PEMBROKE — Five guards manned the floor for much of the time for the Fairmont boys basketball team at Thursday’s basketball team camp hosted by The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

For Head Coach Montrell McNair, it was not a size or matchup issue, but more about putting the five best defenders on the hardwood for a team that has a knack of being a defensive-oriented team.

“Mainly that’s what it’s going to be,” he said. “That’s going to be one of my better defensive units once we get on the same page.”

Rising seniors Julius Caulder and Jarique Moore were the tallest in that five-guard lineup, but Moore’s athleticism and length make him play bigger than his 6-foot frame.

“Whatever I need from him, he gives me,” McNair said of Moore.

Moore highlighted Fairmont’s play with run-out dunks after the defense forced quick turnovers at halfcourt.

The Golden Tornadoes fell in a one-point loss to North Myrtle Beach in the quarterfinals.

Lumberton had three practices under recently-hired coach Matt Hill, and the youthful squad has grown and adapted in front of Hill in the short time he has been at the helm.

“The kids have bought in in three days,” Hill said. “The kids are smart and they picked up on things really well.”

With several underclassmen seeing significant minutes on the floor at the camp, the Pirates dropped a one-point game to top-seeded Wilson in the quarterfinals of tournament play.

“That’s what this summer is about, getting playing experience,” Hill said.

Returning point guard Stephon Lloyd and Jordan McNeill led an “unselfish” fast break attack for the Pirates.

Hill has been impressed thus far from big men Tyreik McCallum, D.J. McDonald and Braylan Grice.

After playing several games the past two seasons with point guard Monte Wilkerson out suffering from injuries, Red Springs was in a familiar situation at the UNCP camp when he went down with a sprained ankle in its first game of pool play.

“We’re a different ball club with Monte, but I thought without him we did great,” said Red Springs coach Glenn Patterson.

Much like he did last year, 3-point threat Caleel Mitchell took on the ballhandling duties and also generated offense from behind the arc.

With a few guards out of the lineup mix, 6-foot-7 big man Tavion Atkinson was brought out to the wing, a position Patterson feels he can play in, but is more accustomed to being down on the block.

“As you could see we were short a few guards and we had to put Tavion out at the guard position. He did well and hit a couple threes, but his strength is in the paint,” he said.

After a perfect run through pool play, Red Springs was knocked off by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Whiteville in their first tournament game.

Purnell Swett came into the camp with a very young lineup, but it was one underclassman that has taken over the leadership role for the Rams.

Kyler Page, a rising sophomore who developed into getting major minutes last season, has stepped up as being a leader this offseason, according to coach Jeremy Sampson.

“He brings hustle, heart and quite a bit of talent,” Sampson said. “I hope this coming year as a sophomore he can be a leader for us. I noticed a change from the end of the season to now in the leaderships be brings as a sophomore.”

Rising senior Shawn Williamson worked with Page on the defensive end to force turnovers in the Rams’ trap defense.

“He’s a good on the ball defender,” Sampson said. “I’ve challenged him to be one of our best defenders.”

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By Jonathan Bym

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Jonathan Bym can be reached at 910-816-1977. Follow him on Twitter @Jonathan_Bym.