(Editor’s note: See photos and story from the game in Thursday’s Sampson Independent)

The Roseboro-Salemburg Middle boys held off a strong fourth-quarter comeback from Hobbton Tuesday afternoon to get the 55-47 victory and maintain their perfect season record for another day.

Todd Wheeler, coach of the middle school Leopards, said he was pleased with his team’s intensity and their great defensive effort, but he also praised opponent Hobbton Middle, saying they were a good team that showed tenacity, particularly entering the fourth quarter.

“My guys played well,” Wheeler said, “particularly on defense, and in the second and third quarters our shots really started falling. In the fourth quarter, Hobbton poured it on. They outscored us 19 to 10; they were on our tails.”

Hobbton coach Jackson Temple was also pleased with his young Wildcats’ performance, noting their great hustle.

“I’m really proud of these guys and the effort they put forth tonight and, really, every time they’ve played this year.”

Temple also praised the R-S squad, noting how well they penetrated Hobbton’s zone. “And they were also outstanding on the boards. It was a really good game.”

Roseboro took the early lead at 16-8 after the first quarter and led 28-17 at the half.

Hobbton got in early foul trouble and had to bench some of their starting players, like Omar Farrior, until the final period.

“But I have to give a lot of credit to the guys who came off the bench and stepped up. They stayed with R-S. I was really proud of them,” Temple said.

In the third, R-S had the hot hand, outscoring the Wildcats 17-8, but Faison and teammate Caleab Robinson returned for Hobbton in the fourth and helped lead the Hobbton team on a scoring run.

“They didn’t miss a shot,” Wheeler said of the Wildcats.

Faison, playing with four fouls, scored 10 points in the final period and Robinson added 6 more points. Teammate Walker Thompson hit a 3-pointer in the fourth as well.

Faison led scoring for Hobbton with a total 15 points; Robinson, 9; and Raquan Bryant, 10.

For R-S, Nyquan Murphy had 20 points to lead all scoring; Keshawn Bailey, 14; Akili Underwood, 6; and Tyquan Murphy, 4.

The win moves Roseboro-Salemburg to 3-0. They are open Thursday and face the Union Spartans Monday in a 4 p.m. game.

Hobbton Middle moves to 1-2. They play again Thursday when they host Union Middle at 4 p.m.