Daily Roundup: November 21, 2023

COASTAL PREPS THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

GIRLS BASKETBALL

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

No. 7 East Bladen 44, No. 6 West Brunswick 35

The Eagles opened the game on a 12-2 run and held off a late rally to earn a hard-fought win on the road. 

Laila Smith led East Bladen (1-0) with 16 points, including 10 in the second half. Guards Ariel Cromartie and NeNe Ward added 11 points a piece.

West Brunswick (1-1) cut the deficit to 24-18 at halftime and 30-28 early in the fourth quarter following a baseline jumper from Hailey Woodard. 

The Eagles immediately responded and ended the game on a 14-7 run. 

Both teams are back in action Tuesday at 6 p.m. East Bladen plays at West Bladen, while the Trojans host South Columbus.

No. 3 Topsail 54, No. 17 Trask 20

Eleven players reached the scoring column in a game that was all but wrapped up by halftime.

Topsail (2-0) exploded for 18 points points in the opening quarter. The lead was 34-10 at halftime. 

Riley Trimble narrowly missed out on a double-double by finishing with eight points, 11 rebounds and three steals.

Jaelyn Dabideen finished with a game-high 10 points, while Brianna Jones chipped in seven. Rhianna Garmendiz scored six points.

The Pirates, who visit Dixon on Tuesday at 6 p.m., shot 43 percent (20 of 46) from the field. 

Layna Nixon connected on a pair of 3-pointers and finished with eight points to pace Trask (0-3). Next up for the Titans is a home game against Richlands at 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

No. 4 Ashley 57, No. 13 Coastal Christian 16

A 19-0 run to end the first quarter put the Screaming Eagles up by 18 points, and they continued to pull away in a lopsided victory.

Ashley (2-0) connected on seven 3-pointers, including three from Jaeden Hudson. The junior guard finished with 11 points, five assists and three steals. 

Mackenzie Morton led all scorers with 16 points to go along with three rebounds and four steals. Alaina Boos added seven points, while Bella Cook had six points and five rebounds.

Coastal Christian (0-3) got six points – all in the second half – from sophomore Evie Munroe. 

The Screaming Eagles host Jacksonville at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Centurions travel to Southeastern Christian Academy on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

No. 2 New Hanover 54, New Bern 29

In her first game as a Wildcat, sophomore standout Brianna Stanley scored 21 points in a home win.

New Hanover (1-0) also got six points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and two steals from center Zihre Sellers as well as eight points from Tamorie Wilson. 

Next up is a game at South View on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.

No. 1 Hoggard 59, White Oak 11

The Vikings shot 49 percent from the field (27 of 55) and got an outstanding performance from sophomore Tristan Shivers, who finished with 14 points, eight assists and six steals.

Sarah Elgart added 13 points, while Avery Fitzgerald added nine.

Hoggard (1-0) led 15-1 after the opening quarter and 34-5 at halftime. In her first high school game, freshmen Jakicey Gardner finished with eight points, five steals and four assists.

Next up is a game at Purnell Swett on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

No. 12 North Brunswick 45, Northside-Jacksonville 28 

The Scorpions rolled to a season-opening victory thanks to a team-best 12 points from Dari’elle Young. 

North Brunswick (1-0) will be back at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. against East Columbus.

No. 5 Laney 52, Swansboro 25

Aniece Lewis finished with 14 points, three rebounds and a pair of steals for the victorious Buccaneers. 

Laney (1-0) opened the game on a 10-0 run and led 22-2 after the opening eight minutes.  

The Buccaneers will host Northside-Jacksonville on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.

No. 10 East Columbus 52, Union 33

An 18-point performance from sophomore Malia Graham helped the Gators cruise at home in their first game of the year. 

East Columbus (1-0) held a 21-9 halftime lead before pulling away with a 31-point second half. 

Destiney Mitchell scored nine points, while Malayah Hines added eight. 

Next up for the Gators is a road game at North Brunswick on Tuesday night at 6.

BOYS BASKETBALL

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

No. 2 Laney 55, Swansboro 54

Senior Josh Helms drained a 25-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to help the Buccaneers rally for a victory in their season opener. 

Laney (1-0) trailed 50-39 with 5:32 remaining before ending the game on a 16-4 run. The only lead they had the entire night came following Helms’ heroic shot.

