leaders announced Thursday evening.

The new position is effective Monday, but comes with conditions. The appointment, made in coordination with Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin Jr., is contingent on Porter taking an unpaid leave from her role as tribal administrator during her time as interim LTE president.

Tribal leaders did not say how much, or if, Porter would be paid for her LTE role. Porter fills a position left vacant by the death on Jan. 26 of LTE President Terry Hunt.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Dr. Porter’s knowledge and experience step into the role of interim president to help guide the company through this challenging time,” said LTE board Chairman Caleb A. Malcolm. “Dr. Porter’s familiarity with our assets and breath of experience strengthens the management team and its leadership at the critical time in the company.”

Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC is a tribe-owned small business established in May 2011 to provide products and services to industry and government partners.

“I recognize the sensitive need of LTE at this time and Dr. Porter was a perfect choice to fill this critical role in an organization that shows such great promise of long-term benefit to the Lumbee people,” Godwin said.

Hunt died while in Kenya. He and Ron Oxendine, chief operating officer of LTE, were in the African country to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new contract the business had landed. He died after being hospitalized for an undisclosed illness.

Porter

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Purnell Swett Athletics

Newly-hired Purnell Swett head football coach Stephen Roberson addresses a crowd of Rams fans at a meet-and-greet event hosted by the school Thursday in Pembroke. Roberson met with fans and refreshments were served at the event.

Purnell Swett Athletics Newly-hired Purnell Swett head football coach Stephen Roberson addresses a crowd of Rams fans at a meet-and-greet event hosted by the school Thursday in Pembroke. Roberson met with fans and refreshments were served at the event.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_roberson-1a.jpgPurnell Swett Athletics Newly-hired Purnell Swett head football coach Stephen Roberson addresses a crowd of Rams fans at a meet-and-greet event hosted by the school Thursday in Pembroke. Roberson met with fans and refreshments were served at the event.

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PEMBROKE — After Lumberton Junior High School’s fourth-quarter lead over Fairmont Middle School had dwindled from nine points down to one in the Robeson County middle school boys basketball championship Thursday, Dimetrious Jones stepped up in a big way for Lumberton Jr.

Jones hit four of six free throws and a layup in the final 1:22, in addition to two key steals in the sequence, leading the Vikings to a 41-34 win over the Golden Tornadoes for their fourth straight county championship.

“He’s a leader, so we were depending on him,” Lumberton Jr. coach Quincy Johnson said. “We made it rough; we stopped doing the things we were supposed to be doing.”

LJH (14-2) led by nine four different times late in the third and early in the fourth after a 12-0 run, and held Fairmont without a point for over five minutes to start the third, before the Golden Tornadoes closed to 34-33 with 54 seconds left.

“We started playing together with our defense,” Johnson said. “You got to push (Fairmont), make them play, and that was the difference in the game, to push them, continue to be on them.”

Jones led all scorers with 19 points, while Jaiden Shephard and Clarence Graham each scored eight for the Vikings. Caleb Maynor had nine rebounds and Camren McIntyre had eight.

Kaedon Porter scored 11 points with nine rebounds for Fairmont (13-3) and Deborian Powell had seven points. Tyrek Thompson had 13 rebounds and Isaac McKellar had 11.

LJH’s title was different from the ones in previous years, as this year’s team overcame losses, something not seen in previous years as the program went on a 56-game win streak that ended earlier this season.

“We started back gelling a bit, and I think that was the key. When we press, I don’t think nobody can beat us, when we run it right.”

Second-half run lifts St. Pauls

Midway through the third quarter of Thursday’s Robeson County middle school girls basketball championship game, St. Pauls Middle found itself in a position it hadn’t been in much all season, trailing by a point to Littlefield.

But Bulldogs coach Arthur Harris said that when his team settled down from the nerves they were feeling, they played better — it showed, with a run to permanently take the lead and ultimately put away the Hornets, earning the title with a 38-28 win.

“When the game started, my kids were nervous,” Harris said. “I said, ‘just keep pushing, it’ll work it’s way out.’ And I can’t stress enough how much we live and die with our defense.”

Trailing 18-17, St. Pauls used a 16-3 run over the closing minutes of the third quarter and opening minutes of the fourth to take a 33-21 lead. Littlefield never got closer than nine points after that.

Tyasia Baldwin scored 18 points with 19 rebounds for St. Pauls in the 24-minute game.

“She hustles. She thinks she can get every rebound,” Harris said. “I love a player like that.”

Zayla Gardner had seven points for St. Pauls (14-1) and Keniah Baldwin had nine rebounds.

Florence Ferguson led Littlefield (11-4) with eight points and 13 rebounds, Alyssa Stone scored seven points with seven rebounds and BreAndrea Glover had seven points. The Hornets were collectively 4-for-27 on free throws.

St. Pauls led 7-6 after the first quarter and 15-14 at halftime after a first half in which the Bulldogs had runs of 7-0 and 7-2 and the Hornets had an 8-0 run.

The Bulldogs won the tournament title after also winning the regular-season championship.

“They work hard,” Harris said. “When the gym opens they want to go in there and just work. I love kids like that. It’s the best group I’ve ever had.”

