By Richard Taylor
Ocracoke’s quest to advance into the third-round of the state 1A East playoffs came to an abrupt halt as eighth-seeded Lejeune High outlasted the ninth-seeded senior-rich Dolphins 66-55 in Camp Lejeune Friday evening.
An estimated 50 dedicated Ocracoke parents and fans made the long trip to the Camp Lejeune U.S. Marine base in Onslow County near Jacksonville, then endured an hour-long identification protocol just to get onto the military base and into its gym. Tommy Hutcherson broadcast the contest on WOVV.
The game started well for Frank Moore’s sixth and final season as the Dolphin boys’ varsity basketball coach.
The islanders battled the Devil Pups to an 11-11 tie after quick first period, as Gavin Elicker’s three left-handed layups confused the Marine kids early on. Another Elicker layup gave the Dolphins a 13-11 lead early into the second period.
That temporary lead would not hold, as Lejeune hit its stride and began to gradually pull away in “The Kennel.” Two lay-ups by center Landon Fuller closed a 14-point gap to 18-28, as the half ended. Devil Pup Devon Charles’ 19 half-time points were more than Ocracoke’s whole team total of 18.
“We were playing right with them for half of that game, but we were all tired,” Moore said.
Former Ocracoke principal Leslie Cole and athletic director Mary McKnight took over the WOVV headsets providing lively Dolphin-centric commentary and color during halftime.
Determined play by Carter O’Neal, Uriel Guerrero and especially Landon Fuller could not get Ocracoke caught up, as the Dolphins missed numerous 3-pointers down the stretch. Elicker and Finn Kattenburg subsequently fouled out late in the fourth period, as they tried in vain to contain the Devil Pups four big starters: Charles, Conner Shea, Sebastion Dorelien and Elijah Winston. Had Lejeune not missed numerous foul shots down the stretch, their winning margin would have been higher.
Ocracoke principal Jeanie Owen wrote on Facebook, “While tonight’s game wasn’t a victory for us, this team is the BEST we’ve ever had!!! I’ve known them since they were babies. I’ve watched them grow and mature! They are what we want all our kiddos to be — kind, considerate, disciplined, energetic, ready for the world! For so many, tonight was a final game, but you will be in our hearts forever! And as you grow and mature, we will still be your biggest fans!”
Although former Dolphin athletic director Adam Burleson hired Frank Moore in the summer of 2019 before Dorian hit the island, McKnight has seen Moore’s teams progress from 0-13 during his first COVID-19 shortened season, to winning the conference the last three seasons.
“He loves to coach basketball,” McKnight reflected. “He started from the basics and built the program from there. Frank never lets up on how central fundamentals are to running an effective offense. He doesn’t skip steps. Frank truly cares about the kids on his team and prides himself on the relationships he builds with the students.
“And that will be a big part of his legacy, that many of our students, not even just his players, will remember a conversation with him where he gave a piece of advice or imparted some of his life experience to bring perspective to a situation. That’s the Frank Moore this school will remember.”
Just after getting home on the Cedar Island ferry Saturday afternoon, Moore was philosophical about the loss.
“I watched them grow up from being ninth graders to graduating this year,” he said. “There are a lot of discrepancies about how that game was called. Let’s just say that. They’ve worked awfully hard to get where they are, and I just enjoyed every minute of it.”
An audio clip of Frank Moore’s last game is below.
