DOBSON — In basketball, as in all sports, the little things can make a world of difference.

That was no more apparent than Wednesday night, as Surry Central dropped a blistering non-conference game to North Wilkes, 55-53.

That world of difference came at the free throw line, as Central finished a dismal 7 of 20 for the game, which included going 4 of 13 in the second half, while North Wilkes was 8-of-12 from the line, two of which were the go ahead points by Allen Johnson with less than 20 seconds remaining.

Obviously at wits end following the game, Central coach Ken Eiswald said when playing tough teams like North Wilkes and any team in Central’s own Northwest 1A/2A Conference, knocking down the easy ones is a must.

“The conference that we are in, every game we play is going to be like this,” Eiswald said. “North Wilkes would fit in great in our conference because it’s just a toe-to-toe slugfest and it comes down to who makes plays and who makes free throws. If we shoot like this we are going to be in every ball game but we are going to come up short. You can’t shoot free throws like this and our guys know that.”

North Wilkes opted to utilize a full court press for most of the game, and with Central leading 26-20 at the half, the Vikings used that pressure to cut back into the lead and pull things to a dead heat for the rest of the game.

Central’s Ethan Wilmoth was able to take advantage of the press with his speed, scoring a game high 27 points in the process.

While the Golden Eagles were able to get by the North Wilkes pressure the majority of the time, at several points the Vikings forced key turnovers which allowed them to reel the Eagles in.

“They do a great job of adjusting their press all the time,” Eiswald said. “You can say that what they do with their press is that when you beat them one way, they won’t let you beat them that way again. You’ve got to be patient and find the next opening. If you go to the well too many times they are going to be there for it.”

No turnovers were more important than back-to-back backcourt steals which allowed North to go on a quick 7-2 run and take a 49-44 lead with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Central battled back behind Wilmoth and Austin McLamb, and after Ty Hudson emphatically blocked a Vikings shot and Wilmoth was fouled up court then sank two free throws, the Eagles tied the score at 51-51 with 1:40 to play.

North Wilkes went 1-of-2 at the line a possession later for the 52-51 lead, but Wilmoth jetted down court past and around the entire North Wilkes defense for a beautiful coast-to-coast layup to give Central a one point lead with a minute to go.

After an exchange of possession and a 1-for-2 trip to the line by North’s Storm Clonch to tie the score, Johnson was fouled on a wide-open layup with little time on the clock, promptly sinking both shots and giving North a 55-53 lead.

Central had a final shot at the tie, as Dave Wilmoth drove into the lane and just barley missed a runner, with Hudson stretching for the Hail Mary putback which wouldn’t fall.

Garth Bailey led North Wilkes with 14 points, followed by Ty Johnson with 13 and Clonch with 12.

Austin McLamb had 12 points behind Wilmoth’s 27.

Eiswald said while it was a tough loss, he was proud of the fan support in what might have been an otherwise low attendance game.

Central will take on Winston-Salem Prep Friday away before taking a week off with the rest of the Surry County teams for exams.

North Wilkes 55, Surry Central 53

NW — 14 6 22 13 — 55

SC — 13 13 14 13 — 53

North Wilkes — Garth Bailey 14, Ty Johnson 13, Storm Clonch 12, A. Johnson 8, T. Johnson 6, Kortum 2

Surry Central — Ethan Wilmoth 27, Austin McLamb 12, Lewis 6, Hudson 4, D. Wilmoth 3, Leftwich 1

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