Triton’s Alexis Howard makes an assist on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton hosted Western Harnett on Tuesday night for the second varsity basketball matchups of the season between the two schools, but the first in Tri-County Six 3-A Conference play, with the Triton girls and Western boys each avenging losses from the first meetings.
Triton’s girls were routed 43-29 by Western Harnett in the first round of the Harnett County Tipoff Tournament at Harnett Central in the season opener for both teams on Nov. 19. On Tuesday, the Hawks got payback by edging the Eagles in a 32-30 defensive battle.
“We surely weren’t hitting any shots, that’s for sure,” said Triton girls coach Wendy Simmons. “Between getting the ball inside and trying to get things open on the outside, even though we weren’t hitting any shots on the outside, it seemed like we got the points when we needed them. We’ve been working a lot on our defense, trying to get them to move on the pass and talking about screens. I felt like since then (the first game) we’ve definitely made some progressions in doing that.”
Western girls coach Matthew Smith cited cold shooting and rebounding as factors in the loss.
“We missed a lot of shots tonight,” Smith said. “Missed a lot of good looks that we had. I put in a few plays in the first half and they worked pretty well. Tried it again and we just couldn’t knock the shots down. I think our biggest Achilles’ heel tonight was rebounding. We rebounded pretty well first quarter. After that, we kind of sat around and watched like we paid to get in. That’s going to beat us every time. Offensively, we’re not the best offensive team, but we’re better than we did tonight, I think.”
Senior Hannah Jackson recorded a double-double to lead the Hawks (7-10, 2-1 TCSC), with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“She was making some big plays for us,” Simmons said. “We’ve been needing her to play like that and hopefully she’ll continue to.”
Alexis Howard had nine points and eight rebounds. Anaya Lockamy had five points and nine rebounds. Kaila Cooney had four points and six rebounds. Anastasia McDonald had one point and three steals. Zoie Starling and Jordan Miles had one point apiece.
Rebounding was a key factor for the Hawks, as Triton grabbed a total of 43, 17 on offense and 26 on defense.
“We were definitely better,” Simmons said. “We spent a lot of time in practice on it since Friday. I wanted to see a difference and we’ll just keep working on it every day in practice until we see a difference. Overall I was pleased with our rebounding efforts.”
The Eagles (7-9, 0-3) were led by senior Lahaina “LaLa” Bell, with 10 points, and sophomore Makyia Mackey, with eight points.
Taijia Pruitt had seven points, Javona Farrington and Kaile McLean had two points apiece and Tenaejah McDougald had one point.
Simmons wanted to get a message across to her usual starters by starting a different lineup in the contest. Cooney, a sophomore, was the lone member of the usual lineup on the court to start the game. She was joined by four freshmen: Ashlyn Vincent, Kimah Warren, Tristan Ennis and Gracie Byrd started for the Hawks.
“The way we played Friday night (a 55-21 loss at Union Pines),” Simmons said of the reason for the lineup change. “They held their own. It was scoreless after close to five minutes of playing. We had some good looks and took some shots. Friday night, the first eight possessions were turnovers. Tonight, they were showing patience and composure.”
Western took a 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and maintained that four-point lead through the second, taking a 15-11 lead into halftime.
The Eagles held an 18-13 lead late in the third when the Hawks rallied with an 8-1 run, taking their first lead of the game on a score from Jackson. Triton held that same 23-21 at the end of the quarter.
With the score tied at 28 late in the fourth, Jackson was fouled in the process of scoring and made the ensuing free throw to give Triton a 31-28 lead. After Bell scored to cut the lead to one, Starling was fouled and made one of the two ensuing free throws to push the lead to two.
After Western missed a game-tying attempt, Triton missed a pair of free throws and Western took a timeout with 13 seconds remaining. Bell got off a clean look that bounced off of the rim and McLean got the rebound and was able to get another shot off before the buzzer, but, under heavy defensive pressure from Lockamy, the shot came up just short, ticking off of the front of the rim.
When Triton and Western Harnett’s boys met for the first time on Nov. 19, Triton took a 62-58 win in double overtime. Tuesday’s contest stayed in regulation and saw the Eagles edge the Hawks 42-39.
“I thought we’ve gotten a little tougher down the stretch,” said Western boys coach Seth Womble. “Being smarter offensively, knowing that we don’t have to force it if we’ve got a lead. Let’s move the ball around and not be selfish with it. Let’s get what the defense gives us. I was very pleased with how we ran our offense, wasting some clock but still trying to get layups.”
In addition to the game Tuesday, the due date for Womble and his wife’s baby was Tuesday.
“I’m just happy to get a win,” Womble said. “Hopefully the baby comes and we win again Friday.”
Triton boys coach T.J. Morrison praised both Womble and Western, but was disappointed with the loss.
“Western’s always tough,” said Triton boys coach T.J. Morrison. “Coach Seth does a good job. Also, baby due tonight, so he’s got bigger things to think about. I hope the baby’s born tonight so that he enjoys it on top of the win. He’s just a good dude. Just disappointing to lose it. We played OK defensively. We came out at halftime and talked about, ‘We’ve got to rebound the basketball.’ First two plays out of the break, they get an offensive board and score. It’s indicative of the plays you’ve got to make. I also thought we settled for a couple of shots when we should have attacked the rim. Instead we pull up for an eight-foot, 10-foot, 12-foot jumper. It’s not one play, but a lot of little plays.”
Senior Tre’ Richardson had a game-high 16 points to lead the Eagles (6-10, 2-1).
“He’s grown so much as a player,” Womble said. “He’s our captain. He’s a leader. I think he’s our leading scorer. Him and Anthony (Brewington) are one point away from each other. He’s just everything you want your point guard to be. It’s awesome to have a player like that.”
Anthony Brewington and Wesley Lassiter had eight points apiece. Tobias Dillard had seven points. Kahlil McLean had two points. Tyrese Jones had one point.
Senior Emari White had 11 points and senior Derreon Burnett had nine points and eight rebounds to lead the Hawks (8-9, 1-2).
Travion Sanders had six points and eight rebounds. Kalil Hodges had five points and four assists. Colby Parker had four points, six rebounds and three assists. Tre’sean McLeod and Josiah Lett had two points apiece.
The game was a close battle throughout, with Triton leading 8-5 at the end of the first quarter and Western leading 23-19 at halftime and 35-29 at the end of the third.
Late in the fourth, a score and a three-pointer from Hodges gave Triton a 39-38 lead, the Hawks’ first since midway through the second quarter. But Richardson answered with a layup to immediately reclaim the lead for Western. After a Triton miss, Richardson added two more to the lead with a pair of free throws and Western held Triton scoreless the rest of the way.
“Kalil makes a big play to give us the lead and we need a stop,” Morrison said. “They drive right by us and the help’s not there. So, we had a little letdown there.”
Triton won the junior varsity boys game 49-34. Neither school has a JV girls team this year.
Triton moves from one conference and county rival to another, traveling to Harnett Central on Friday night. Western Harnett is at home against conference foe Lee County.
Ashlyn Vincent (10) of the Triton girls handles the ball.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Makyia Mackey (34) scores for the Western Harnett girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
LaLa Bell shoots a 3-pointer for the Lady Eagles.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Kaila Cooney scores for the Lady Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Emari White hits a three at the end of the first half for Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Wesley Lassiter gets a basket for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Tre’ Richardson scores for the visiting Eagles on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Tobias Dillard of Western Harnett scores at Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Derreon Burnett (1) gets a hoop inside for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
