FARMVILLE, N.C. – Woven into Farmville Central’s DNA is the ability to meet the moment. Nine days after a 66-62 loss at West Bladen, revenge was on its mind.

The Jaguars knew it, the Knights knew it, and so did the near-capacity crowd that poured in to watch what would be a 66-58 victory.

Farmville Central’s loss on December 10 in Bladenboro snapped a streak of 2,541 days without suffering defeat in the regular season to a 2A east opponent. Thursday’s bounce-back win handed the Knights their first loss of the year.

A 12-3 run quickly jolted momentum to the home side. Jackson Pait and Chase Williams sparked a run that would narrow West Bladen’s deficit to 16-12 after one.

Despite Williams’ presence in the paint, the Knights could not stop the Jaguars from cashing in on high-percentage opportunities.

Seven players combined to score 13 times from inside the arc to help Farmville Central build up a 27-19 lead at the half.

The Jaguars’ only three of the night was loud.

Halfway through the third, M.J. Williams caught a Steven Johnson pass in the corner and lofted a triple to push the advantage to 36-24. Williams then flew through the air to steal the ensuing inbound and started a run out in transition that ended with a lob from Bryant Dixon to Josiha Crandell.

Leading 46-33 after three, the Jaguars could not mash their foot on the gas any further. 17 of Chase Williams’ game-high 35 came in the final period.

He and Pait slashed Farmville Central’s lead to as little as seven but Jaquez Dixon and M.J. Williams secured late baskets to allow the Jaguars to ice the win.

M.J. Williams was one of three to finish in double figures for Farmville Central. A Friday night home game against Ayden-Grifton is all that sits between the Jaguars (6-1) and the holiday break.

West Bladen is now 7-1 overall. The Knights take on West Columbus on December 26.

BOX SCORE

FC: 16-11-19-20 66

WB: 12-7-14-25 58

SCORING

FC: M. Williams 18, J. Dixon 13, J. James 11, B. Dixon 8, X. Shepard 8, J. Crandell 6, C. Honey 2

WB: C. Williams 35, J. Pait 11, H. Adams 8, K. Hill 4