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian The St. Pauls Middle School basketball team won the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday by defeating Littlefield. Pictured are team members Tyasia Baldwin, Kenah Baldwin, Jaiden Morrisey, Zayla Gardner, Demira Wells, Shayla Gerald, ZyKerndria Cox, Kemya Baldwin and Cazzie Blackmon, head coach Arthur Harris, and assistant coaches Waders Burden and Antwone Pope.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_BOTTOM-IMG_7424.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian The St. Pauls Middle School basketball team won the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday by defeating Littlefield. Pictured are team members Tyasia Baldwin, Kenah Baldwin, Jaiden Morrisey, Zayla Gardner, Demira Wells, Shayla Gerald, ZyKerndria Cox, Kemya Baldwin and Cazzie Blackmon, head coach Arthur Harris, and assistant coaches Waders Burden and Antwone Pope.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian
The Littlefield Middle School basketball team finished second in the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday, losing to St. Pauls in the championship game. Pictured are team members BreAndrea Glover, Kaylee Lancaster, Alyssa Stone, Alona Hana, Florence Ferguson, Kenya Davis, Mackenzie Hardin, Ava Hana, Kamiya Foxworth, Jaelyn Blue, Jaelyn Hammond, Kyleigh Hardin and Christian Jacobs, head coach Amylee Carter Lancaster and assistant coaches Wanda Carter and Syniah Lancaster.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_WEB-IMG_7417.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian
The Littlefield Middle School basketball team finished second in the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday, losing to St. Pauls in the championship game. Pictured are team members BreAndrea Glover, Kaylee Lancaster, Alyssa Stone, Alona Hana, Florence Ferguson, Kenya Davis, Mackenzie Hardin, Ava Hana, Kamiya Foxworth, Jaelyn Blue, Jaelyn Hammond, Kyleigh Hardin and Christian Jacobs, head coach Amylee Carter Lancaster and assistant coaches Wanda Carter and Syniah Lancaster.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian
The Fairmont Middle School basketball team finished second in the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday, losing to Lumberton Junior High in the championship game. Pictured are team members Tyrek Thompson, Kaedon Porter, Issac McKellar, Jaden Blue, Deborian Powell, Jordan Lennon, Kamar Thompson, Rashawn Johnson, Michael Carmichael, Nas Jones, Clavin Johnson and Xzavion Pittman, manager Damajay McRae and coaches Juwan Addison, Talik McNeill and Torey Powell.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_WEB-IMG_7435a.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian
The Fairmont Middle School basketball team finished second in the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday, losing to Lumberton Junior High in the championship game. Pictured are team members Tyrek Thompson, Kaedon Porter, Issac McKellar, Jaden Blue, Deborian Powell, Jordan Lennon, Kamar Thompson, Rashawn Johnson, Michael Carmichael, Nas Jones, Clavin Johnson and Xzavion Pittman, manager Damajay McRae and coaches Juwan Addison, Talik McNeill and Torey Powell.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian
Lumberton Junior High’s Camren McIntyre cuts down the net after LJH defeated Fairmont to win the Robeson County middle school championship at Pembroke Middle School.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_WEB-IMG_7467.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian
Lumberton Junior High’s Camren McIntyre cuts down the net after LJH defeated Fairmont to win the Robeson County middle school championship at Pembroke Middle School.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian The Lumberton Junior High School basketball team won the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday by defeating Fairmont Middle School. Pictured are team members Parker Chavis, Brennon Griffin, Chatle Maynor, Jaiden Shephard, Amare Jones, Dimetrious Jones, Jordan Robinson, James Bristow, Caleb Maynor, Clarence Graham, Iaish Felder, Camren McIntyre, Jonathan Powell, Elijah Worley, Jeffery Liu, Christopher Hammonds, Dreleka Bracey and Jacob McCollum, head coach Quincy Johnson and assistant coaches Clarance McNeil and Ryan Hudson.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_TOP-IMG_7459a.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian The Lumberton Junior High School basketball team won the Robeson County middle school championship Thursday by defeating Fairmont Middle School. Pictured are team members Parker Chavis, Brennon Griffin, Chatle Maynor, Jaiden Shephard, Amare Jones, Dimetrious Jones, Jordan Robinson, James Bristow, Caleb Maynor, Clarence Graham, Iaish Felder, Camren McIntyre, Jonathan Powell, Elijah Worley, Jeffery Liu, Christopher Hammonds, Dreleka Bracey and Jacob McCollum, head coach Quincy Johnson and assistant coaches Clarance McNeil and Ryan Hudson.

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PEMBROKE — Usually this time of year, the Purnell Swett girls basketball team is preparing for the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament, needing a miracle run there to have any shot at continuing to the state playoffs, and ultimately preparing for their season to soon end.

The 2019-20 season, however, is different.

The Rams (13-8, 9-4 SAC) sit third in the SAC standings entering Friday’s regular-season finale against Lumberton, and are likely to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2012.

“It would mean a lot to them, because I know that was one of their goals, and we talk about legacy all the time, how people are going to remember you,” Purnell Swett coach Jonathan Efird said. “I think (getting to the playoffs is) something they’re going to be able to tell their people and their kids, and something to have a lot of pride in.”

Purnell Swett was ranked 40th in 4A the most recent Adjusted MaxPreps Rankings released Feb. 3; 48 schools will qualify for the playoffs. The Rams had won one conference game in the previous four seasons entering this campaign.

“It feels good to come over what we’ve been through, the last years, how we’ve been the underdogs and now we’re at the top of the conference,” Jada Coward said.

Change came this year from a talented crop of freshman, leadership from upperclassmen and inspiration from an excitable Efird.

“They’ve been bought in from day one,” Efird said. “It started with those upperclassmen, because they’ve been through it all. They’ve been through literally the bad and all we went through to get good, so I’m extremely proud of them and their hard work and dedication, not only through the bad times but now the good times too.”

The biggest thing that’s changed on the floor is the emergence of a freshman class that includes Kylie Chavis, Natalie Evington and Sydney Jacobs.

Chavis is the team’s leader in nearly every stat category, with 16.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.4 steals per game. Evington averages 10.4 points per contest.

“I don’t even look at them as freshmen anymore,” Efird said. “We’re extremely proud of them and everything they’ve brought, because they’re 14-, 15-year-old girls coming into a situation where it’s been tough going, and now to sit here and change something, that’s a lot of pressure, that’s a lot of responsibility, but at the same time they’ve taken it in stride.”

“I’m glad that I could be a part of it,” Chavis said. “It wasn’t only me, it was about other teammates too, so I’m glad. I’m happy with this season and I hope we can go on and go to the playoffs.”

Chloe Locklear (5.0 points, 6.3 rebounds per game), the team’s lone sophomore, is also a key younger player.

The team’s two seniors, Emily Oxendine and Chelsea Wilkes, aren’t starters for the Rams, but have accepted their roles off the bench and helped lead the rest of the team with their experience.

“The two seniors have been with me since day one,” Efird said. “And to see them buy into their role, buy in to what we’ve been wanting them to believe in and have faith in; they’ve done it from day one and they’ve brought it every single day.”

That leadership extends to the team’s four juniors: Coward (7.6 points, 2.3 steals per game), Alonna Locklear (3.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks per game), Destiny Locklear and Taylor Bryant.

“My juniors that have been with us since last year on varsity, they bought into it as well,” Efird said. “They continued to work, and one thing that we’re proud of is we’ve all gradually figured out what we can do to help us be the best possible basketball team out there on the court.”

This collection of players is led by Efird, in his second year at the helm of the Rams.

