The top spot in the Mideastern Conference remains a four-team race following Wednesday’s action as the Wilmington schools are within one game atop the standings.
Hoggard and New Hanover lead the division with a 7-1 mark after grabbing results against South Brunswick and Topsail, respectively. The Laney Lady Bucs are 6-2 in conference following a 35-23 win over West Brunswick, while Ashley stands at 5-2 in league play.
The girls varsity coaches from New Hanover County Schools joined Joe Catenacci on this week’s edition of Sports Round Table, which airs at 8 p.m. on Wednesday’s on Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Scroll down to the bottom of this story for the latest broadcast.
Coach Sherri Tynes talked about Laney’s big result over Hoggard last week as the Bucs gear up for a rivalry game at Brogden Hall against New Hanover on Friday, Jan. 29.
Coming off their first setback in league play to snap a seven-game winning streak, the Vikings bounced back in dominating fashion, throttling Topsail and South Brunswick this week. Hoggard’s been dealing with lingering injuries, but junior transfer Alani Fisher returned to the lineup after missing a pair of games. Freshman role player Kaitlyn Brannin is also expected to be get back on the floor soon.
The Wildcats held West Brunswick to just five total points in a 67-5 victory on Monday, and upended the Pirates 67-42 on Wednesday.
On the boy’s side, New Hanover remains the team to beat in conference after a 74-43 result over Topsail at home. The Wildcats moved to 8-0 in the division and 16-4 overall.
Boys basketball
New Hanover 74 Topsail 43
New Hanover jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 74-43 result over Topsail on Wednesday.
Acchaeus Fields scored 13 of his game-high 14 points during the first half. Fields put in eight points during the opening period to help the Wildcats gain a 12-point lead after eight minutes of action. New Hanover stretched its advantage to 37-16 at the break as 12 different players scored for the Wildcats.
Malique Jacobs added nine points and Blake Smith drained two treys to finish with six.
Hoggard 46 South Brunswick 35
Xavier Johnson had a game-high 16 points for Hoggard in a 46-35 victory at home over South Brunswick. The Vikings are 6-2 in the division and 13-7 overall.
West Brunswick 64 Laney 63
The Trojans overcame a double digit deficit heading into the fourth quarter and sank eight shots from long range during the final eight minutes of regulation to grab a 64-63 win at Laney on Wednesday.
The Bucs surged to a 46-36 advantage to close out the third quarter as Laney led by nine with less than four minutes remaining. The Trojans drained their sixth trey of the period to close the gap to 58-55 at the 2:22 mark and went up 60-59 on their seventh made attempt from beyond the arc with 1:15 left.
Ty Hill dropped a team-high 21 points and Tyler Stanley added 19 for West Brunswick.
Chris Bennett recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds for Laney. He went 10 of 17 from the floor. Marquan Miller also added 19 points and grabbed eight boards.
Girls basketball
New Hanover 67 Topsail 42
Azariah Fields led all scorers with 18 points as four different players finished in double figures.
Ayonna Cotten added 13 points and Amani Muhhamad chipped in with 11. Michelle Jacobs also put in 10 for the Wildcats, who moved to 7-1 in conference and 14-5 overall.
Keri White had 10 points for Topsail.
Hoggard 61 South Brunswick 24
Junior point guard Tara Poteat had a game-high 12 points to lead Hoggard past South Brusnwick 61-24 on Wednesday.
Blair Barefoot knocked down 7 of 10 free throw attempts and finished with 11 points, while senior Aleah Thompson added 10 points and eight rebounds. Poteat also grabbed five steals and Emma Haywood dished five assists.
The Vikings improved to 16-4 overall.
Laney 35 West Brunswick 23
The Bucs remain one game back in conference following a 35-23 victory over West Brunswick on Wednesday.
Jayda Malone had a team-high seven points, while Baley Edwards finished with six points and eight rebounds. Lexi Melville also pulled down five boards.
Laney moved to 5-2 in conference and 11-8 on the year.
