DANVILLE – Even though it is still early, there is something different about the Good Hope Raiders this season. They are more confident and calmer than in years past. They are a more disciplined team. Even though they were in a very tight game against the Danville Hawks tonight, they continued to fight and a Kallen Sharpton 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the game proved to be the game-winning shot as they went on to win, 48-45.
It was a tight game and it went back and forth a few times. The Hawks led 15-13 after the first quarter. Danville increased their lead to 22-15 in the second quarter before the Raiders finished the quarter strong behind two 3s by Isaac McDonald and a layup by Sharpton to cut the lead to 26-23 at halftime.
Good Hope continued their run from the second quarter into the third, starting the quarter on a 9-0 run to grab a 32-26 lead and on one of those baskets, off a missed 3-pointer, Blake Lyle saved the ball before it went out of bounds and it found the hands of Sharpton, who was able to put it in. It was definitely one of the best plays of the night and it changed the outcome of the game. Danville hit three 3s to finish off the quarter as they turned a six-point Raider lead into a 35-all tie after the third.
Each team took turns scoring to start off the fourth. The lead switched hands a few times and the game got really tense on both sides as each team looked to find a way to win. Isaiah Moore for Danville split two free throws to tie the game at 45. The defense stepped up on both sides on the next few possessions. Lucas Sparks had a chance to give his team the lead, but he missed both free throws. Good Hope was looking to run the clock with less than a minute remaining, and Sharpton found room to hit a huge 3-point shot with 22 seconds left. The Raiders stopped Drew Fitzgerald on the Hawks’ final possession as his shot was off, and the Raider faithful were smiling, but breathing a huge sigh of relief.
Sharpton and Matt Cofer each finished with 14 points. McDonald had 13 and Lyle finished with seven. Good Hope improves to 3-0 on the season and will travel to Meek next Monday.
Fitzgerald finished with 16 to lead the Hawks. Moore had 12. Brandon McCormick finished with five. Preston Shelton finished with four, as did Garrett Robinson. Sparks had three, and Carson Owens finished with one.
Danville 55, Good Hope 18 (Girls)
Danville was in complete control of the game, dominating on both sides of the ball in their win over the Lady Raiders, spoiling the debut of head coach Amanda Swann. The Lady Hawks put up 31 first-quarter points and were on cruise control the whole game, forcing Good Hope turnovers and converting most of them into easy points or 3-pointers.
The top two scorers for the Lady Hawks were Jolee Cole with 20 points and Jordan Hinkle, who finished with 14.
Savanna Derrick led the Lady Raiders with five points. Sadie Abbott finished with four. Kelly Pickett had three. Kyler Hembree and Amber Sterling each finished with two. Leyton Seal and Erika Woodall each had one. They look to get their first win under Swann as they travel to Meek next Monday.
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