New Hanover boys basketball advances to second round of 3A playoffs
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James Jones Jr. decided it was time to take over the game.
The New Hanover senior guard scored nine consecutive points in less than two minutes midway through the third quarter to put the third-seeded Wildcats on top for good in a 69-64 victory over No. 14 Cleveland on Tuesday night in the opening round of the 3A playoffs.
“When other teams start to go on a run that’s when it’s my time to take over,” said Jones Jr., who scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half. “We were missing one of our best players (Khalil Genwright), so I knew I had to step up in his absence.”
James Jones Jr. scored 28 points to lead New Hanover to a victory. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
The Wildcats knew they were in for a tough game from the start. Cleveland built a 12-8 lead with 2:26 remaining in the opening quarter, but New Hanover scored on its final five possessions to build a 19-15 lead.
Jones Jr. drained a 3-pointer to increase the advantage to 29-24 with 2:12 left in the second quarter, but the teams went to their respective locker rooms at halftime tied at 29.
Jones Jr. went 9 of 17 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. He was also 8 of 8 from the free throw line. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he scored only nine points in Friday’s loss at Hoggard.
The contest was still tied at 33-all before Jones Jr. went on his 9-0 run, which featured two layups, two free throws and a 3-pointer from the left corner.
“JJ has been stressing a little too much,” New Hanover coach Kirk Angel said. “The other night at Hoggard they came out in a zone after having not played it all year and our guys missed some shots early and we started having a pity party. He stuck with it tonight and played great.”
The Wildcats’ lead grew to 61-50 with 2:30 on the clock following a pair of free throws from Lenier Pocknett, but the visiting Rams continued to fight until the final horn. They got to within two possessions on a couple occasions, but New Hanover went 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the victory.
Pocknett chipped in 13 points, while Quintell Waddell and Jarrod Vaughn each added nine.
