There is uncommon anger in sophomore Darryl Prunty’s eyes.

The Northern Nash forward never seems happy, confused or mad, just always fiercely determined. The Knights needed every bit of his focus Tuesday night against Wilson Fike, and Prunty obliged.

To have any chance of winning its first Big East Conference and Class 3-A game, Northern Nash had to out-score the Golden Demons by 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Prunty carried Northern Nash most of the way. When Julian Cowell’s 3-pointer tied the game with 7.5 seconds to play, he thought the Knights were headed to overtime and a victory.

But a few extra steps and a floater in the lane ended that mirage as Wilson Fike did just enough to hold on to a 46-44 victory.

“Under our circumstances and the season we’ve been through, they’ve not quit all year,” Knights coach Rick Ruffin said.

Northern Nash (1-17 overall, 0-9 Big East) trailed by 19 points after scoring only nine points in the first half. The Knights cut the lead to 10 after nine unanswered points to start the fourth.

Another 7-0 spurt later closed the gap to four points before Lorenzo Wilkins’ 3-point play brought Northern Nash within two. After a trip to the line by Wilson Fike (4-15, 3-6), Cowell knocked down a 3-pointer from five feet behind the arc to tie the game.

“I wanted the ball because as a senior and a team captain, it’s my job to step up when the team needs me,” he said. “The last shot, when I hit the three, I’m trying to put us in position to win. I just want to do everything I can to help us win.”

But Patrick Goliday drove the length of the court and hit a floater in the lane with less than a second to play despite Northern Nash’s plea for a traveling violation.

Prunty missed a 15-footer from the corner as time expired.

There’s a fine line between reckless and relentless, and every game the Knights seem to straddle it.

At this point in the season, Northern Nash is able to cover up those times when recklessness becomes errors.

“We are going to make mistakes, but they are going to try and play hard while they are making those mistakes,” Knights coach Grover Battle said.

Northern Nash (17-1, 8-1) never had a stretch of more than eight unanswered points, but had seven different unanswered runs of at least six points.

“We are going to do our part,” forward Jasmine Griffin said. “We are going to play defense, swing the ball on offense and stay calm.”

It might be best for the Knights if they can keep the game chaotic, especially with a rematch against Rocky Mount looming Friday.

The Knights lost to the Gryphons earlier this year and need to win the season-finale Friday to claim a share of the regular season conference title.

BOYS

Wilson Fike 46
Northern Nash 44
WF          10    6    11    9    –   46
NN            5    4    9    26    –   44
WF: Joshua King 15; Sam Ellis 14; Patrick Goliday 6; Chris Phillips 3; Josh Malson 3; Brandon Gray 2; Jermaine Crowder2; Aaron Sessoms 1.
NN: Darryl Prunty 13; Julian Cowell 10; Wesley Battle 7; Lorenzo Wilkins 6; Josh Freeman 5; Shaheem Martin 2; Tony Jordan 1.

GIRLS
Northern Nash 68
Wilson Fike 39
WF           13    10    11    5    –   39
NN           18    13    19    18    –   68
WF: Jamika Ruffin 10; Shatera Black 10; AK Cooper 6; Laura Bland 5; Cat Williams; EJ Proctor 2; Alexis Spells 2; Aliya Tisdom 1.
NN: Alexus Hill 19; Jasmine Griffin 12; Khadijrah Richardson 12; Quinesha Lynch 10; Jessica Lyons 5; Deja Lewis 4; Charise Bulluck 2; Myrick Clark 2; Jordan Oldham 2.

Justin Hite can be reached at 407-9951 or jhite@rmtelegram.com.