Daily Roundup: January 23, 2024

January 24, 2024, 12:30 am | by Tim Hower

COASTAL PREPS THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

***The rankings by each area team come from the Coastal- Preps Power Rankings***

BOYS BASKETBALL

No. 5 Cape Fear Academy 44, No. 10 Coastal Christian 27

***Click here to view a gallery of 30 photos from the action***

A 14-2 run to end the first half, which included eight consecutive points from Angelo Vega, gave the Hurricanes a lead they would never relinquish.

Vega started the run with a putback less than two minutes into second quarter to give CFA (12-5, 4-2 CPIC) a 13-11 lead. Back-to-back layups from freshman Alex Wolf sent the visitors into the locker room at halftime with a 25-13 lead.

Vega finished with a game-high 13 points in the defensive battle. The Hurricanes also got eight points from Isaiah Gibson, seven from Domas Undzenas and six from Wolf.

Undzenas, Wolf and Thomas Watkins all took turns guarding Coastal Christian (12-12, 3-3) standout senior forward Aidan Davies and held him to just eight points, which was 12 less than his season average.

“We knew we needed to limit his touches by face guarding him and fronting him from behind,” CFA first-year coach Paul Capodanno said. “Our goal was to force someone else to hit shots and beat us.”

The Centurions cut the deficit to 30-22 early in the fourth quarter following a free throw from Holden Martin, but the Hurricanes responded with a 10-2 run to all but seal the victory.

Martin, Ethan Adgent and George Robertson all scored six points.

CFA hosts Arendell Parrott Academy at 7 p.m. Friday. Coastal Christian welcomes Southeastern Christian Academy on Thursday at 7 p.m.

No. 19 Wilmington Christian Academy 55, Southside Christian 50

The Patriots connected on nine 3-pointers, including four from Michael Roberts, to rally on the road.

Roberts and Maddoux Batts both finished with a team-high 16 points. WCA (2-12, 1-7 NCCSA 2A East Region 4), which trailed 21-19 at halftime, also got nine points from Calloway Upchurch.

Next up is a game at Living Water Christian on Thursday at 7 p.m.

No. 12 Topsail 66, No. 9 Ashley 65 (OT)

Sophomore forward Duron Vaughn made a layup at the buzzer off an assist from Caden Wilson to give the Pirates a thrilling road win.

Topsail (5-11, 2-5 Mideastern) led 55-47 with 3:50 remaining in regulation following a free throw from Rhett Britt.

A layup on the other end from Ashley’s (4-12, 1-5) Alijah Miller started a 10-2 run that tied the score. The Screaming Eagles then took a 59-57 on a floater from Quinn Bentley with exactly one minute left.

Britt got an offensive rebound and putback with seven seconds on the clock to send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Vaughn connected on a 3-pointer to put the Pirates in front by a score of 64-63 with 44 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, Ashley sophomore Keyon Jones drove through the lane and made a finger roll to put the home team back up by one with 18 seconds on the clock.

That set up the heroic layup from Vaughn. Topsail broke a soft fullcourt press and got the ball to Wilson at the top of the key with five seconds remaining. He took one dribble to his left and fired a pass to a wide-open Vaughn, who had no trouble finishing.

The Pirates host West Brunswick at 7:30 p.m. Friday, while the Screaming Eagles travel to Hoggard on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 2 Laney 58, No. 4 North Brunswick 40

Senior guard Josh Helms knocked down 15 of the 17 free throw attempts he took and finished with a career-high 29 points to keep the Buccaneers unbeaten in the Mideastern Conference.

Laney (14-1, 6-0) held a 27-22 halftime lead and a 40-34 advantage after three quarters.

Malakhi Daniels led the way for North Brunswick (13-4, 4-3) with 13 points.

The Buccaneers host New Hanover on Wednesday night at 7:30 with first place in the MEC on the line. The Scorpions visit South Brunswick on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 1 New Hanover 60, No. 8 West Brunswick 27

The Wildcats jumped out to a 27-5 lead after the opening quarter and sat their starters for the final 11 minutes of a blowout victory.

Nolan Billings led all scorers with 16 points, while Zeus Batts added 11. New Hanover (15-0, 6-0 Mideastern) also got 10 points a piece from Rodmik Allen and freshman Kam Witherspoon.

Next up is a trip to Laney on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with first place in the conference on the line.

West Brunswick (6-11, 3-4), which got eight points from K’Veon Griffin, visits Topsail at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

No. 3 Hoggard 76, No. 16 South Brunswick 61

The Vikings reached double digit wins for the 32nd consecutive season behind a career night from Jayzion Davis.

