RICHMOND COUNTY — This week marked the official start of the 2018-19 middle school basketball season, as several area boys and girls teams hit the hardwood for the first time this winter.
Lady Rockets blast past West Hoke
The Rockingham Middle School Lady Rockets opened their season with a convincing 44-11 victory over West Hoke Middle School on Wednesday. In front of their home crowd, Teresa Mason’s Lady Rockets used eight different scorers to pick up the win.
Keyoni Nichols led Rockingham in scoring with 10 points, while Jamyia Lindsey added nine points. Kyla Sampson netted eight points, Layla Morman had seven points and C’Niya Hinson scored four points. The final three scorers, all of whom scored two points, were Edriana Davis, C’Nedra Hinson and Joy Styles.
Rockingham (1-0) will head to Carver Middle School for its next game on Monday, Dec. 17. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Ellerbe splits games with Carver
The Ellerbe Middle School boys and girls basketball teams opened their respective seasons by welcoming in the Carver Eagles Wednesday. The afternoon fared well for the Lady Wildcats, as they defeated the Lady Eagles 21-9. In the boys game, however, the Wildcats fell by a final tally of 43-25.
Derek Anderson’s Lady Wildcats (1-0) saw a tandem of eighth graders score 14 of the team’s points. Curtia Crump led the way with eight points, while Nyla Stroman added six of her own. For Tommy Shelton’s Wildcats (0-1), eighth grader Emoni McBride netted 11 points, and Daquan Young had eight points.
Ellerbe will play its next game on the road at East Hoke Middle School on Monday, Dec. 17, with the girls starting at 4 p.m.
Hamlet boys drop opener in Parsons’ debut
The Hamlet Red Rams basketball team is under the direction of first-year head coach Keith Parsons, who has implemented the “Grinnell system,” which he helped run with the Richmond Senior High School basketball team a couple of years ago.
Unfortunately for Parsons and the Red Rams, they fell to East Hoke at home Thursday by a final score of 37-35. Two players led Hamlet in scoring, as Paul McNeil and Xavier Wall each had six points. JV Drake netted five points in the loss, while Jamarion Bryant, Dominic Joye and David McNair each scored four points.
Rounding out the scoring for Hamlet with three points apiece were Ethan Locklear and Zay Hubbard. Parsons noted the team forced 30 turnovers during the game.
Hamlet is back on the court Monday, Dec. 17, at home against Sandy Grove Middle School. Tip is set for 5 p.m.
Area middle school coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to email scores and game details to sports editor Kyle Pillar at kpillar@richmondobserver.com. Game information provided by Allen Adeimy, Teresa Mason and Keith Parsons.