“He motivates us on and off the court,” Coward said. “He tries to make us bond through basketball, and bond as a team outside of basketball. It’s about basketball, but it’s about having fun also, he makes it fun for us.”

“You spend a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of effort into being the best you possibly can for them, and you know you’re not always going to be perfect, but at the same time you at least want to be able to give it your all,” Efird said. “And to hear your players see that means the world to you, and makes you want to go out there and continue to do things better, even harder.”

Efird says that having a player like Chavis leading the way at the point guard position has made him better as a coach this season.

“She’s helped me see the game in a whole different way, and she’s also helped me coach in a different way,” Efird said. “Having somebody on the floor that knows how to play the game the way she does, sometimes I just sit back and learn from her, and I listen to her and vice versa. She’s elevated everybody’s game, and elevated my game as a coach.”

The Rams have improved throughout the season, losing in conference play only to the two teams ahead of them in the league standings, Jack Britt and Seventy-First. The team has also shown a certain clutch ability, coming through to hit key shots in several close wins.

“We’ve learned and grown through every game, good, bad and ugly,” Efird said. “There’s a lot of learning and growth, not only in the game of basketball, but outside the game, learning how to be a family and learning how to continue to grow as well. So there’s a lot of things that go into it, more than just the game, more than what meets the eye, but these girls have worked tremendously hard to get where they’re at.”

The change in the Purnell Swett program is helping to develop a new culture, both for the players on the team and for the entire community, as the Rams have gotten a higher degree of support this season as they started winning some games.

“For us it’s just creating a program, creating a place that this is where girls want to come play basketball, and they know that they can sit here and get the best out of it and get the best experience and have fun while doing it, and change the culture and be able to win,” Efird said. “I think we’ve definitely put our foot in the right direction.”

“Most people would not come to our games at all, there would be like zero people,” Chavis said. “But now there’s people in there cheering us on and stuff, so I’m glad for that.”

There’s a lot to look forward to for the Rams program in the coming years as the current underclassmen continue to develop and other players reach the varsity level.

“We’ve got some good talent coming from the middle-school level too,” Efird said. “So you put all that together and we’re going to have something to look forward to in the next few years.”

But first, unlike so many years before, they’ve got some more games to prepare for.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett coach Jonathan Efird directs his team in a timeout during a game earlier this season against Pinecrest at UNC Pembroke. Under Efird’s leadership, the Rams are likely to qualify for the 4A state playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_LEAD-IMG_6895-1.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett coach Jonathan Efird directs his team in a timeout during a game earlier this season against Pinecrest at UNC Pembroke. Under Efird’s leadership, the Rams are likely to qualify for the 4A state playoffs for the first time in over two decades.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett freshman guard Kylie Chavis dribbles past Richmond’s Bree Wall during a game earlier this season in Pembroke. Chavis lead the Rams in points, assists, rebounds and steals as the team has made a turnaround in the 2019-20 season.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_SECONDARY-IMG_6726-1.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett freshman guard Kylie Chavis dribbles past Richmond’s Bree Wall during a game earlier this season in Pembroke. Chavis lead the Rams in points, assists, rebounds and steals as the team has made a turnaround in the 2019-20 season.

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ST. PAULS — The St. Pauls Board of Commissioners was told Thursday that the town’s cash flow has improved.

The town’s cash flow was just over $1.6 million in 2019, John Masters, of S. Preston Douglas & Associates, said during his presentation of a 2018-2019 audit. The audit also contained other good news for the town.

Masters said the town’s property tax revenue was about $1.5 million in 2019, an increase from the previous year of just under $1.2 million.

“Your property tax collection is 92%, which is very comparable to other towns in Robeson County,” Masters said.

The commissioners also discussed adding two members to the three-member Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, but took no action. They did say applications will be available at Town Hall through March 15. The commissioners were asked to submit names and speak to constituents who may be interested. Terms on the ABC board are three years.

Commissioner Evans Jackson said the addition would bring “more cohesiveness” to the board.

“You just make sure that you’re putting a person of good character on there,” Mayor Elbert Gibson said.

The additions would keep two members from making decisions without the third member present, the mayor said.

The commissioners suggested that candidates have experience in business and live in St. Pauls.

In other business, the commissioners took no action on signing a contract to set a $159,915 United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service grant into motion. The grant was approved by the USDA on Feb. 10 and would help improve ditches along South Wilkerson Drive, Town Administrator Rodney Johnson said.

The commissioners also OK’d a resolution that requires local businesses to close the lids on Dumpsters and replace them when necessary to prevent pollution. The resolution excludes businesses in the Central Business District.

Gibson said trash is blowing out of the receptacles and causing pollution in the town.

“They all come with a lid, and they’re not using them,” Commissioner Jerry Quick said.

The board also approved spending $8,381 to replace the drive-up window at Town Hall that is used by residents to pay bills.

Also on Thursday, a ceremonial swearing in was held for St. Pauls Police Chief Steve Dollinger.

Dollinger joined the department Dec. 16 and was formerly sworn-in as its police chief in January, Johnson said.

John Gudauskas Jr. was appointed to serve the remaining two years of the board’s District 1 seat, left vacant when Gibson was elected mayor.

John Gudauskas, Jr. was sworn in Thursday by Town Clerk Debra McNeill during a St. Pauls Board of Commissioners meeting to serve the remaining two years of the District 1 seat left vacant by Mayor Elbert Gibson. His wife, Anna, left, and daughters Olivia, front, and Emily watch the ceremony.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_StPauls2132-1-1-1.jpgJohn Gudauskas, Jr. was sworn in Thursday by Town Clerk Debra McNeill during a St. Pauls Board of Commissioners meeting to serve the remaining two years of the District 1 seat left vacant by Mayor Elbert Gibson. His wife, Anna, left, and daughters Olivia, front, and Emily watch the ceremony.

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At a certain age, everyone begins to wonder, “Have I saved enough for retirement?” For most people, the answer is that they have not and will not. Governments have not saved enough for retirement, either, whether in the form of Social Security and Medicare for all seniors or pensions and health benefits for government employees. North Carolina is better prepared than most states for future retirees. Two new papers consider the changes that have been made to get state government to this point and changes that could still be made to meet obligations to retirees and taxpayers.

