CORDOVA — Monday’s Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference game between the Hamlet and Cordova middle school boys’ basketball teams came down to the wire.
But it would be the host Cavaliers that squeaked out a win, defeating their in-county foe 53-51.
In a game featuring some of the best shooters in the county, Hamlet’s JV Drake led all scorers with a season-high 28 points, including four three-pointers, despite the loss. On the home side, Cordova’s Jamarion Wall lit up the board for a team-high 23 points.
“I’m proud of the team’s effort,” Cordova head coach Gerald Ratliff said. “They fought hard and never gave up.”
Assisting Wall’s scoring was teammate Jamison Jones, who notched 14 points. Chris Grey added 10 points in the win, including “three crucial free throws to seal the win.”
Also putting up points in the two-point win were Isaiah Lockhart (six points) and Karson Thomas (two points).
“Congrats to Cordova, they made all the plays when they needed to win the game,” Hamlet head coach Keith Parsons said. “Our group fought hard, just came up short. It was a great basketball game.”
Hamlet’s Zay Cephas rattled home three triples for his nine points in the game, while Tristan Wall and Jacoby Martin each added four points. Rounding out the Red Rams’ scoring with two points each were Zach Gardner, Toby McInnis and Jamerson Walton.
The visiting team took a 28-23 lead into halftime after Drake connected for 18 first-half points. He had six points in the first before breaking open with 12 more in the second.
Wall got his afternoon started with 10 points in the opening two periods, while Jones chipped in eight points before the break.
The difference maker was a low-scoring third quarter from Hamlet, which saw the Red Rams score just four points. Drake and Walton would scored one field goal each, while the Cavs put up 15 points to take a 38-32 lead.
Wall and Jones helped take the lead with four points in the third, Grey got on the board with a triple, and Lockhart and Thomas scored two.
Although Hamlet outscored Cordova 19-15 in the final stanza, Grey’s free throws were enough to keep the home team ahead. Parsons added that Hamlet forced 27 turnovers.
Drake scored his final seven points on a three-pointer and four free throws, while Grey added seven points and Wall tallied his final eight points.
The Cavs improved to 5-2 on the year and will prepare for East Hoke Middle School on Thursday. Hamlet (5-3) will welcome in Ellerbe Middle School (1-7) the same day, with both games set for a 5 p.m. start.
