Abby Hood hugs assistant Jamie Panfil as Coats-Erwin celebrates.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Coats-Erwin took a middle school basketball sweep over visiting Highland Thursday as both the girls and boys teams improved to 6-1 on the year. The girls pulled into a tie for first place atop the Harnett County Conference.
On Jan. 15, Coats-Erwin’s girls lost a battle of unbeatens at Highland by a single point. Thursday saw the same margin, with the opposite result, as an Ashari Watlington free throw with 17 seconds left gave the Falcons a 23-22 win, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season and creating a first-place tie in the conference standings between Coats-Erwin and Highland.
Abby Hood had 13 points to lead the Falcons, Carleigh Hemby had five points, Ava Blackman had three points and Watlington and Caylon Avery had one point apiece.
Aaliyah Hunt led the Vikings (6-1) with nine points, Caroline Lytle and Nyvaeha Johnson had five points apiece, Marva Arnold had two points and Sydney Jackson had one point.
The game was a close, back-and-forth battle throughout, with neither team ever taking a lead of more than four.
After Arnold scored to tie the game 22-22 late in the fourth, Watlington was fouled in the act of shooting with 17 seconds left. She made the first of the ensuing free throws and missed the second, but Coats-Erwin got an offensive rebound and ran 10 seconds off of the clock before Watlington was fouled again.
Watlington missed the front end of the ensuing 1-and-1, and Highland rebounded and called timeout with 6.6 seconds remaining. But on the ensuing possession, Highland was called for an illegal screen in trying to set up a game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. The ensuing inbounds pass went to Hood, who secured it and allowed time to run out, giving the Falcons the win.
Coats-Erwin routed Highland in the boys game, taking a 59-26 win.
William Heard had 24 points and Nate McKoy had 15 points to lead the Falcons.
Zamonte McDougald and James Shaw had five points apiece. Deandre Smith, Aidan Johnson, Marquis Rosado, Aaron Roberts and Jalen Evans had two points apiece.
Frederick Lee had nine points to pace the Vikings (1-6).
Isaiah McKendall had five points. Isaiah Newkirk had four points. Tremir Gordon and Christopher Gama had three points apiece. Michael Vecellio had two points.
Coats-Erwin outscored Highland in all four quarters: 16-9 in the first quarter, 12-6 in the second, 18-1 in the third and 13-10 in the fourth.
Highland is at home against Overhills on Monday and at Western Harnett on Thursday. Coats-Erwin has an open date Monday and hosts Shughart on Thursday.
Leading scorer William Heard hits a shot for Coats-Erwin.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Abby Hood scores for the Coats-Erwin girls on Thursday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Highland’s Nyvaeha Johnson drives at Coats-Erwin.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Highland’s Caroline Lytle puts up a shot in Thursday’s narrow loss.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Coats-Erwin’s Carleigh Hemby (23) secures a rebound.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
James Shaw gets a basket for the Falcons.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Highland’s Isaiah McKendall (24) puts up a shot.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jalen Evans (54) drives for the Falcons on Thursday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Coats-Erwin’s Nate McKoy (50) scores against visiting Highland.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
