Boys basketball
New Hanover 43 Laney 41
Trailing by two with seconds remaining, Laney was able to get off a buzzer beater to potentially force overtime at Brogden Hall, but the shot was well defended in the paint as New Hanover held on, 43-41, to remain unbeaten in conference.
The Wildcats carried a seven-point lead, 36-29, into the final frame. Laney outscored the home side 12-7 during the fourth quarter to set up the last second opportunity. Chris Bennett led all scorers with 14 points for the Bucs.
New Hanover shot just 34 percent from the field and 2-for-13 from long range. Freddie Taylor had a team-high 12 points and four assists. Hayden Edgar recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats moved to 3-0 in the division and 12-3 overall. Laney fell to 1-1 in conference and 7-6 this season.
Laney 8-11-10-12=41
NHHS 9-14-13-7=43
West Brunswick 62 Hoggard 48
Building some confidence during the holiday break, Hoggard and West Brunswick returned to the floor in a key Mideastern Conference contest on Tuesday night. The evenly matched teams were in a two possession game moving into the fourth quarter when the Trojans exploded for 21 points over the final eight minutes to grab a 62-48 result.
West Brunswick’s Bryce Ahrens led all scorers with 15 points on three field goals, one shot from long range and 6 of 8 free throws. Josh Woodard and Khalil Bland added 12 points apiece in the win.
The game was tied eight-all after the first quarter and the Trojans were ahead 18-15 at the break. With West Brunswick in front by two late in the third period, Bland knocked down his only three-pointer of the game to make it, 41-36, headed into the final frame.
The Trojans had four players finish in double figures as Rasheed Daniels chipped in with 10 points.
Hoggard leveled the score 44-44 early in the fourth quarter before West Brunswick used a decisive 18-4 run to grab its first conference win of the season. Grantland Adams led Hoggard with 13 points.
The Trojans moved to 1-1 in the division and 9-2 overall with its fourth consecutive victory. The Vikings saw their four game winning streak snapped, falling to 1-2 in conference and 6-6 this season.
Hoggard 8-7-21-12=48
W. Brunswick 8-10-23-21= 62
Ashley 47 Topsail 45
Daitreon Daye knocked down a buzzer beater to lift Ashley on Tuesday night as the Screaming Eagles rallied to grab a 47-45 triumph at home against Topsail. Trailing most of the way, Ashley got their first lead of the game at the 5:14 mark of the fourth quarter.
@Butta_Daye1 game winning shot🤘🏿😈😮 pic.twitter.com/Gdppfz0BaH
— David Ingram (@Flexznation) January 4, 2017
With the win, the Screaming Eagles remain tied with New Hanover at 3-0 atop the division. Ashley is 9-5 overall. Topsail dropped to 0-3 in conference and 8-5 overall.
Coastal Christian 45 Wilmington Christian 19
Girls basketball
Hoggard 55 West Brunswick 26
After grabbing a pair of tournament championships over the holiday break, Hoggard picked up where it left off in the New Year as the Vikings rolled to a 55-26 victory at West Brunswick.
Hoggard extended its season long win streak to eight straight, moving to 3-0 atop the conference and 11-1 on the year. West Brunswick fell to 0-2 in division and 5-7 overall.
The Vikings overcame a slow start by outscoring the home side 16-5 during the second quarter to grab a 25-11 cushion at halftime. Hoggard extended its lead to 19 (39-20) moving into the final period and held the Trojans to just six points over the final eight minutes.
Junior Lola Lovitt led the way with 19 points. She connected on 3-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc and went 6-for-9 from the free throw line. Angel Smith added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Blair Barefoot and Tara Poteat combined for eight assists. Hoggard connected on 15-of-22 foul shots and grabbed 25 offensive boards.
Hoggard 9-16-14-16=55
W. Brunswick 6-5-9-6=26
New Hanover 48 Laney 43
New Hanover led by double figures in the first half and used a key stretch over the waning minutes of regulation to outlast Laney on Tuesday night, 48-43, inside Brogden Hall.
Lexi Melville scored all eight points for the Bucs in the opening eight minutes, but Laney trailed New Hanover, 14-8. The Wildcats stretched their cushion to as many as 10 during the second period until Laney made it a two possession game at the break.
In front by three heading into the final frame, New Hanover was able to make it 44-37 when Jenson Edwards ran off six straight points to get the Bucs to within one with 90 seconds left. However, turnovers down the stretch proved to be costly for Laney, who fell to 0-2 in league play and 9-5 overall.
The Wildcats picked up its fifth straight win, improving to 3-0 in the division and 12-2 on the year.
Laney 8-14-10-11=43
NHHS 14-13-8-13=48
Topsail 42 Ashley 36
Topsail moved to 2-1 in conference and 8-4 overall following a 42-36 road win against Ashley.
North Brunswick 53 Croatan 29
North Brunswick opened East Central Conference play on a high note Tuesday night as the Scorpions cruised to a 53-29 victory against Croatan. Taylor Perkins led the way with 23 points. Jada Bellamay chipped in 19 points. North Brunswick moved to 1-0 in league play and 11-2 overall.
Wilmington Christian 32 Coastal Christian 22
Abby Squires recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wilmington Christian in a 32-22 result against Coastal Christian. Lydia Bradshaw contributed 10 points and three steals, while Sydney Davenport pulled down 14 boards.
