Anastasia McDonald had six steals for the Triton girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

The Triton varsity girls basketball team went back-and-forth with host Southern Lee before finishing with a 48-40 Tri-County Six 3-A Conference win in overtime on Friday night.

The Cavaliers led 9-5 after eight minutes but the visitors came back to go up 27-23 going into the fourth quarter.

Regulation play ended in a tie at 34.

“We took the lead in the third quarter with a couple of threes by Zoie (Starling),” noted Lady Hawks coach Wendy Simmons. “We missed six opportunities at the free throw line to seal the win.”

Starling led the Triton scoring with 12 points. Freshman Abby Hood had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Anastasia McDonald had 11 points, including five from the foul line in the extra period, and six steals.

Kaila Cooney had five points, nine rebounds and three assists in the win. Tristan Ennis totaled four points and 12 rebounds. Gracie Byrd had four points and Brittany Ireland added one point.

“We improved on things we have been working on in practice,” Simmons said. “It felt good to get our first conference win.”

The Triton girls improved to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The Hawk boys trailed 23-12 at the end of the first quarter and were behind 37-25 at the half.

Triton closed within 50-47 before falling, 57-51.

Travion Sanders and Josiah Lett had 15 points each for the Hawks. Jaden Geddie scored eight points.

Keionta Burnett tallied five points. Dalen Thompson scored four. Myshon Smith and Ladrabious Eason had two points apiece.

Lett had seven rebounds and three assists. Sanders had three assists and three steals. Burnett had three assists and Smith had three steals.

The Triton boys are 8-7 overall and 1-1 in the league.

“It was a rough start, giving up 23 in the first quarter but much better the rest of the way,” said Hawks boys coach T.J. Morrison. ” … Bottom line, you can’t get down like we did, … but we are making progress. … I’m proud of the effort.”

Triton was without Geddie in the second half due to a possible ankle sprain and Eason’s playing time was limited due to foul trouble.

The Hawks host Western Harnett on Tuesday night.

Anastasia McDonald made five free throws in overtime for the Triton girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Tristan Ennis (24) had 12 rebounds for the Lady Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Abby Hood (10) had a double-double in the first league win.

Travion Sanders goes to the basket for Triton on Friday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Josiah Lett (5) continued to be a force for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)