Helms scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers got 15 points and 11 rebounds from Hez Driver as well as nine points on three 3-pointers from Shark Baynard. 

Laney travels to Jordan on Friday at 3 p.m.

No. 6 Ashley 56, No. 8 Coastal Christian 30

Guards Quinn Bentley and Coen Locklear combined to score 34 points, and the Screaming Eagles shot a remarkable 62 percent (21 of 34) from the field to roll.

Bentley drained four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 18 points and five rebounds. Locklear chipped in 16 points, three rebounds and three assists. 

Ashley (1-1), which never trailed, built a 15-5 lead after the opening quarter. Sophomores Keyon Jones (eight points) and Alijah Miller (six points and four rebounds) also had strong performances. 

Aidan Davies led Coastal Christian with 16 points. 

The Screaming Eagles host New Bern at 8 p.m. on Nov. 30. The Centurions return to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Southeastern Christian Academy.

No. 7 North Brunswick 82, Northside-Jacksonville 48

The Scorpions had no trouble in their season opener despite playing without last year’s leading scorer, Malakhi Daniels. 

All 13 players who dressed out got in the scoring column. Ronnie Ballard led all scorers with 18 points, while Caleb Bernard put in 11 of his 13 points in the opening half.

North Brunswick (1-0) scored 23 points in the opening quarter and added 22 more in the second.

Gavin Lindbert and Terry Hood each chipped in eight points for the Scorpions, who host East Columbus at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

No. 14 East Columbus 67, Union 22

Jaden Troy knocked down four of the Gators’ eight 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in the dominant victory.

It was the first game for coach CJ Nobles, who spent four seasons leading the South Brunswick girls team from 2016-20.

Davonte Marshburn led all scorers with 15 points. 

East Columbus (1-0) travels to North Brunswick on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 17 South Columbus 58, Marlboro Academy (S.C.) 43

Third-place game Green Sea Floyds Thanksgiving Tournament

The Stallions scored 34 first-half points and were never seriously threaten over the final 16 minutes.

Freshman Khalil Morgan made three 3-pointers in the first quarter en route to his career-high 20 points. 

Andrew Todd added 11 and AJ Scott chipped in six for South Columbus (2-1), which visits Loris, S.C. at 8 p.m. Monday.

Other scores

No. 13 East Bladen 54, No. 10 West Brunswick 52

Apex Friendship 73, No. 12 Topsail 55

WRESTLING

Topsail 51, New Hanover 28

at Dixon

A 27-0 run early in the match gave the Pirates a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Tyler Adalin got Topsail on the board with an 8-4 decision at 126 pounds in the second bout. Robert Tellez followed at 132 with a forfeit.

Topsail then got three consecutive pins from Luke Williams (138), Colton Allen (144) and defending state champion Ian Fritz (150) to build a 27-6 advantage.

Nick Jones (175), Aaron Martinez (190), Thomas Bennett (285) and Quinton Smith (106) also recorded pins.

New Hanover got a quick pin from Chris Braxton at 120 to open the match. Jaden Scott (165), Jesus Delgado (215) and Brian Trujillo (113) also won via pin.

Marqueze Higgins scored four team points with a major decision at 157.

Topsail 51, Dixon 21

at Dixon

First-period pins from Colton Allen (144 pounds), Ian Fritz (150), Aaron Martinez (190) and Thomas Bennett (285) helped the Pirates cruise.

Robert Tellez (126) and Jared Schaus (165) also had pins, while Quinton Smith (106) and Andrew Welch (113) each received a forfeit.

The tightest bout of the evening was at 132, where Luke Williams held on for a 6-5 decision. Williams had a takedown in each of the first two periods to build a 4-0 lead. A reversal in the third period proved to be the difference. 

Union Pines 55, Topsail 16

at Dixon

The Pirates only picked up three victories to suffer a loss against a strong Union Pines team.

Ian Fritz (150 pounds) and Thomas Bennett (285) both recorded pins, while Robert Tellez scored the other four points with an 11-2 major decision at 132. 

Dixon 51, New Hanover 30

The Wildcats got pins in the opening period from Jaden Scott at 165 pounds and heavyweight John Michael Carter, but they managed only three other victories.

Chris Braxton also had a pin at 120, while Matt Carter (106) and Brian Trujillo (113) both received forfeits.

Other scores

Union Pines 70, New Hanover 12

 

 

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