Boys basketball
Hoggard 45 Topsail 27
Hoggard clamped down on the defensive end of the floor during Tuesday night’s conference opener as the Vikings defeated Topsail, 45-27, at James Hebbe Gymnasium.
Robert Wilkerson and Keon Bradley scored eight points apiece for the home team, while Johnny Tartaglione led all scorers with 12 points for Topsail. The Pirates were held to just 10 total field goals as Tartaglione hit a pair of treys in the setback.
Wilkerson’s points came on three field goals and 2 of 2 free throws during the game. Patrick Morrison chipped in with seven for Hoggard. The Vikings were 7-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Tartaglione drained a three-ball to open the scoring for Topsail and hit a two-point bucket as the Pirates took an early 5-2 lead, but Hoggard went on a 7-0 run to close the first quarter with a 9-5 advantage.
The Vikings led the rest of the way. Tyler Steinman knocked down two shots from long range in the winning effort.
Hoggard moved to 1-0 in conference and 2-3 overall heading into a rivalry game against Ashley on Friday, Dec. 16. Topsail dropped to 0-1 in the division and 4-3 on the year. The Pirates play host to Laney on Friday.
Topsail 5-8-5-9=29
Hoggard 9-15-11-10=45
Ashley 69 South Brunswick 58
After rallying from a 22-point deficit for an overtime win the day prior, Ashley found its legs early on Tuesday night as the Screaming Eagles rolled to a 69-58 victory over South Brunswick in the Mideastern Conference opener for both teams.
Daitreon Daye led all scorers with a game-high 19 points. Ashley burned the nets shooting 56 percent from the floor and 7-of-15 from beyond the arc for its fifth straight win. The Screaming Eagles improved to 1-0 league play and 5-1 overall.
.@Butta_Daye1 w/ a step back trey to give @ashleyhighbball 45-30 lead, 5:09 left in 3rd Q pic.twitter.com/pWDRI4fzsE
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) December 14, 2016
Ashley used a pair of 9-2 runs in the first half to gain separation. Good ball movement around the perimeter led to a Kegian Meyer three-pointer from the wing to give the garnet and gold an 11-5 advantage.
With a 17-11 lead after the opening eight minutes, Jiques Morant connected from downtown and Daye converted on back-to-back possessions to give the Screaming Eagles a double digit cushion, 24-13, with 6:30 left in the first half.
.@Butta_Daye1 once again! Easy J for Daye! @ashleyhighbball up BIG tonight in the Junction! pic.twitter.com/PYJSJQKGAO
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) December 14, 2016
South Brunswick committed 10 turnovers in the opening 10 minutes of play and did not hit a three-point field goal all game. Xavier Williams led the Cougars with 12 points.
Ashley was up 65-45 in the fourth quarter before South Brunswick went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead in half at the 1:40 mark, but Meyer knocked down a big bucket for the Screaming Eagles to seal the impressive effort.
The Screaming Eagles had four players in double figures. Morant had 11 points, while Meyer and Jordan Gagum each hit a pair of three-pointers to finished with 10 points apiece.
S. Brunswick 11-14-14-19=58
Ashley 17-21-22-19=69
Coastal Christian 64 Southeastern 48
Kamron Greene led Coastal with 19 points and Michael Parker pulled down eight rebounds as Coastal Christian cruised to a 64-48 result. The Centurions are now 6-5 overall.
Cape Fear Academy 52 Wilmington Christian Academy 36
Three players scored in double digits for Cape Fear Academy on Tuesday night as the Hurricanes grabbed a 52-36 result against Wilmington Christian. Will Coverdale scored a game-high 15 points in the win.
Girls basketball
Hoggard 47 Topsail 12
Hoggard bounced back from its only setback of the young season in dominating fashion on Tuesday night. Eight different players found the scoring sheet as the Vikings rolled, 47-12, at home against Topsail.
Lola Lovitt and Blair Barefoot shared game-high honors with nine points. Julie Wilkerson also knocked down a pair of three-pointers on as many attempts to add six points for Hoggard, who improved to 1-0 in conference and 4-1 on the year.
Point guard Tara Poteat dished three assists and picked up four steals. Hoggard controlled the glass with 37 rebounds. Lovitt pulled downed seven offensive rebounds. Mia Boone and Keeley Britt chipped in with six points apiece.
Ashley 36 South Brunswick 35
With a one-point lead and time running out, Morgan Carpenter knocked down a pair of key free throws in the waning seconds to give Ashley a three-point advantage before South Brunswick’s Abigail Spivey sank what looked to be the game tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Down 3, @sbhs_wbb hits a 3 at buzzer to force OT? Or was it? It was called a two. @AshleyAthletics escapes, 36-35, what u think? pic.twitter.com/0L78iLecJS
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) December 14, 2016
However, the official said Spivey’s foot was on the three-point line making it two-point basket as the Screaming Eagles escaped, 36-35, to open conference play. Carpenter finished with 10 points for Ashley.
Trailing by 12 at halftime, South Brunswick outscored Ashley 26-15 after the break. Morgan Allred paced the Cougars and led all scorers with 14 points. Allred was 6-for-8 from the free throw line.
After Carpenter’s free throws to put Ashley ahead 36-33, with five seconds remaining in regulation, Spivey came off a screen and look to knocked down a clutch three-pointer which would have sent the game into overtime.
S. Brunswick 5-4-14-12=35
Ashley 11-10-9-6=36
