Derreon Burnett (1) scores for the Hawks on Tuesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton and Western Harnett opened their respective varsity boys basketball seasons Tuesday at Harnett Central with a double-overtime thriller that saw the Hawks edge the Eagles with a 62-58 win to advance to the Harnett County Tipoff Tournament championship for the first time since the 2015 event.
Triton’s last trip to Central also went double overtime on Feb. 7 as the Hawks topped the Trojans, 67-65, in a regular season Tri-County Six 3-A Conference contest.
“I thought we played well defensively for three quarters,” said Triton coach T.J. Morrison of the most recent 40-minute matchup. “And then in the fourth quarter, they scored on ball screens, they scored when they wanted to, they were manhandling us. They played really well and did a good job. They knew their strengths and played to them and listened to their coach and executed. We fought hard. I’m proud of them. If that would have been a win or loss, I would have loved that that the kids fought and persevered. It’s real early in the season and we’ve got a lot to work on, but it feels good going into a little break with a win.”
Western Harnett coach Seth Womble was pleased with the effort his team opened the season with.
“What a heck of a first game,” Womble said. “Hat’s off to Triton. I thought we executed pretty well for a first game. Little plays here and there.”
A trio of seniors led the way for the Hawks (1-0). Derreon Burnett had 17 points and eight rebounds, Kalil Hodges had 15 points, five assists and five steals and Emari White had 15 points and nine rebounds. Travion Sanders had five points and five rebounds. Josiah Lett and Dalen Thompson had four points apiece. Shaiheim Strickland had two points.
Senior Tre’ Richardson had 21 points and senior Anthony Brewington had 17 points to pace the Eagles (0-1).
Wesley Lassiter had six points. Tobias Dillard and Caleb Smith had four points apiece. Deamonte Rankin and Tyrese Jones had three points apiece.
“We’ve got a deep bench,” Womble said. “We’ve got 14 on the team, so you’ve got a lot of guys sitting. I thought the bench was the cheerleaders. A couple of guys got in and responded very well. We’ve got three returning starters, so it’s a brand-new team and that’s a challenge for us right now. But if we come together as a family, we’ll be better.”
Late in the back-and-forth battle, Hodges hit a pair of free throws with the end of regulation looming to tie the game at 43. Richardson got a shot from half court off in time, but it was off the mark and the game went into overtime.
After the game remained a stalemate through one overtime, a pair of Richardson free throws gave Western the lead early in the second overtime. But Triton answered with a 6-0 run to take a 58-54 lead.
Triton held a 60-55 lead when Lassiter hit a three to cut the lead to two with 11.4 seconds remaining. But a pair of free throws from Lett secured the win for the Hawks.
“I’m tired,” Morrison said. “I know the kids are tired, too. But it was fun.”
Western Harnett will face Harnett Central in the boys consolation game at 5:30 p.m. Monday. After the girls championship game between Western Harnett and defending champion Overhills, Triton will meet five-time defending champion Overhills in the boys championship at 8 p.m. All three games Monday will be hosted by Campbell in Gore Arena of the Pope Convocation Center.
Kalil Hodges scores in Tuesday’s double-OT win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Emari White of Triton goes up for a three in overtime.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Anthony Brewington gets a hoop for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Western’s Wesley Lassiter drops a three in overtime.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
