Poor shooting from the floor doomed Happy Valley on Thursday night at Bayless gymnasium as visiting Hampton took home a 53-38 non conference victory. The Warriors (4-1 overall) failed to score in double figures in any quarter until the fourth period, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Bulldogs.

“It seemed like there was a lid on the basket the whole game,” said Warriors head coach Chuck Babb. “This was one of those night’s we couldn’t throw it in the ocean. We didn’t make our free throws and we usually are about 75 percent. It’s as poorly as I have seen a team shoot it.”

Junior guard Charlie Butler had the hot hand early for Hampton (4-3 overall)with three triples and 11 first half points as the Bulldogs took a 23-12 halftime lead.

“Charlie made some big shots for us there in the first half, with some three’s,” Bulldogs head coach Ned Smith said. “But I thought our defense and rebounding were the big things for us. The kids stepped up and we got in our press and made transition baskets. It’s the first game back for the football players and it seems like we usually hit our groove after Christmas.”

Post Nathan Norris took over for the ‘Dogs in the third period, scoring eight of his 10 points in the stanza including a three-ball from the corner as Hampton built a 36-21 lead going into the final quarter.

The two teams played even in the fourth period at 17-17, but HV needed a bit more to overcome the deficit and it just wasn’t there. Junior post Austin Hicks led the Warriors with seven points, with senior guard Josh Hammonds adding six.

Butler led all scorers with 14 points with Wyatt Lyons and Norris each contributing 10 to the Bulldogs scoring ledger.

GIRLS

Hampton 53, Happy Valley 50

A defensive struggle saw Happy Valley take a 16-10 first quarter lead only to go cold from the floor in the second period as Hampton knotted the game at 19-19 by the break. The Lady Bulldogs forced the Lady Warriors into eight first half turnovers and HV shot just two for eight from distance.

Sophomore guard Shyanne Tuelle scored eight first half points for Hampton which was matched by HV senior post Kalee Johnson. Emily Whitaker had a pair of three-balls in the first half for her six points in the half.

“We played smarter than what we have been,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Bud Hazelwood. “we are taking baby steps, but it’s better than no steps at all. I was proud of them tonight and tickled to get a win. It’s a good win and we needed it.”

Hampton (4-3 overall) opened the third period with a 13-5 run with Hope Bridgeman knocking down a trey and Megan Garland hitting a pair of deuces in the paint. The run gave Hampton a 32-24 advantage with 3:41 remaining in the stanza.

HV (4-3 overall) closed the gap to 35-30 at the end of the third period as Johnson tallied eight in the quarter for the Warriors. Johnson opened the final period with a pair of free throws but Hampton got buckets from Stephanie Carriger and Alexus Grubbs to take a 39-32 lead at the 5:32 mark of regulation.

Back to back buckets from Johnson allowed HV to close the gap to 39-36 with 4:15 remaining and gave her a game high 22 points at that juncture. Johnson finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, both game highs.

Johnson hit two free throws to tie the game at 41-41 but the ‘Dogs found Garland open in the paint on three straight possessions and she connected on each of them.

“That was big,” Hazelwood said. “Three straight times down the floor it was big. Happy Valley was aggressive but we threw over them and diagonally. KJ is just so hard to guard and we did a good job on her.”

A pair of free throws from Baylee McGee for HV left Hampton with a 47-43 lead with just over one minute left.

For Hampton, Tuelle led the way with 14 points, followed by Grubbs with 13 and Garland with 11.

GIRLS

Hampton 53-30

Hampton (53)

Tuelle 14, Bridgeman 6, Grubbs 13, Hill 5, Martin 2, Carriger 2, Garland 11.

Happy Valley (50)

McGee 5, Roberts 5, Whitaker 8, Johnson 24, Bare 8.

Hampton 10 9 16 18 – 53

Happy Valley 16 3 11 20 – 50

3-point goals: H 2-7 (Bridgeman 2-4, Hill 0-3), HV 3-16 (Roberts 1-4, Davis 0-2, McGee 0-3, Puckett 0-1, Whitaker 2-6)

BOYS

Hampton 53-38

Hampton (53)

Holtsclaw 3, McClain 4, Norris 10, Andrews 2, Lyons 10, Butler 14, Valazquez 3, Crumley 7.

Happy Valley (38)

Hammonds 6, Young 5, Kyte 3, Hicks 7, Barlow 5, Camargo 5, Blevins 5, Sams 2.

Hampton 11 12 13 17 – 53

Happy Valley 6 6 9 17 – 38

3-point goals: H 6-13 (Butler 4-4, Andrews 0-1, Holtsclaw 1-4, McClain 0-2, Norris 1-2), HV 1- 12 (Camargo 1-3, Young 0-3, Hammonds 0-2, Kyte 0-3, Torbett 0-1)