Winston Waite shoots a 3-pointer for Triton on Wednesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton’s varsity basketball teams won a nonconference sweep over visiting rival Midway on Wednesday night.
After a hot start by Triton, Midway battled back in the boys game, but the Hawks regrouped to win, 65-49.
“We were up 16-4 at the end of the first quarter, playing hard, playing well and playing a lot of people,” said Triton boys coach T.J. Morrison. “We came back in the second quarter and I’d thought we’d do more of the same and I guess we kind of relaxed and were complacent and we can’t have that. We gave up too many offensive rebounds and gave up too many drives. We work on keeping the ball out of the paint and boxing out. Not the way we want to play the rest of the way.”
Midway coach Matthew Creech said he believes his senior leaders were a key in battling back after the tough start.
“I think a lot of that has to do with senior leadership,” Creech said. “Last year if we’d get down like that in the first quarter, it was probably ball game. But we’ve got a lot of experienced talent on this team that brought us back. For 32 minutes, our effort was never in question. We’ve just got to execute a little better down the stretch.”
Senior Jalen Evans had 16 points and senior Will Heard had 12 points to pace the Hawks (3-1).
Winston Waite and Nate McKoy had seven points apiece. Romello Pegues and Ahmad Morris had six points apiece. Jaleel White had five points. Quashaun Williams and Elijah Stewart-Williams had three points apiece.
“I think we’ve got the potential to be pretty deep and have a lot of guys that can contribute,” Morrison said. “But like I tell the guys, ‘Potential just means you haven’t done it yet. Potential means you can get it done, but you haven’t done it yet.’ So, we’ve got to work hard. I’m glad we have a practice tomorrow before we play again Friday. That’s really what we need right now: practicing together as a unit, rather than playing.”
Seniors Casey Culbreth and Israel Cook had 11 points apiece and senior Trey Gregory had 10 points to lead the Raiders (1-1).
Jamir McCrae had seven points. Tripp Westbrook had four points. Jack Hazelbeck, Mbagnick Dione and Kemari McNeill had two points apiece.
Triton went on a 16-4 run through the first quarter to take the early lead, but Midway rallied with a 17-2 run to take a 21-18 lead. But Triton finished the second quarter on an 8-2 run to lead 26-23 at halftime.
Triton held on to the lead the rest of the way, outscoring Midway 21-16 in the third quarter and 18-10 in the fourth.
Triton won a 56-25 rout over Midway in the girls game.
“Just finding our rhythm defensively, that’s going to win us a conference championship and hopefully a state championship,” said Triton girls coach Richard Rozier. “The offense is going to come. We’re still trying some different lineups and different things. Throwing things at the wall and trying to make it stick. But we made it work on the defensive end the last couple of nights, so it’s been awesome.”
Sophomore JaNiah Smith and freshman Nashara Watlington-McNeil had 18 points apiece to lead the Hawks (3-1).
“We’ve got very prolific scoring guards and they’re going to get after it each and every night,” Rozier said. “We’re blessed with that, and they make my job a lot easier when they can put the ball in the basket.”
A’Shari Watlington had nine points. Navaeh Hawley had six points. Mahogany McKoy had four points. Zion Cameron had one point.
Freshman Lizzy Kirkland had six points and junior McKenzie Williams and freshman Peyton Herring had five points apiece to lead the Raiders (1-1).
Mallory Baggett had four points, Megan Jackson had three points and Jacie Byrd had two points.
Triton outscored Midway 14-6 in the first quarter, 11-7 in the second and 23-4 in the fourth. Both teams scored eight points in the third quarter.
Triton is at home against rival South Johnston and Midway hosts Sampson County rival Lakewood on Friday night.
Nate McKoy blocks a shot for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jamir McCrae scores for the visiting Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Trey Gregory drives to the basket for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Will Heard goes up from behind the arc for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
JaNiah Smith scores for the Lady Hawks on Wednesday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Navaeh Hawley gets a basket against Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Lizzy Kirkland goes up for a basket for the Midway girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
A’Shari Watlington scores in Triton’s 56-25 girls win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Megan Jackson of Midway hits a 3-pointer at Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
