Nicholas Avery (53) puts up a shot for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Harnett Central split middle school basketball games with visiting Western Harnett Monday, with Western winning the girls game and Central winning the boys contest.
Western Harnett edged Harnett Central 24-23 in the girls game on a layup from Trinity Gaither with eight seconds left.
Shay McCants had 10 points, Gaither had eight points, Maddie Burns had four points and Kammie Buchanon had two points for the Cardinals.
Victoria Langdon had eight points, Jana Booker had six points, Avery Fortune had four points, Sondra Berry had three points and Tanira Edwards had two points for the Raiders.
Late in the fourth, Central took a 23-22 lead on a free throw from Langdon, but with eight seconds left, Gaither scored to put Western in front.
Central had a chance to tie or take the lead at the free throw line with one second left, but missed the front end of a one-and-one and Western got the rebound to secure the win.
A strong fourth quarter allowed Central to pull away for a 41-23 win over Western in the boys game.
Jonathon Patterson and Camuari McDonald had nine points apiece to lead the Raiders.
Nicholas Avery had seven points, Camryn Jones had six points, Isaiah Pearson and Bryson Monroe had three points apiece and Luke Frailey and Kevin Guerrero had two points apiece.
Devonte Shelvin paced the Cardinals with 10 points, Ian Bristow had eight points, William Feaster had three points and Logan Kelly had two points.
Central outscored Western 10-7 in the first quarter, 10-8 in the third and 13-0 in the fourth. Both teams scored eight points in the second.
Western Harnett travels to Dunn on Wednesday to make up a game postponed from Dec. 10 because of winter weather and is at home against Highland on Thursday. Harnett Central is at Dunn on Thursday.
Tanira Edwards (30) scores for the Harnett Central girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Marya Prince of Harnett Central blocks a shot on Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Shay McCants (1) scores for the visiting Western girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Gracie Hicks (14) controls a rebound for the WH girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Trinity Gaither scores the game winner for the Western girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Camauri McDonald (11) gets a basket for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Devonte Shelvin shoots a 3-pointer for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jonathon Patterson of Harnett Central gets up to block a shot.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Ian Bristow (3) shoots for visiting Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
