LUMBER BRIDGE, N.C. — The Rockingham Middle School boys’ basketball team’s perfect record was put to the test on the road during Monday’s game.
Traveling to Sandy Grove Middle School, the Rockets edged the Panthers 40-34. It was their closest margin of victory over their last several games.
Earlier in the season, currently undefeated Hamlet Middle School went to overtime against Sandy Grove before earning the win.
Only three players found the basket for the Rockets, who extended their winning streak to seven games to start the season. Jayden Hamilton was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points, netting 10 in the first half and 13 points in the final two periods.
Chance Crowder added 9 points, including two three-pointers. The other scorer for Rockingham was Domonic Tillman, who scored 8 points, spread across the second and third quarters.
The Rockets opened the game with a 9-7 lead after the first quarter. Hamilton scored four free throws and added a field goal for six points. Crowder added a triple to keep Rockingham ahead.
A 10-5 stretch in the second quarter gave the Rockets a 19-12 lead at halftime. Hamilton knocked down a pair of field goals for four more points and Tillman joined the scoring with four points on two buckets.
Crowder chipped in two more points before the break for his five first-half points.
The Panthers outscored Rockingham 15-12 in the third quarter to make it a two-possession lead for the Rockets. Two field goals and a triple from Hamilton, along with Tillman’s final four points kept the Rockets ahead. Crowder also scored a free throw.
With the game close, Rockingham managed to close the fourth quarter by outscoring the Panthers 9-7. Crowder and Hamilton each netted a three-pointer, and Hamilton added three clutch insurance free throws to secure the win.
Rockingham (7-0) will travel to Spring Hill Middle School on Thursday for another conference game, which leads into a road game at rival Hamlet on Feb. 7.
Note: Head coach Julius Bowden contributed to this article. No other scores were reported at the time of publication. To submit scores, email kpillar@richmondobserver.com.
