NATCHEZ — The Tar Heels scored the final five points to outlast the Terrapins 14-9 in 7 to 9 year old youth basketball Wednesday at Morgantown Academy.

The Tar Heels were led in scoring by their 9-year-old playmaking point guard Caleb Curtis, who scored a game-high 10 points.

“This was real fun, because it’s the first we’ve had,” Curtis said. “This was like winning a trophy.”

Curtis also had five rebounds to go along with a pair of steals and two 3-point makes.

“I was feeling a lot of confidence,” Curtis said.

Not to be outdone, Curtis received strong contributions from teammates Anthony Givens and Jeremiah Grinnell, who combined for four points and also pulled down a combined five rebounds.

“I felt like we showed a lot of teamwork (Wednesday),” Curtis said. “That’s how we got the win.”

The two teams played a tightly contested game through the first eight minutes, and they went into halftime tied 4-4.

In the second half, however, the scoring picked up and so did the pace of play.

The Terrapins pushed the pace as often as possible, taking each defensive rebound and sprinting down the floor in an attempt for easy looks.

The Terrapins led 4-2 for most of the first half and were led in scoring by Robert White Jr. with seven points.

The versatile wing player also added five rebounds to go along with three blocks.

Terrapins big man Justin Lyles managed to score just two points but made his presence felt on the glass as he pulled down 12 rebounds. Ashton Moore added four rebounds and picked up two steals for the Terrapins.

The Tar Heels led 9-6 late in the second half after Curtis converted his first 3-point make of the game.

White answered quickly for the Terrapins and buried a 3 on the ensuing possession.

But it would be all Tar Heels from there as they held the Terrapins scoreless the rest of the way.