Hoggard 63 West Brunswick 27
While Hoggard’s leading scorer Julia Buehler had a tough night from the field, her teammates stepped up–without Emma Haywood in the lineup for a second straight game–as the Vikings used a big run through the first half in a 63-27 win over West Brunswick on Friday.
After a pair of victories this week Hoggard moved to 3-1 in conference and 12-4 overall, while West Brunswick fell to 0-5 in league play and 3-6 on the year.
“I’m definitely proud of my girls,” said Hoggard Coach Boubacar Aw. “It’s not easy to please me as a coach, but they continue to fight and pleased with their effort this whole week.”
With the game squared away early in the opening frame the Vikings went on a 21-2 run over the next seven minutes of action to pull away from the Trojans.
Maddie Crumpton hit a three-ball from the wing to give Hoggard a 9-6 lead and freshman guard Mia Boone knocked down a long two-point jumper to extend a 7-0 push before Buehler hit a pair of free throws to make it 15-6 Vikings.
Tara Poteat provided the visitors with some quality minutes off the bench as the sophomore picked up two steals and took both coast-to-coast for easy layups to extend the Hoggard advantage. Madison Huckabee followed with back-to-back buckets for the Vikes until Yana Bland hit a pair from the free throw line to end a 21-2 run for the Vikings with less than five minutes to go in the first half.
“Julia is a scorer and we know she’s going to get her points,” said Aw. “She’s a natural born scorer, but we are a better team than just one player. We are a better team when everybody contributes.
“I thought Aleah [Thompson] played a really good game tonight. Maddie [Crumpton] was able to get a few to go and we’ve been together for three years now and they’re understanding that it’s going to take a total team effort to play at a high level and get wins.”
West Brunswick made an 8-2 surge late in the second stanza off a pair of three-balls by McKenzie Benton and Logan Locklear to go along with a two-point basket by Natyra Gore, but Hoggard used 22 first half turnovers by the Trojans to put the game in hand at the break.
While Buehler went 0-for-8 from the field over 16 minutes in the first half, the senior knocked down her first three shot attempts in the third quarter including a three-pointer from the wing and went 7-of-10 from the charity stripe to finish with a game-high 20 points.
Thompson also chipped in with 13 points and Poteat closed with 10 to pace the Vikings offense, while Buehler made seven steals and pulled down seven rebounds. Bria Bond had eight points for West Brunswick.
Hoggard 17-14-16-16=63
West 6-10-5-6=27
Hoggard stats: Julia Buehler, 20 points, seven steals, three rebounds; Aleah Thompson, 13 points; Madison Huckabee, five points; Tara Poteat, 10 points; Mia Boone, five points; Maddie Crumpton, four points; Venice Leone, four points; Olivia Hawkins, two points.
West stats: Leilani Emile, two points; Bria Bond, eight points; McKenzie Benton, seven points; Natyra Gore, six points; Logan Locklear, three points.
New Hanover 71 South Brunswick 25
The Wildcats cruised to a 71-25 result over South Brunswick on Friday and extended its season long win streak to 12 straight games.
Freshman guard Amani Muhammed led all scorers with 15 points, while senior Alex Simmons added 13 points and nine rebounds. Four different New Hanover players finished in double digits as Tanasia Tommer finished with 12 points to go along with 11 points from Kayleigh Merrell.
The Wildcats sit atop the conference at 4-0 and moved to 13-1 overall.
NHHS 14-28-25-4=71
South 8-10-5-2=25
Laney 41 Ashley 30
Laney snapped a three-game skid and moved to 3-1 in conference with a 41-30 win over Ashley in Buctown on Friday night.
Jayda Malone led the Bucs with nine points as nine different Laney players found the scoring column in an all-around team effort. Dana Craig scored a game-high 10 points for the Screaming Eagles.
Ashley fell to 2-2 in league play and 8-5 overall.
Laney 4-15-10-12 =41
Ashley 6-9-9-6=30
Laney scorers: Lexi Melville, five points; Jayda Malone nine points; Charlene Thompson, four points; Jensen Edwards, four points; Kirstie Langley, two points; Baley Edwards, eight points; Micah Morley four points, Taylor Morley, two points; Anna Rae Porcelli, three points.
Ashley scorers: Carly Higgins, eight points; Dana Craig 10 points; Lola Lovitt four points; Jada Bacchus, four points; Chyna Cotton, four points.
Croatan 49 North Brunswick 41
Coastal Christian 69 Wilmington Christian 67
