HAMLET — Returning to the win column Thursday was the Hamlet Middle School girls’ basketball team.
Two days after suffering just their second loss of the season at the hands of their rivals in Rockingham, the Lady Red Rams held on to defeat Anson Middle School in a low-scoring game, 26-19.
Hamlet guard Orena Drake would help the Lady Raiders earn their fifth win of the season by scoring a game-high nine points. Her best scoring quarter was the second, where she hit a bucket and three free throws for five points.
Aiding Drake’s scoring was eighth grader Ryelan Lyerly, who contributed eight points in the victory. She hit a trio of free throws in the opening quarter before lighting up the board with five points in the third quarter.
Both teams were slow to start, but Hamlet jumped out to a 6-2 lead at the end of the first. On top of Lyerly’s three points, teammate Saquanna Bostic added a bucket and Jamia Crowder also hit a free throw.
Hamlet’s highest scoring quarters were the second and third, as the Lady Red Rams added eight points in each. Before the break, Drakes five points in the second were added to by a Bostic field goal and an Elise Dimery shot from the charity stripe.
After holding the Lady Bearcats to just four points in the second stanza, Hamlet took a 14-6 lead into the locker room.
Helping extend the home team’s lead in the third was Lyerly and her five points. Drake, who scored two points each in the third and fourth frames, added a field goal. Crowder finished her scoring with another free throw.
Anson tried to claw its way back into the game in the final period, outscoring Hamlet 7-4. Bostic and Drake accounted for the Lady Red Rams’ points, and five points from Anson’s L. Massey pulled the visitors within a handful of points.
Luckily, Hamlet’s defense helped shut down Anson’s offense to preserve the win.
Now 5-2 on the year, the Lady Red Rams will look to earn another win when they travel to in-county opponent Cordova Middle School on Monday. The opening tip is set for 4 p.m.
