The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy boys’ basketball team closed out the first day of the NSA Holiday Classic with a 56-28 rout of Southampton Academy.

The story of the game looked like it could have been very different after one quarter as the Raiders led 8-5 going into the second period. But they only scored six points the rest of the half, while the Saints exploded for 23 to take a 28-14 halftime lead.

NSA limited the Raiders to four points in the third quarter, which was key in stretching its advantage to 40-18 by the start of the fourth.

No player from Southampton scored more than seven points for the game.

Saints sophomore point guard Erek Smith led his team with 15 points, with eight coming in the pivotal second quarter. All nine of senior guard Matthew Shiembob’s points for the game came in the same period via a trio of three-pointers.

NSA senior forward Hunter Brinkley added eight points on Friday, all in the third quarter, and junior guard Tavon Askew contributed seven, most of which came in the fourth.

The victory improved the Saints’ season record to 4-2. They closed out the NSA Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon with a matchup against Tidewater Academy, which fell 73-46 to Broadwater Academy to open the Classic on Friday.

Nansemond-Suffolk is scheduled to return to the hardwood on Jan. 5 when it hosts Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts & Technology.