Haley Tew (1) brings the ball up the court for Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton’s girls basketball team surged in the third quarter and held off a fourth quarter rally to beat Western Harnett 48-40 in the girls consolation game of the Harnett County Tipoff Tournament at Harnett Central on Tuesday.
“The first half we were kind of cold,” said Triton coach Wendy Simmons. “Even though we were running our offense and pushing the ball and moving the ball like we asked them to, we just weren’t hitting anything. One goal was to have a better third quarter tonight than we had last night and we definitely came out and did that and that made the difference.”
Western Harnett coach Matthew Smith was pleased with the improvement his young team showed from the previous night.
“We worked hard,” Smith said. “We’re really trying to focus on getting the ball down into the post. We’re getting a few more girls saying, ‘Hey, I can actually shoot the ball,’ and they’re getting a little more comfortable. Triton’s a good team. I think we dug ourselves too far into a hole to get back. But that being said, we were really trying to go up instead of down.”
A pair of juniors led the Hawks (1-1), as Kaila Cooney had 13 points, all in the second half, and Haley Tew had 10 points.
“I felt like in the second half (Cooney) was shooting with more confidence than she was in the first,” Simmons said. “I was really pleased with how (Tew) played. At the beginning, she was a little nervous, I think, coming from a different school and environment, but she has really turned the corner. She’s got a good shot and she wants to do well and she plays hard when she’s out there.”
Anastasia McDonald and Zoie Starling had nine points apiece. Gracie Byrd had three points. Abby Hood and Brittany Ireland had two points apiece.
Triton was without sophomore Tristan Ennis because of an ankle injury suffered against Overhills on Monday.
“We talked to Gracie Byrd on the way here and told her she was probably going to have to play some four and five tonight, because with Tristan out for at least 10 days, she’s going to have to step it up,” Simmons said. “And she did everything we asked her to do. She got the ball down low. She didn’t turn away like she was scared to put it up. And she drew a couple of fouls. I was pleased with what she was able to do for us when she was out there.”
Junior Makyia Mackey had 15 points to lead the Eagles (0-2).
Emonni Barber had seven points. Ashanta Williams had five points. Tenaejah McDougald had four points. Sydney Jackson had three points. Makayla Bailey, Jaiden Stratton and Lanessa Bryson had two points apiece.
At the end of a mostly defensive first half, Triton held a 10-8 lead. But the Hawks came out hot to start the second half, opening the third quarter on a 17-5 run to lead by 14.
With Triton leading 42-27 late in the fourth quarter, a Jackson three sparked a 13-4 run to cut Triton’s lead to just six. But Triton’s defense was able to cut off the rally and hold on for the win.
Western Harnett is at home against Northwood on Monday and Triton travels to Westover on Tuesday.
Morgan McInnis (42) blocks a shot for the Western girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Makyia Mackey scores for Western Harnett on Tuesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Kaila Cooney puts up a 3-pointer for the Lady Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Sydney Jackson shoots from beyond the arc for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Brittany Ireland (21) blocks a shot in Triton’s 48-40 win.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
