Playing at home for the first time since December 16, Triton’s varsity basketball teams were dominant against visiting All American 3-A/4-A Conference and Harnett County rival Western Harnett on Friday night.

Triton led from start to finish in a 46-9 win in the girls game.

“That’s the point: Always business trips,” said Triton girls coach Richard Rozier, who played high school basketball at Western Harnett. “Home games for sure. We had a little bit of jitters. We haven’t played at home in a while and it showed early on, but we took care of business down the line. (Defense) is where we’re making our hallmark. Honestly, I thought it would be on offense, but we’re playing great defense and that’s what wins championships.”

Senior Abby Hood had a double-double, with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six steals and freshman Nashara Watlington-McNeill had 13 points and six steals to lead the Hawks (10-4, 2-3 AAC).

“Abby has definitely picked it up, but she does whatever I ask her to do,” Rozier said. “Nashara is a ‘diaper dandy,’ as Dick Vitale says. She takes care of business every night on the court, so that’s always good.”

JaNiah Smith had seven points. Unique Cooke had five points and five rebounds. Jakiya Leach had four points and nine rebounds. Mahogany McKoy had two points and 10 rebounds. Navaeh Hawley had two points. A’Shari Watlington had seven steals.

Junior Shay McCants and senior Maddie Burns had three points apiece, senior Trinity Gaither had two points and freshman Faith Woodard had one point for the Eagles (6-7, 1-3).

Triton outscored Western 8-1 in the first quarter, 18-0 in the second and 13-1 in the fourth. Both teams scored seven points in the third quarter.

Controlling the second and third quarters powered Triton to a 68-29 victory over Western Harnett in the boys game.

“We were hoping to play solid defense and not let them run their offense,” said Triton boys coach T.J. Morrison. “But we were not as intense as we needed to be right to start with. They were taking a little time off of the clock and we were not as intense. And we said that our offense needs to start with our defense, with a deflection or a rebound or a steal. That kind of is a catalyst for us a lot of times, so we had to turn it up a little bit. To me, it was a little scary in that first quarter and we turned it up a notch and I’m glad for the kids and glad to get a conference win.”

Sophomore Quashaun Williams had 18 points, six assists and six steals and senior Jalen Evans had 10 points to lead the Hawks (9-5, 1-4).

“I liked (Williams’) game,” Morrison said. “Will Heard is out with a sinus infection and we told them, ‘There’s some minutes to be had. Somebody’s got to step up and play,’ and I think Qua was that guy for us tonight.”

Romello Pegues had nine points. Sabine Wheeler had eight points. Jaleel White had seven points and seven rebounds. Ahmad Morris had six points and seven rebounds. J.J. Cowan had three points and six rebounds. Nate McKoy had three points. Will Watson and James Shaw had two points apiece.

“It’s fun when you can sub and don’t really lose anything,” Morrison said. “When you can put a guy in and don’t really drop off. And when you can put several guys in and don’t drop off, it’s kind of fun when you can do that.”

Senior Josiah Smith and junior Donovan Thomas had nine points apiece to lead the Eagles (1-12, 0-4).

Carlito Maldonado had six points. Gabe Casteel had three points. Jackson Lavengood had two points.

The game was tied 8-8 at the end of the first quarter before Triton went on a 29-2 run through the second quarter to lead 37-10 at halftime. Triton continued to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring Western, 20-8. Both teams had 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Each team will take the week off while Harnett County Schools have final exams for the fall semester. Triton returns to action at home against conference and county rival Overhills and Western Harnett is at home against conference opponent Westover on Friday night.