With both Hamlet and Rockingham’s boys’ basketball teams winning on Thursday, it sets up a meeting between unbeatens for the regular-season conference championship.
The Red Rams and Rockets are both 8-0 and will meet in Hamlet on Feb. 7 to decide this year’s edition of the rivalry and who will be crowned the champion of the SEMSAC.
Red Rams defeat Wildcats
Concluding their road game schedule, the Red Rams defeated in-county opponent Ellerbe Middle School 46-12.
The game’s leading scorer was Hamlet’s Amer Morrison, who netted 18 points and added six steals on defense. Teammate Zamarion Robinson also reached double figures with 12 points and tacked on four steals.
AJ James netted all six of his points on three-pointers, and Chamaure Shaw scored 4 points. Terande Spencer had just 2 points but led the team with 10 rebounds.
Rounding out Hamlet’s efforts were Adrion Pore and Dane Cipriani, who each had 2 points. Cipriani collected five steals and Dougie Dickerson added five rebounds.
For the Wildcats, Landon Legrand led with 4 points and Ethan Hogan chipped in 3 points. Adding two points apiece were Jake Richardson and Grayson Roscoe, and T.J. Rucker scored a free throw.
Hamlet led 4-1 after the opening quarter, but a 26-3 run in the second broke it open. Morrison had 15 points in the second for the Red Rams and Robinson added six of his eight first-half points.
The Red Rams outscored the Wildcats 16-8 in the second half. Legrand scored two points in each half for Ellerbe.
Rockets move past Spring HillÂ
Also on the road Thursday, the Rockets used a strong second quarter to defeat Spring Hill Middle School 58-42.
A total of 10 players found the basket for Rockingham, which also won its eighth straight game to start the season.
Chance Crowder (16 points) and Jayden Hamilton (15 points) led the way. Four Rockets — Domonic Tillman, Graham Odom, Andrea Streeter and Kamari Liles — all scored 4 points.
Bob Pegues scored three points and a trio of Rockets — Kerick Hairston, Bryan Hinson and Keimore Crump — netted two points each.
Rockingham led 12-4 after the first period, but used a 29-8 run in the second quarter to put the Rockets ahead by 29 points at the break.Â
The Rockets outplayed the Spartans 9-7 in the third, but Spring Hill made it a game late by going on a 23-8 stretch in the fourth.
With the championship game set, the Rockets (8-0) will travel to Hamlet (8-0) on Monday. Play will begin around 5 p.m. following the girls’ game.