The 6-foot-2 junior forward finished with 20 points.

Hoggard (10-6, 4-2) led 25-12 after the opening eight minutes and 42-24 at halftime. The Vikings host Ashley at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

South Brunswick (3-13, 0-7) is back at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. against North Brunswick.

No. 6 Trask 61, No. 17 Pender 47

Myron Mckoy and Sherrod Henderson combined to scored 38 points as the Titans went on the road and defeated their rival.

Mckoy led all scorers with 22 points, while Henderson had a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Trask (11-4, 5-0 Waccamaw) also got 12 points from freshman forward Gio Driggers.

Malcolm Driver scored 14 points for Pender (3-10, 1-4), which trailed 33-22 at haltime.

Both teams return to the court Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Titans visit West Columbus, while the Patriots host East Columbus.

No. 7 West Columbus 59, No. 18 East Columbus 53

Unique Kelly had another outstanding performance by finishing with a game-high 27 points for the victorious Vikings.

Kelly went 7 of 9 from the free throw line. West Columbus (8-4, 4-1 Waccamaw), which led 28-18 at halftime, also got 10 points from Tyler Watts-Brown.

East Columbus (4-10, 0-6) got a combined 33 points from Cainan Patrick (17) and Jaden Troy (16).

The Vikings welcome Trask at 7:30 p.m. Friday, while the Gators travel to Pender on Friday evening at 7:30.

Other scores

No. 15 South Columbus 50, No. 13 Whiteville 47

GIRLS BASKETBALL

No. 9 Cape Fear Academy 53, No. 14 Coastal Christian 19

***Click here to view a gallery of 25 photos from the action***

The visiting Hurricanes scored the first nine points of the game and built an insurmountable 31-4 halftime lead.

Milly Kelley led a balanced offensive attack with 11 points. Emma Gibbs and Naomi Shanewise both chipped in 10 points for CFA (8-5, 3-3 CPIC). Macy Stengle added nine, all of which came in the first half.

Coastal Christian’s (4-11, 1-5) Lucy Bos scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.

The Hurricanes host Arendell Parrott Academy on Friday at 5:30 p.m., while the Centurions travel to John Paul II at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

No. 3 Topsail 54, No. 8 Ashley 51 (OT)

It wasn’t easy, but the Pirates went on the road and secured a victory by finishing with three double figure scorers.

Emmy Clark had 16 points, while Rhianna Garmendiz added 11. Topsail (11-6, 5-2 Mideastern) also got 10 points from Brianna Jones.

Ashley (9-7, 2-4) sent the game to overtime when senior guard Mackenzie Morton went coast-to-coast for a layup with four seconds remaining.

Morton scored all three of her team’s points in overtime and led all scorers with 25. Bella Cook had a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Next up for the Pirates is a home game against West Brunswick at 6 p.m. Friday. The Screaming Eagles visit Hoggard on Wednesday night at 6.

No. 2 New Hanover 51, No. 7 West Brunswick 32

A game-high 16 points from sophomore guard Brianna Stanley helped the Wildcats win at home.

Stanley went 6 of 14 from the field. Tamorie Wilson added eight points and six rebounds, while Iyana Rogers finished with seven points and six rebounds.

New Hanover (11-3, 5-1) scored 18 points in the third quarter to build a 43-29 lead.

Jahyra Mastry’s 10 points led the way for West Brunswick (10-7, 3-4), which visits Topsail on Friday at 6 p.m.

The Wildcats are right back in action Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Laney.

No. 1 Hoggard 57, No. 11 South Brunswick 15

The Vikings shot 47 percent from the field (22 of 47) and assisted on 14 of those made baskets to roll.

Sarah Elgart recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Tristan Shivers finished with 14 points, seven assists and four steals, while fellow sophomore Avery Fitzgerald chipped in 12 points.

Hoggard (15-1, 6-0 Mideastern) connected on six 3-pointers from five different players. A 26-point third quarter increased the lead to 49-13.

The Vikings welcome Ashley at 6 p.m. Wednesday. South Brunswick (3-10, 0-7) hosts North Brunswick on Friday night at 6.

No.5 East Columbus 65, No. 18 West Columbus 10

Seven Gators scored at least five points in a lopsided win.

Malayah Hines finished with a game-high 14 points, while Malia Graham chipped in 11.

East Columbus (12-1, 5-1 Waccamaw) also got nine points from Shamiah Johnson as well as eight from Destiney Mitchell

The Gators visit Pender at 6 p.m. Friday. West Columbus (0-9, 0-5) will look to pick up its first win of the season when it hosts Trask on Friday at 6 p.m.