A somewhat uncharacteristic performance by Nansemond River High School’s boys’ basketball team helped it defeat host Deep Creek High School 62-48 on Thursday evening.

The Warriors led by two after a sluggish first quarter, getting five points apiece from junior Scott Spencer and senior Devon Oakley.

NR head coach Ed Young said the “second quarter was our big quarter, outscored them 16-7,” and during that time, his players “did something we don’t usually do.”

They went 8-for-8 from the free throw line. “Unbelievable,” Young said.

Also impressive was the Warriors’ defense during the period, in which the Hornets got their first points from the field off a 45-footer at the buzzer.

“They had no other field goal in that whole second quarter,” Young said. “They were 1-for-12 from the floor.”

A monster dunk by Spencer in the third keyed a 12-2 run that won the quarter for Nansemond River.

The Warriors were outscored for the only the second time this season in the fourth quarter, but there were many substitutions being made by that point.

Scott Spencer led the visitors with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Senior Marvin Branch provided 14 points, five boards and good defense on Deep Creek’s leading scorer, senior Marcellis Perkins.

“We did a pretty good job on wearing him out just as our M.O. has been of late of finding out the top scorer and shutting him down,” Young said. “He got some points late when the game was already in hand.”

Perkins ended up with his average of 16 points, including three field goals in the first half.

Oakley had his worst shooting game of the year from the floor, going 1-for-10, but was perfect from the foul line, going 7-for-7. He finished with 10 points, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

Senior Daniel Wallace added nine points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, and senior Jalen Warren chipped in seven points and six assists.

Nansemond River (13-0, 2-0) plays tonight in the Sixth Annual VirginiaPreps.com Classic Presented by Cox Sports at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach. Its opponent will be Christchurch School, led by 6-foot-8-inch University of Florida commit Devin Robinson, who is averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks a game.

“We’ll have our hands full with him,” Young said.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.