In 2017, the General Assembly eliminated retiree health coverage for new state employees who start on or after Jan. 1, 2021. This will eventually eliminate the entire $31 billion unfunded liability that now exists. It may sound drastic, but the vesting period for those benefits was already at 20 years, and the changes in health care over the next 20 to 30 years promise to be at least as revolutionary as those over the past 20 years. Daniel DiSalvo, in a new paper for the Manhattan Institute, considers North Carolina a model for other states in the South. Poor management of the plan a decade ago prompted its transfer to the Department of the State Treasurer in 2011. Since taking office in 2017, State Treasurer Dale Folwell has sought ways to reduce health insurance costs for current employees and retirees while ensuring past reforms are not dismantled.

Unlike the State Health Plan, which did not systematically set aside money to pay for future retirees, pension plans like the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System are entirely designed to cover future costs. When its first began, its expected return on investments was roughly the same as the interest rate on 10-year Treasury bonds, which are considered risk-free investments. This was entirely appropriate because pension payments to retirees are guaranteed.

As inflation drove interest rates higher in the 1970s, the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System’s assumed rate of return also climbed. In the 1980s, however, the assumed return of its investments did not drop with interest rates, and by 1992 the assumed return was higher than the yield on 10-year treasury bonds. For the next 20 years, pension managers were in a Red Queen’s race, running faster just to stay in place. With the General Assembly’s blessing, they repeatedly added riskier investments to the portfolio just to keep up with an assumed rate of return that was becoming increasingly difficult to meet. The portfolio’s risk has about 10% volatility, but the risk/return formula indicates it would need to increase to 13% to meet target returns of 7%. The current risk-free rate is more like 2.75%. If the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System valued its liabilities using 2.75 percent as the discount rate, the system would have been just 55% funded in 2018.

The Great Recession of 2007-09 put the exclamation point on the challenge as the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System moved from overfunded to underfunded. In 2001, the pension plan had $4.4 billion more than needed to pay for the promises made to eligible retirees. By 2019, it was $10 billion short of the $83 billion it needed.

In a new paper by the John Locke Foundation and the Reason Foundation, we examine the history of this decline in solvency, recent policy reforms to meet the challenge, and forecast performance. We also suggest two ways to ensure the retirement system’s continued sustainability for future retirees.

First, the state should continue to cut the discount rate for pension assets. A standard rule of finance is to match assets and liabilities. Because the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System guarantees payment to retirees, it should have a less risky portfolio, which would generate lower returns.

Second, the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System should offer more alternatives for new hires. As we state in the report, “The best time to make prudent changes to reduce risk is right now, before major problems materialize.” Possible alternatives include a risk-managed tier with a lower discount rate or other conservative assumptions, a cash balance plan that divides high returns between plan members and the state, a defined-contribution plan like private-sector employees often have, or a hybrid plan like the Thrift Savings Plan that federal employees have. Whatever is created for new employees should also be offered as an option for current employees. Any of these would protect state employees and taxpayers from additional harm in the next recession.

For decades, legislators and pension plan managers accepted overly optimistic assumptions about the ability to pay for promises for pensions and retiree health care. In the past decade, they have made significant strides to cover those promises. With luck, legislators will support Folwell’s continued efforts to reduce health care costs and protect future the finances of retirees and taxpayers.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_joseph-coletti.jpg

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LUMBERTON — A Lumberton woman was shot multiple times Thursday night, but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Harrietta Johnson was found suffering from gunshot wounds to her arm and torso when police responded to a report of a person being shot at 123 Page St. about 6:56 p.m., according to a statement by the Lumberton Police Department. She was transported to an undisclosed hospital.

Officers determined that one or more people shot into the house while Johnson and five others were inside, according to the statement. No one else was injured.

Anyone with information should call the Lumberton Police Department at 910-671-3845.

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The following thefts were reported Wednesday and Thursday to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office:

Kristin Rader, Barber Shop Road, Lumberton; Joe Bostick, Alamac Road, Lumberton; Robin Barton, Nova Road, Pembroke; and Samantha Acahuac, West Great Marsh Church Road, Shannon.

Delton Hunt reported Wednesday to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office that break-in occurred on Lowe Road in Lumberton.

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LUMBERTON — As early voting began Thursday, it appears that the three at-large seats on the Robeson County Board of Education is driving turnout.

At stake is the racial balance of the at-large seats as three strong black candidates may eliminate one another. The 11-member school board was established 30 years ago by the North Carolina General Assembly with eight districts and three at-large seats. Voters get one vote for the three at-large seats.

At the time, the consensus was that this method would provide racial balance, and that three of 11 representatives on the board would represent the interests of the entire county, not their district.

Whether it has worked or not is an open question, but the issue has been raised again about whether or not this is the best way to elect a school board. One issue is that Robeson County’s racial demographics are changing the composition of the electorate.

The black candidates are Loistine DeFreece, a 16-year member of the school board who resigned from her District 1 seat after it was revealed she had been living outside the district; John Campbell, a 22-year, at-large member of the school board; and Vonte Leach, a former National Football League player.

Leach was at the Lumberton polling place Friday. The newcomer to politics was relaxed, smiling and wearing the colors of his alma mater, East Carolina University.

“I understand why the at-large seats were established like this,” Leach said. “Everybody, every child needs representation.

“I encourage everyone to vote for the best candidate who will help the entire county. We may need to change the way it’s done.”

Leach said the current election system deserves “a look,” but he is unsure how to change it.

“Possibly voters could vote for two or three candidates,” Leach said.

Leach’s thoughts were echoed by DeFreece, who was also at the polls Friday. Hurricane Matthew made DeFreece a flood refugee, which was why she was living outside District 1.

“I am not sure what changes should be made,” she said. “If you remember that last election, no American Indian was elected to an at-large seat.”

The at-large members now are Brian Freeman and Randy Lawson, who are both white, and John Campbell, the school board chairman who is black.

DeFreece’s point is well taken, and she acknowledged that the original plan is not working exactly as intended. It would take legislation to change the method.

“If the General Assembly makes a change, we might have a smaller school board,” she said. “As I met other school boards across the state, they would ask me how we got anything done with 11 members.”

Campbell recalled the intent of the school board legislation, which originated after school consolidation in 1989.

“I think it was designed with diversity in mind,” said Campbell, who has been on the board since 1995. “And it worked from 1990 to 2016.”

Campbell said the 2020 election for the at-large seats is unique, with three strong black candidates.

“There were four black candidates in 2016, but they were not as strong as this,” Campbell said. “I hope we don’t cancel each other out.

“Some people say race does not matter, and that we’ve moved beyond that. I think diversity is still important, and adults and children need to see someone who looks like them in leadership positions.”

