Greensboro Day sweeps HPCA
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
High Point Christian tried to put a scare into Greensboro Day, hanging within two points into the third quarter. But it just couldn’t quite stay within reach down the stretch.
The Bengals closed the third on a 16-5 run to lead by double digitsheading to the fourth and staved off the Cougars’ late charges to beat HPCA 70-59 in NCISAA Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference boys basketball Tuesday on Senior Night at HPCA.
In the girls game, Greensboro Day, capitalizing on its advantages, scored the first seven points of the game to help lead by 15 points through one quarter, led by 24 just before halftime and cruised the rest of the way to beat the Cougars 48-27.
“They made a big run in the third and I thought we got a little bit tired,” HPCA boys coach Joseph Cooper said. “We knew they’d be coming in the third, and we missed some shots that we typically hit — which was hard.
“We’ve been hitting them all season, and for whatever reason they just didn’t fall tonight. And every time we’d cut it tofour, we’d give up and easy layup on the other end. So, we couldn’t quite get over that hump.”
Landon Sutton scored 16 points to lead the Cougars (17-8 overall, 6-2
PTAC), ranked No. 47 in the state overall by Max- Preps and No. 7 among NCISAA 3A teams. Zach Shumate added 14 points, followed by Brycen Thomas with 11 points and K.J. Garrett with nine points.
HPCA, which had an opportunity to pull even with the Bengals atop the PTAC standings, got within two twice during the first three minutes of the third after whittling an 11-point first-half deficit to 32-28 at halftime.
But Greensboro Day answered with scores on seven of its fi nal nine possessions of the quarter. That extended its lead back out to 13 heading into the last eight minutes. “That was hard,” said Cooper, whose team upset the Bengals last year at HPCA. “I think that speaks a lot to their depth, where they’re just changing in guys in and out and not losing anything when they’re going to their bench.”
The Cougars got within six twice in the fourth — with 3:11 left and again with 2:05 left. But the Bengals worked the clock during the final two minutes, then hit 5 of 6 free throws rebuild their double digit lead as HPCA,which still remains two games ahead of Calvary Day, came up empty on three straight possessions.
Carson McCorkle scored 16 points to lead Greensboro Day (24- 5, 8-0), ranked No. 13 in the state and No. 2 in the NCISAA 4A. Cam Hayes and Noah Dunn each followed with 12 points.
“They’re going to be a tough out in the 4A state playoffs, and I thinkwe’re going to be a tough out in the 3A state playoffs,” Cooper said. “I think it gave us a lot to build on, against the No. 2 team in4A and giving them all they could handle.
“So, there are a lot of takeaways as we’re looking to build and make that run at the end of the season. And I think we’re at the point in the season where we’re looking to get some rest coming up, get some guys some recovery and hopefully get them fresh for the state playoffs.”
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
High Point Christian tried to put a scare into Greensboro Day, hanging within two points into the third quarter. But it just couldn’t quite stay within reach down the stretch.
The Bengals closed the third on a 16-5 run to lead by double digitsheading to the fourth and staved off the Cougars’ late charges to beat HPCA 70-59 in NCISAA Piedmont Triad Athletic 2A/3A/4A Conference boys basketball Tuesday on Senior Night at HPCA.
In the girls game, Greensboro Day, capitalizing on its advantages, scored the first seven points of the game to help lead by 15 points through one quarter, led by 24 just before halftime and cruised the rest of the way to beat the Cougars 48-27.
“They made a big run in the third and I thought we got a little bit tired,” HPCA boys coach Joseph Cooper said. “We knew they’d be coming in the third, and we missed some shots that we typically hit — which was hard.
“We’ve been hitting them all season, and for whatever reason they just didn’t fall tonight. And every time we’d cut it tofour, we’d give up and easy layup on the other end. So, we couldn’t quite get over that hump.”
Landon Sutton scored 16 points to lead the Cougars (17-8 overall, 6-2
PTAC), ranked No. 47 in the state overall by Max- Preps and No. 7 among NCISAA 3A teams. Zach Shumate added 14 points, followed by Brycen Thomas with 11 points and K.J. Garrett with nine points.
HPCA, which had an opportunity to pull even with the Bengals atop the PTAC standings, got within two twice during the first three minutes of the third after whittling an 11-point first-half deficit to 32-28 at halftime.
But Greensboro Day answered with scores on seven of its fi nal nine possessions of the quarter. That extended its lead back out to 13 heading into the last eight minutes. “That was hard,” said Cooper, whose team upset the Bengals last year at HPCA. “I think that speaks a lot to their depth, where they’re just changing in guys in and out and not losing anything when they’re going to their bench.”
The Cougars got within six twice in the fourth — with 3:11 left and again with 2:05 left. But the Bengals worked the clock during the final two minutes, then hit 5 of 6 free throws rebuild their double digit lead as HPCA,which still remains two games ahead of Calvary Day, came up empty on three straight possessions.
Carson McCorkle scored 16 points to lead Greensboro Day (24- 5, 8-0), ranked No. 13 in the state and No. 2 in the NCISAA 4A. Cam Hayes and Noah Dunn each followed with 12 points.
“They’re going to be a tough out in the 4A state playoffs, and I thinkwe’re going to be a tough out in the 3A state playoffs,” Cooper said. “I think it gave us a lot to build on, against the No. 2 team in4A and giving them all they could handle.
“So, there are a lot of takeaways as we’re looking to build and make that run at the end of the season. And I think we’re at the point in the season where we’re looking to get some rest coming up, get some guys some recovery and hopefully get them fresh for the state playoffs.”
