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 Northampton-West senior Antonio Manley (middle) is surrounded by Northwest Halifax guard Stafford Boyd (left) and Brian McGee (right) during the Hurricanes season opening loss to the Vikings in Gaston. Randy Wrenn | Daily Herald |
The final margin of victory was the largest deficit of the game as the lead changed hands several times throughout the contest and neither team was able to go ahead by more than six for the first three quarters. The teams were tied at nine after the first quarter, the ’Canes led by three (25-22) at the break and the game was tied at 36 headed into the fourth quarter. Northampton-West forward Marvin Rawles started the fourth with an old-fashion three point play to start the fourth, but back to back baskets by Vikings’ guard Sidney Hillard and a bucket by Brian McGee pushed the Northwest lead to four (43-39).
That comfort zone didn’t last for long after NCHS-West guard Lonnie Moody nailed a three to pull the home team within three (45-42). However, the Vikings never trailed again, but the home team made it interesting.
Ramel Belfield knocked down a three from the top of the key to make it 53-50 with 50 seconds remaining. After Belfield’s bucket, Daquan Minggia was fouled at halfcourt at about the same time Northwest Halifax head coach Donald Gibbs was calling a time-out. The foul was called and Gibbs was awarded the time-out. The ’Canes’ coaches argued that the time-out was called before the foul and were called for a technical in the heated process of their debate with the officials. Minggia hit one from the foul line and Antonio Richardson knocked down the two technical free throws to make it 55-50. Richardson hit one more with under 10 seconds remaining for the final margin.
The down to the wire finish was expected of the heated rivals right from the start. NCHS-West jumped ahead 4-0, playing suffocating defense, but the Vikings fought back and tied the game at nine on a Stafford Boyd jumper to tie the game at nine. Belfield paced the ’Canes in the second quarter with 10 of his game-high 21 points, but NCHS-West only led by three at intermission. Minggia started the third with a tough three-point play, but Belfield answered by sandwiching two three’s around a three from Moody to put NCHS-West ahead 34-29. The Vikings ended the third quarter on a 7-2 run to set up the entertaining final frame.
McGee and Minggia led the Vikings with 15 points each. Richardson added nine. Moody added nine for the Hurricanes who were playing their first game of the season.
Northwest Halifax returns to action tonight when they travel to Northampton-East. Northampton-West will return to action this Friday when they host Roanoke Rapids.
Comments
Kiarra wrote on Dec 10, 2008 2:42 PM:
Much Love "