Campbell also agrees that the race for the at-large seats on the Board of Education is the most hotly contested race on the ballot, including the Democratic presidential primary.

The at-large candidates besides Campbell, DeFreece and Leach, are William Gentry, Henry Brewer, Draper Bullard, incumbent Freeman, Jacqueline Carthen and Harold Hunt. Lawson is running the a district seat being vacated by Steve Martin, who is running for the Board of Commissioners.

Turnout has been slower than expected, according to Tina Bledsoe, director of the Robeson County Board of Elections. She cited rain on Thursday and Valentine’s Day on Friday as contributing factors.

Since the inception of the law establishing the Board of Elections, Robeson County’s voting population and overall population have grown and changed., with minorities posting big gains.

In 1990, there were 51,999 registered voters. There are 73,835 voters today.

White registered voters have barely changed in 30 years, from 20,977 in 1990 to 21,243 today.

There are 20,476 black registered voters today compared with 13,354 in 1990.

There are 25,797 American Indian voters today compared with 17,578 in 1990.

The changing numbers do not explain the 2016 election when no American Indian was elected to an at-large seat. One casualty was an American Indian who voted to remove an American Indian superintendent.

Most observers see American Indian voters continuing to grow. An estimated at 1,200 black voters may have left the county after two hurricanes and two floods.

Leach

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_Leach-Vonta.jpgLeach

DeFreece

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_DeFreece-L.jpgDeFreece

Campbell

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_Campbell-John-2.jpgCampbell

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FAIRMONT — Lawmen are trying to determine the identity of a man whose body was found Friday afternoon in Fairmont.

According to Police Chief Jon Edwards, the body was sent to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh for a positive identification. No other information was immediately available.

The body was found in a swampy off the road at the town limits on N.C. 41.

The Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.

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RED SPRINGS — In the locker room after the home loss to South Columbus over two weeks ago, St. Pauls boys basketball coach Corey Thompson told him team that they would win the Three Rivers Conference.

After what some would consider an upset, the loss seemed out of place, but it set up the team’s mindset over the final two weeks of the regular season as the Bulldogs took down some of the conference’s best teams. Friday was the last step for St. Pauls to claim a share of the conference title, and it didn’t come without its adversity at rival Red Springs.

“I’ve been on varsity since 10th grade and we’ve been trying to get to first place every year. It’s the first time we’ve been able to do it in a while,” St. Pauls senior Caleb Henderson said after the Bulldogs 52-45 win on the road Friday. “It feels good to be a part of that.

“We trusted and believed in our teammates. That’s really all it takes to come out on top every time.”

St. Pauls finished third three seasons ago, fourth two seasons ago and in a tie for second in the league last season before this year’s conference title.

In the last three days, St. Pauls was battle-tested by Red Springs and West Bladen, but they never wavered down the stretch for a pair of wins to end the regular season with a five-game winning streak.

“The guys really believed in me and they really believed in the program and the coaches,” Thompson said. “We were able to pull it out. It’s those guys, man, they’ve been battle-tested and they’ve been through the war before. We were just lucky to come out with the win.”

St. Pauls (19-5, 13-3 TRC) came out in the fourth quarter and used a 9-0 run to set itself up to hold off the Red Devils (11-12, 10-6 TRC) down the stretch on Friday. Henderson scored the first four points of the run in the fourth quarter as he helped the Bulldogs attack the Red Springs interior defense in the second half.

Henderson had 13 of his game-high 15 points after halftime as he provided early scoring lifts in the third and fourth quarters that built up St. Pauls leads.

“I knew I had to be in the game to help my boys out. I couldn’t do it on the bench,” Henderson said. “I came out of the half and tried to do my part. All of it was clicking. We all clicked together.”

St. Pauls used a 10-1 run, with seven of those points coming from Henderson early in the third quarter, to give the Bulldogs a 33-27 lead with 2:30 left in the period. Red Springs answered with a run of its own to take a 36-35 lead into the fourth quarter.

“He’s going to battle. He did get a little frustrated, but I knew he was going to come back and respond,” Thompson said of Henderson. “I didn’t expect nothing less from him.”

The message from Thompson was answered as the Bulldogs forced turnovers with their press to attack the goal in transition and did so in the halfcourt as well. After the 9-0 spurt to start the fourth quarter that was extended out with a pair of Henderson free throws with 1:49 left made it a 10-point game, the Red Devils weren’t able to trim the lead inside of six points the rest of the way.

“I told our guys that we had to do a better job of attacking the paint and that’s what they did,” Thompson said. “They were able to get some easy points and convert and get into our offense.”

Red Springs saw miscues take over in the final period.

“Free throws, turnovers and not rebounding at the free-throw line. I kept calling timeouts because we kept getting in trouble,” Red Springs coach Glenn Patterson said. “We showed them how to beat (the St. Pauls press) at halftime, but the guys just didn’t execute. They hit free throws in crucial times and we didn’t.”

Foul trouble kept Henderson on the bench and in check in the first half after being whistled for his second foul early in the first quarter. He scored his only points of the first half on a layup 10 seconds before halftime as St. Pauls and Red Springs traded the lead late, and was anxious while watching Red Springs build as much as seven-point lead early in the second quarter before the Bulldogs rallied to make it a 24-23 Red Springs lead at the half.

“I ain’t going to lie, I was kind of nervous. I couldn’t go back in the game with two fouls and I was nervous on the bench as they were battling back and fourth and I wanted to be in there,” he said.

Emonta Smith had 10 points for St. Pauls. Jordan Ferguson had nine points to lead Red Springs.

Red Springs travels to Fairmont on Monday in the first round of the Three Rivers Conference tournament and for the time being Patterson wants to see his team get healthy.

“I think a healthy Red Springs bunch could’ve beat St. Pauls tonight, and a healthy Red Springs bunch could’ve beat West Columbus on Tuesday night,” Patterson said. “The key is we’ve just got to get healthy and make a run in the state playoffs if we can get a bid to get in.”

St. Pauls hosts East Bladen in the first round Monday.

“For us to have that top seed, it’s big for us,” Thompson said. “We’re not satisfied. We want to go into the conference tournament and win that conference tournament to accomplish our goal.”

Perfection: St. Pauls girls finish season perfect

Three years removed from a three-win season, a 38-4 win over Red Springs to close out the regular season was a time for St. Pauls girls basketball coach Mike Moses to reminisce on the journey to get his team to where it was Friday.

