Sophomores Malique Jacobs and Ramello Williams shot a combined 65 percent from the floor in a game New Hanover never trailed as the Wildcats cruised to a 57-41 victory over Laney on Tuesday night.
With the win, New Hanover improved to 3-0 in conference and 11-3 overall. The Bucs fell to 1-1 in league play and 7-6 on the year.
“Our guys play so hard,” said New Hanover Coach Kirk Angel. “We can score in bunches and I think teams try to prepare for the way we play, but until you’re out there going up against that type of speed on the floor it’s hard to keep up.”
Williams hit back-to-back buckets to go up 8-3, and the Wildcats used an 11-2 push over a five minute span to close the first quarter with a 19-7 advantage. Acchaeus Fields recorded his only two buckets during the spurt and Freddie Taylor found Blake Smith in the corner for his first of four treys in the game.
Jacobs finished 7 of 11 from the field for 15 points, while Williams recorded a double-double with a game-high 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Taylor used a runner in the lane to make it 28-13 three minutes into the second quarter and the sophomore point guard found Jacobs on the next possession to give New Hanover a 17-point cushion approaching the midway point of the period.
“We try to get 20 assists, 20 steals and 20 free throws per game,” Angel added. “That’s our goal each time out and tonight we were able to get to the rim and finish.”
Chris Bennett paced Laney with a team-high 11 points and five rebounds. Marquan Miller added nine points, but 14 turnovers in the first half aided the Wildcats surge to a 36-24 lead the break. The Bucs were held to just five total points in the third quarter as New Hanover stretched its advantage to 46-29 headed into the final frame.
Smith put the game away with consecutive shots from long range to open the scoring the fourth quarter as the senior sharpshooter closed with 12 points to put three different players in double figures.
The Wildcats return to Brogden Hall for a date with a Topsail on Friday. Laney looks to get back in the win column with a road game in Shallotte as the Bucs face West Brunswick.
NHHS 19-17-10-11=57
Laney 7-17-5-12=41
West Brunswick 55 Hoggard 54
Trailing by one with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation, Tyler Stanley knocked down an off-balanced three-pointer as time expired to give West Brunswick a 55-54 road victory at Hoggard on Tuesday.
Three different players finished in double figures for the Trojans, who evened their conference mark to 1-1 in league play and 8-3 overall. Xavier Gause scored a team-high 14 points.
West Brunswick faced a nine point deficit headed into the fourth quarter. Ty Hill added 13 points and Josh Woodard chipped in with 10.
Hoggard fell to 2-1 in conference and 9-5 overall. Both teams get back on the floor Friday.
Ashley 62 Topsail 42
Senior center Ryan Keller had a double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead Ashley past Topsail 62-42 in Hampstead on Tuesday.
Junior guard Daitreon Daye contributed with eight points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Screaming Eagles, who moved to 2-1 in league play and 8-6 on the year. Topsail dropped to 0-3 in conference and 4-9 overall.
Coastal Christian 58 Cape Fear Academy 38
Brian Howell had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Coastal Christian in a 58-38 route over Cape Fear Academy in the Coastal Rivers Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday. The Centurions improved to 1-0 in league play and 7-6 overall.
