Nansemond River High School’s boys’ basketball team defeated Hickory High School (2-5) 83-39 on Tuesday behind a smothering defense that that limited the Hawks to just seven offensive rebounds for the game.

The Warriors jumped out to an 8-0 lead with four straight steals and layups, and after a Hickory timeout and a score the Warriors went on another 8-0 run to pretty much put the game out of reach early.

By the end of the first quarter, Nansemond River was ahead 27-7.

By the halftime intermission, nine of 13 Warriors had scored, and NR led the game 47-16.

Nansemond River took a 68-26 lead going into the last quarter and started a man-to-man defense for the final eight minutes in order to reach a halftime goal of holding the Hawks to a season-low 39 points.

For the game, Ed Drew had a career-high 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting, plus 14 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. Scott Spencer had 13 points, three rebounds and four steals. Devon Oakley had a season-low 10 points but contributed five steals, four assists, a blocked shot and 10 deflections that led to steals.

Senior Kendric Washington had 13 rebounds, 7 steals, three blocked shots and three assists to go along with his eight points. He held Hickory’s leading scorer, Arron Sturdifen, to eight points, Sturdifen’s season low.

Nansemond River (5-0) plays home Friday against Great Bridge (6-0), last year’s Southeastern District regular-season champ and a team the Warriors beat twice last season including in the District Tournamnent Championship.

Great Bridge is 25-2 in its last 27 district games, with both losses to the Warriors, who are 24-2 in their last 26 games. One of those Nansemond River losses was to the Wildcats.