“Just the hard work the girls put in and the coaching staff. I was looking back at some of the videos from cross country and it just snapped me back because we have talent on this team, but these girls worked,” Moses said. “We worked. We ran. We paid our bills.”

The win brought the season-low in points scored for St. Pauls (23-0, 16-0 TRC), but the four points allowed also was a season-low for the Bulldogs’ defense.

Red Springs (4-18, 4-12 TRC) didn’t score until 26 seconds to go until halftime when Sydney Bell hit the front end of a 1-and-1 as St. Pauls took a 26-1 lead into the break. The first and only Red Springs field goal came with five minutes to go in the game on a Kiyana Jones layup. The other Red Springs point came from Amari McLean with a third-quarter free throw.

St. Pauls was led in scoring by T.J. Eichelberger with 10 points, while Taliya Council and Shakiya Floyd each had six points.

The Bulldogs open the conference tournament at home against South Columbus.

“We’ve got a three-game championship and we have to take it one game at a time,” Moses said. “Our experience from the Shootout helps us. I told them in the middle part of the season, they got to a little stretch where it was boring. We need to go back to that Nov. 19 team. That first day against Douglas Byrd. We have the ability to do that.”

Red Springs is in a draw with East Columbus for the sixth-seed in the conference tournament. The sixth-seed goes to Whiteville and the seventh-seed to East Bladen.

Jonathan Bym | The Robesonian
St. Pauls guard Shakiya Floyd dribbles up against Red Springs’ defense on Friday.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_insideIMG_7303.jpgJonathan Bym | The Robesonian
St. Pauls guard Shakiya Floyd dribbles up against Red Springs’ defense on Friday.

Jonathan Bym | The Robesonian St. Pauls senior Caleb Henderson goes up for a contested shot against Red Springs’ Jordan Ferguson in the third quarter of the Bulldogs’ win to clinch a share of the Three Rivers Conference title Friday in a 52-45 win.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_frontIMG_7423.jpgJonathan Bym | The Robesonian St. Pauls senior Caleb Henderson goes up for a contested shot against Red Springs’ Jordan Ferguson in the third quarter of the Bulldogs’ win to clinch a share of the Three Rivers Conference title Friday in a 52-45 win.

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PEMBROKE — Like a lot of rivalry games, Friday’s boys basketball game between Purnell Swett and Lumberton was a back-and-forth affair full of runs and momentous plays throughout.

Down the stretch, Lumberton kept making those momentous plays and had one of their runs at the right time, leading to a 60-53 win.

“These guys, they know how to win now,” Lumberton coach Bryant Edwards said. “They’ve figured out how to win; we’re in really good shape, we prepare for that all the time. I told them at the end of the game, ‘dig deep, put pressure, and they’re going to turn the ball over,’ which they did, and we tried to force them to take quick shots, which they did, and those quick shots turned into rebounds and Jordan made free throws at the end.”

Tied at 53-53 with 2:23 to go after a Xavier Jones basket for the Rams, Lumberton (20-4, 11-3 SAC) finished the game on a 7-0 run.

J.B. Brockington hit the go-ahead basket with 1:38 to go and Jordan McNeill made two free throws 9 seconds later for a 57-53 lead. After the Rams missed three 3-point attempts in the final minute, Jadarion Chatman hit one free throw and missed the second, only for McNeill to grab the offensive rebound and hit two more free throws with 11 seconds left to go up by seven and seal the win.

“We just wanted it more,” McNeill said. “I told the team the second half, ‘let’s go get it,’ and we came out fighting. We made runs, they made runs, and we just made a really big last punch.”

McNeill scored 28 points on his senior night, hitting all 14 of his free-throw attempts including six in the fourth quarter, and had seven rebounds.

“He’s by far the best competitor I’ve ever coached,” Edwards said. “He wants it so bad, and sometimes his emotions get the best of him, but it’s just because he loves to win and hates to lose.”

For Purnell Swett (7-15, 4-10 SAC), the loss comes after leading for nearly the entire first half and trading blows with the Pirates nearly all of the second half.

“We struggled with controlling the ball (down the stretch),” said Andrew Evans, who was the Rams’ acting head coach as Jeremy Sampson was absent tending to a personal matter. “We were too fast with the ball, and we let them speed our game up. If we were able to control the game and slow the game well, we could’ve won that.”

The Rams jumped out to a 13-7 lead and led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter, with Isaiah Santos scoring eight first-quarter points, including two 3-pointers.

“We were ready for this game last week,” Evans said. “We prepared these boys all week this week in practice, we told them what we wanted to do, and they listened. They came out ready to punch them in the face, ready to win this game.”

Purnell Swett extended the lead to 21-11 midway through the second before Lumberton finished the half on a 16-4 run to take a 27-25 lead to the locker room, earning their first lead of the game when Matt Locklear hit a layup with 3 seconds left before the break.

“Coach told us to bring it,” McNeill said. “The first half, we wasn’t playing like a team, like we’ve usually been playing. I guess it was the environment and stuff. But coach at halftime told us to get right and start playing as a team, and make better decisions, and that’s what we did in the second half.”

Lumberton scored the first six points of the second half to lead 33-25, but the Rams closed to 37-35 with a run that included three baskets by Xavier Jones. Lumberton led 43-37 late in the third and 43-39 going to the fourth, but the Rams tied the score at 43-43 when Jones hit the first two baskets of the fourth.

McNeill hit a 3-pointer for a 46-43 lead, but the Rams scored the next eight points, including a big triple by Nolan Locklear, for a 51-46 lead with 3:50 remaining. After two McNeill free throws, a traditional 3-point play by Brockington tied the game at 51-51 with 2:57 to go, and 15 seconds later Michael Todd hit a basket to give Lumberton a 53-51 lead. Jones tied the score on the Rams’ next possession in what ended up being their final basket.

Jones scored 17 points to lead Purnell Swett and Santos had 13.

Todd had eight points and nine rebound for Lumberton and Brockington scored seven points.

Lumberton will be the No. 2 seed in the SAC Tournament, which begins Monday. Purnell Swett will be either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, pending a tiebreaker with Hoke County.

Lady Rams come back to top Pirates in OT

In the final minute of Friday’s Lumberton-Purnell Swett girls game, with the Rams trailing by three points, Jada Coward got the ball while open at the left wing. She passed up the open 3-point attempt to drive towards the basket, but traveled.

