Boys basketball
Hoggard 44 Laney 38
Two teams looking to keep pace in the division race squared off along Shipyard Boulevard on Wednesday night. Tyler Steinman knocked down his second three-ball of the game late in the final frame to grab a two possession lead as Hoggard outlasted Laney, 44-38, at James Hebbe Gymnasium.
Robert Wilkerson led all scorers with 11 points. Hoggard made 13-of-19 attempts from the charity stripe to move to 3-2 in conference and 9-6 overall.
Moving into the rivalry match up, Laney had dropped its last three games by a combined six points. The Bucs kept pace with the Vikings through much of Wednesday’s contest thanks to a gritty effort.
A Wilkerson bucket with four minutes to play in the fourth quarter stretched Hoggard’s lead to six, 40-34, but Hunter Cook answered with a key shot from beyond the arc for Laney to keep it a one possession game.
Steinman finished with eight points and Greg Blanks scored three of seven points to start the fourth quarter as the Vikings went up 34-30 early in the period. Cam Sidbury led Laney with nine points as the Bucs dropped their fourth straight, falling to 1-4 in conference and 7-9 overall.
Hoggard carried an early 8-2 cushion when Patrick Morrison found the scoring column for two points. Laney made just two field goals in the opening eight minutes of play, but went into the break tied 21-all thanks to a big push in the second quarter. The Vikings went ahead 31-29 during the third stanza to set up the close finish.
Laney 4-17-8-9=38
Hoggard 8-13-10-13=44
West Brunswick 57 Ashley 48
Trailing by two moving into the final act, Brandyn Parker scored nine straight points to put West Brunswick ahead for good as the Trojans rallied to a 57-48 comeback victory over Ashley.
West Brunswick’s win creates a three-way atop the standings. The Trojans moved to 4-1 in league play and 12-3 overall. Ashley dropped its first conference game, falling to 4-1 in the division and 10-6 this season.
The Screaming Eagles carried a 16-8 advantage after the first quarter before West Brunswick pulled to within one at the break. A high scoring third period for both teams kept the Screaming Eagles in front, 44-42, moving into the final frame.
Ashley led by five (47-42) early in the fourth quarter when Parker put the Trojans on his back. West Brunswick held the Screaming Eagles to just four points over the final eight minutes, outscoring the home side 15-4 to close the ball game.
Parker finished with a game-high 26 points. Josh Woodard contributed 14 points in the win.
W. Brunswick 8-15-19-15=57
Ashley 16-8-20-4=48
South Brunswick 61 Topsail 58
Wednesday’s contest between South Brunswick and Topsail came down to the wire as the Cougars were able to pull out a 61-58 result.
Kareem Randolph poured in a game-high 21 points, while Brandon Gonzales added 17 in the win. South Brunswick built a seven point cushion after the opening eight minutes and led 31-25 at the break.
Alec Baker scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the third period as Topsail rallied to make it 46-all moving into the fourth quarter. Owen Ellis added 16 for the Pirates and Johnny Tartaglione chipped in with 12.
The Cougars also had three players finish in double figures. Andrew Mosley finished with 11, including seven in the decisive final frame.
S. Brunswick 17-14-15-15=61
Topsail 10-15-21-12=58
Girls basketball
Hoggard 53 Laney 26
Make it 11 consecutive victories for Hoggard as the Vikings rolled on Wednesday night, 53-26, over Laney at James Hebbe Gymnasium. Alani Fisher and Lola Lovitt combined for 25 points in the win.
Blair Barefoot connected on 8-of-8 from the free throw line to finish with eight points. The Vikings built a 27-17 advantage at the break. Angel Smith contributed on the glass with 13 rebounds. Hoggard finished with 19 offensive rebounds.
Eight different players found the scoring column for Hoggard. Fisher and Lovitt both knocked down a pair of treys, while Barefoot dished out four assists. Keeley Britt added three rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the effort.
The Vikings improved to 5-0 atop the Mideastern Conference and 14-1 overall. Laney dropped to 2-3 in the division and 11-6 this season.
West Brunswick 42 Ashley 41
Topsail 62 South Brunswick 50
