The Hampton Bulldogs have fashioned a solid record in the early half of the current basketball season and were looking to get 2019 off on the right foot to maintain a share of the Watauga Valley Conference lead with University High as they traveled to Kingsport to take on Sullivan North.

Hampton did what they needed to do as they took a bite out of the Golden Raiders with a 59-46 victory.

The game didn’t start the way the Bulldogs hoped it would as North jumped out front behind Isaiah Pruitt scored five points and Tyler Depriest four points to give the Golden Raiders a 15-9 lead.

Jordan Bentley’s seven points kept the Bulldogs within a chain length of the Raiders.

The ‘Dogs got after the Raiders in the second quarter turning the six-point deficit into a 26-23 lead at the break led by Matt Hughes who dropped in four points and three points each from Bentley and Morgan Lyons.

Hampton kept the pressure on coming out of the locker room and outscoring the Raiders 20-10 to stretch the lead to 46-33.

Five Bulldogs scored four points each to help Hampton build their advantage in the quarter as Connor Jones, Hughes, Lyons, Bentley, and Rocky Croy had a hand in the surge.

It was a tight-knuckled affair in the final eight minutes as both teams battled to a 13-13 draw in the fourth quarter.

Bentley and Lyons led the ‘Dogs (2-0, 11-6) in scoring with 14 and 11 points respectively. Hampton had plenty of scoring help as Hughes finished with 9 points and Croy added 7 points.

Garrett Vines (6), Conor Jones (4), Caleb Oaks (4), Izaak Hill (2), and Jonah Jones (2) closed out the scoring in the Bulldog victory.

Pruitt finished with 14 points to lead the Raiders (0-2, 3-11) while Dale Potter added 10.

Hampton will host Happy Valley Saturday for a non-conference tilt.

Girls

Hampton 44,

North 22

As 2019 begins, the Hampton Lady Bulldogs wanted to get things started off with a bang to first get out of the WVC cellar and then get the momentum needed to push toward a strong postseason.

The Lady Bulldogs checked off the first step as Coach Bud Hazelwood’s team traveled to Kingsport and dealt the Lady Raiders of Sullivan North a 45-22 defeat.

It wasn’t a blazing opening to the game as neither team could get a foothold offensively as the Lady ‘Dogs outscored North 9-8 in both the first and second quarter to take a 19-16 edge at intermission.

Stephanie Campbell and Hazen Brummit led the Lady Bulldogs (1-1, 5-12) in the half with four points apiece.

Hampton starting cooking offensively in the second half while completely shutting down the Lady Raiders (0-2, 4-5) to take control of the game.

Leanne Guinn scored eight of her team’s game-high 10 points in the second half to show the way for the Lady Bulldogs in the win.

Brooke Hughes had a big second half as well scoring six of her eight points in a contributing role in the victory.

Hannah Collins collected six points with Brummit (4), Nicole Guy (2), Sara Orr (2), and Haley Carden (1) closing out the scoring ledger for the Lady ‘Dogs.

Hampton will look to keep the strong 2019 start going as they play host to the Lady Warriors of Happy Valley on Saturday.

Junior Varsity

Hampton 54,

North 42

In junior varsity play, the Hampton JV took a 12-point win over North paced by Parker Hughes who blistered the net for 17 points for the ‘Dogs.

Morgan Lyons chipped in with 10 points in the win while Conor Jones and Dalton Holsclaw added 8 points and 6 points respectively.

Hampton also received contributing scoring from Nate Wilson (5), Joseph Jenkins (2), Michael Harrison (2), Logan Whitehead (2), and Conor Burleson (2).