When the same exact opportunity presented itself just moments later, she didn’t make the same mistake twice — Coward nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 28 seconds left, helping send the game to overtime, where the Rams ultimately earned a 54-49 win over the Pirates.

“She had the same look and turned it down, and traveled on her way to the basket,” Purnell Swett coach Jonathan Efird said. “I told her to shoot it, and right then and there she had a decision whether to dwell on it or keep playing. She kept playing, had the same look again and man, she knocked it down, nothing but net. That was one of her biggest shots, and you could see the glow on her after the game.”

After Coward’s game-tying triple, both Lakiya Hunt for Lumberton and Kylie Chavis for Purnell Swett hit one of two free throws, with Chavis’ point coming with 5 seconds left, after which Lumberton did not get off a shot, sending the game into an extra session.

Purnell Swett (14-8, 10-4 Sandhills Athletic Conference) never trailed in overtime, taking the lead for good on a Natalie Evington layup 14 seconds into the period — their first lead since it was 4-2. The Rams led 51-46 after a Chavis basket with 51 seconds left, and twice used free throws to extend the lead to six over the final 44 seconds.

Lumberton (11-13, 4-10 SAC) used a strong shooting effort from the perimeter and the free-throw line in the first half, while holding Chavis to two first-half points, to led 14-9 after a quarter and 26-20 at halftime.

The Pirates led 33-27 going to the fourth and 35-27 after a Hailey Werrell basket opened the final period, before Purnell Swett’s comeback began with an Evington triple. After the Rams closed to within two, a Katelyn Culbreth free throw and a Werrell basket stretched the lead back to 42-37 before two Chavis free throws with 1:08 to go and Coward’s big trey.

“Down the stretch, when I started seeing us lagging back and not attacking, I started seeing us do the same things we’ve done all year,” Lumberton coach Sam Davis said. “We kind of relaxed a little bit on the offensive side and stopped attacking them, and that’s when we started making turnovers.”

Chavis led all scorers with 21 points, including nine in the fourth and eight in overtime; she was 4-for-4 at the line in the extra session. She also led the Rams with nine rebounds.

“She made some huge free throws, especially one to put it into overtime, and at the end of the game she wants the ball in her hands to seal the deal,” Efird said. “She’s still going to find ways to get buckets, with some rebounds and putbacks, and she made some timely shots as well. She does what she does every game, and she’s going to find a way to score.”

Evington had 18 points, including four 3-pointers.

August Smith led Lumberton with 12 points and Lakiya Hunt had 10. Katelyn Culbreth had 18 rebounds for the Pirates.

Purnell Swett won the season’s first meeting on Jan. 17, 61-43; the teams will meet again Monday in the first round of the SAC Tournament at Purnell Swett.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett’s Destiny Locklear, 11, goes up for a shot against Lumberton during the game between the two schools Friday in Lumberton.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_INSIDE-IF-ROOM-IMG_7507.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian Purnell Swett’s Destiny Locklear, 11, goes up for a shot against Lumberton during the game between the two schools Friday in Lumberton.

Chris Stiles | The Robesonian Lumberton’s Jordan McNeill, center, shoots a layup during the Pirates’ game against Purnell Swett Friday in Lumberton.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_FRONT-IMG_7609.jpgChris Stiles | The Robesonian Lumberton’s Jordan McNeill, center, shoots a layup during the Pirates’ game against Purnell Swett Friday in Lumberton.

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FAIRMONT — In the nearly three years since Jahmon Sinclair graduated from Fairmont, the former linebacker has faced adversity and changes, but that hasn’t slowed him down.

Last weekend the 2017 graduate from Fairmont signed to play at Greensboro College, where he expects to play on the different side of the ball, but still with the same mindset.

“It’s been a crazy ride, but through it all I never gave up. I stayed training and working,” Sinclair said. “This really means that (Greensboro) as willing to take me in with open arms for this opportunity.”

In May 2017, Sinclair signed with Methodist as a linebacker. Academic issues led to Sinclair coming back home, but he didn’t let his football dream die as he continued to work out on his own.

“I knew I had to keep my body in shape and stay ready,” Sinclair said. “I did that because if you don’t say ready for the opportunity, then the opportunity might not come.”

Sinclair transferred to Louisburg College in hopes of playing for the Hurricanes, but a full roster left him on the sidelines once again, but he still worked and focused on getting back on the field. At Louisburg he also set a goal of graduating, which he will do in May with his associates degree.

Greensboro College and Sinclair were in talks before Greg Crum stepped down as the coach of the Pride in November. The connection stayed there as Greensboro hired Tyler Card less than three weeks ago as the program’s next coach.

Greensboro College went 1-9 last season, including an 0-7 mark in the USA South. Sinclair said he and Card share the same mindset about helping revive the program.

“I want to bring a new mindset to the team and with this new coaching staff to bring new standards to the program,” Sinclair said. “We have to play as one team to get wins.

“I want to be that person that walks in and the whole team says, ‘that’s our leader.’”

After playing on the defensive side of the ball in high school and at Methodist, Sinclair has worked to prepare himself to play at multiple positions on offense as a running back, H-back and slot receiver for a run-based Greensboro team.

Sinclair’s process has been mostly self made, but he also credits other local athletes from his hometown of Orrum to aiding his process of staying ready for whatever opportunity came his way.

“Everybody in Orrum knew I was out there working and some guys that play football at Fairmont would come out and work out with me. Some mornings I was out there at 5 a.m. and would do two-a-days putting everything into this,” Sinclair said. “Christmas and summer, I was on break but there was no break when I came home because I worked out all day.”

Sinclair was a part of star-studded 2017 graduating class for Fairmont, and during his time away from football he saw what he didn’t want to be like many others in his class that were talented and signed to play college football out of high school but are no longer involved in the sport.

“I don’t have any God-given talent and I knew I had to go out there and work hard. That work has paid off for me,” Sinclair said. “Being back in Fairmont and seeing others made me think that I can’t stay here in Fairmont. I refuse to be another statistic. I’m the first in my family to make it this far and I want to keep going to help my family.”

Courtesy photo Fairmont grad Jahmon Sinclair poses at his official visit to Greensboro College last weekend when he signed to play for the Pride next season.

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_thumbnail_IMG_1850.jpgCourtesy photo Fairmont grad Jahmon Sinclair poses at his official visit to Greensboro College last weekend when he signed to play for the Pride next season.

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PEMBROKE — The UNC Pembroke men’s and women’s basketball teams will cap off a three-game Peach Belt Conference road trip on Saturday when the Braves trek to east Georgia to battle Augusta inside the Christenberry Fieldhouse. The women’s game is slated for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff, while the men’s game is scheduled to start at approximately 3:30 p.m.

MEN’S NOTES

The 17th-ranked Braves (19-4, 13-2 PBC) matched a program-record (NCAA Division II era) with their ninth-straight win on Wednesday at Lander. UNCP pulled down 17 offensive rebounds in that contest and used a big run late in the second half to secure its 13th win in the last 14 outings dating back to mid-December.

UNCP has shot nearly 50 percent from the field through its first 15 Peach Belt Conference outings in 2019-20, and has outscored league foes by 16.0 points per game as well. The Braves are plus-10.5 in the rebounding column inside PBC play, and has held PBC opponents to just 43.6 percent shooting this season as well.

Four players put up double-figure scoring numbers, while three others turned in nine points, for the Braves in their 94-56 win over Augusta earlier this season at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Akia Pruitt notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards in that contest.

Augusta leads the all-time series, 43-17, but UNCP is 9-8 against the Jaguars since midway through the 2011-12 campaign. The Braves had their three-game road win streak in the series snapped with a 77-70 setback on their last trip to Augusta in March of last season. The Braves 94-56 win over Augusta earlier this season marked the largest margin of victory in the 60-game-old series with Augusta.

The Jaguars (16-7, 11-4 PBC) stretched their win streak out to five games with a 20-point (87-67) win at Francis Marion on Wednesday. Augusta dominated the boards (41-25) in that outing, and outscored the Patriots by 18 points in the second half on the way to the lopsided triumph.

Augusta still boasts the league’s top field goal shooting team (50.1 percent), and has also limited opponents to a PBC-best 43.7 percent shooting effort as well. The Jags rank among the top half of the conference in 17 different statistical categories in total, including a handful of defensive categories as well.

Senior Rafael Monteiro ranks seventh among league leaders with 17.4 points per game in 2019-20, and has converted on 56.9 percent (7th PBC) of his field goal attempts as well. Monteiro turned in a team-high 14 points in the loss to the Braves in January, and shot 6-for-7 from the field, while also pulling down six rebounds.

WOMEN’S NOTES

The Braves (10-13, 5-10 PBC) have now dropped three of their last four games after Wednesday evening’s 76-59 setback at league-leading and 21st-ranked Lander. The Bearcats scored 40 points off of 31 UNCP turnovers and outscored the visitors 28-10 in the second quarter to fuel the outcome.

Despite Wednesday’s loss, the Braves still carry the league’s second-best scoring defense (61.3 points per game allowed), and has held its previous 23 opponents to just 37.0 field goal shooting, including a paltry 112-for-360 (.271) success rate from the perimeter. Offensively, the Braves pace the 12-team Peach Belt Conference in free throw percentage (.710), including 82.7 percent (67-for-81) shooting from the charity stripe over the last five games.

Junior Melanie Horne still carries a team-best scoring average (9.8 ppg) through 23 outings for the Braves, and tacked up a team-best 17 points in the win over Augusta earlier this season at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Senior Deja McCain came off of the bench to register 13 points and seven rebounds in that contest as well.

Augusta leads the all-time series, 36-20, and the home team has won the last seven matchups, including a 71-55 win by the Braves in Pembroke on January 18.

The Jaguars (8-15, 5-10 PBC) stopped an eight-game skid with a 59-56 road win over Francis Marion on Wednesday. Augusta shot just 34.5 percent from the field in that outing, but scored 24 points off of as many turnovers by the Patriots to key the outcome.

Augusta has converted on nearly 41 percent (215-of-529) of their field goal attempts this season inside Christenberry Fieldhouse as compared to just 33 percent field goal shooting away from their home arena. That field goal percentage disparity has also contributed to 7.1 points more per game in home contests for the Jaguars this season as well. Augusta is 5-4 this season in the friendly confines of home, and has registered just a 3-11 clip away from Augusta.

The trio of sophomore Kiara Howard (10.9 ppg), junior Zairya West (10.9) and freshman Kennedi Manning (10.7) has combined to tally 56 percent of Augusta’s offensive output this season. Manning averages a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game as well, while also connecting on better than 47 percent of her field goal attempts.

Fans unable to make the trip to Georgia can follow the games for free via a live audio stream on the UNCP Sports Network with Jon Gross handling the play-by-play duties. The matchups can also be followed via live video and statistics links provided by Augusta.

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With the recent news that there was a tuberculosis case affiliated with a school, the first reaction by most people is that they thought TB had been eliminated.

While the goal was to have it eliminated by 2000, this proved to be a little too optimistic as it did not account for the size of the issue globally, travel and heightened susceptibility of certain populations. In 2017 there were 10 million active cases world-wide which resulted in 1.6 million deaths.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. It affects the lungs as well other body parts. Most people infected do not have symptoms — which is known as latent tuberculosis. Ten percent of the latent population will progress to active TB. The classic symptoms include a chronic cough with blood (think of Doc Holiday of Wyatt Earp fame), fever, night sweats and weight loss — the latter of which led to the disease often being called consumption.

Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people with active TB cough, spit, sneeze or speak. People who are latent cannot spread the disease. Smokers and people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to acquiring it. The tuberculin skin test is used to screen people at high risk for TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped recommending testing for health-care workers in 2019 as they were not found to be at any more risk than the general population.

In North Carolina the top four counties for number of TB cases in 2018 were Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford and Robeson. Robeson County easily has the highest rate, which occurs when the population is lower but the cases are high. Robeson County also differs in that our case population is not immigrants or homeless — shelters are notorious for creating an environment that allows transmission of the disease. Our infected population is one of us as they say. It is a unique strain here and CDC has identified it as being different than elsewhere. When cases are discovered, individuals are to provide a list of contacts, but we have found many people are less than forthcoming.

Still the number of contacts can make follow-up very time consuming. Nurses carry the medications to the infected individuals and ensure that it is taken. Everything about this program is very labor intensive.

Generally, Robeson County has 17 active cases of TB a year — half the counties in the state had zero. Our contiguous counties in 2018 were zero in Bladen; zero in Columbus; nine in Cumberland; one in Hoke; and zero in Scotland. As you can see we really are an outlier.

Smith

https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/web1_Smith-bill-2.jpgSmith

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