Hamilton Heights basketball standout Abdulhakim Ado scored 16 points, grabbed 26 rebounds and blocked 13 shots in the Hawks' 87-50 win over Central Park on Tuesday night.
Hamilton Heights made or attempted seven dunks in the first two minutes of its game against Central Park of Birmingham, Ala., on Friday night, indicating a lot of the contest would be played above the rim.
That’s exactly where 6-foot-11-inch post Abdulhakim Ado enjoys playing.
Ado, one of the most touted players in the country, was brilliant in recording the first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 26 rebounds and 13 blocked shots.
Ado had three dunks in the third quarter and Ezekiel Balogun added two.
Ado’s strongest overall game of the season was enough to propel the Hawks (4-1) to an impressive 87-50 win over the visiting Eagles.
Hamilton Heights’ Ezekiel Balogun led the Hawks with 20 points and Monaire McCartney added 14.
The Hawks raced to a 25-13 first-quarter lead and had a 39-29 advantage at halftime. They outscored the Eagles 48-21 in a dominating second half.
In the earlier girls game, Hamilton Heights got a team-high 15 points from Amber Hunt in a lopsided 63-22 victory.
Victoria Monyei and Kamilie Kasaciunaite each scored 12 points and Jazmine Massengill added 10 for the Lady Hawks (3-1). Juliet Esadah grabbed 10 rebounds.
Scoring Summaries
Girls Game
Central Park 5 12 3 2 – 22
Hamilton Heights 17 12 16 17 – 63
Central Park (22) – J. Long 6, A. Williams 2, A. Long 7, Body, Cunningham 2, G. Williams, Henderson 3.
Hamilton Heights (63) – Jazmine Massengill 10, D. Balogun 2, Todorova 2, Esadah 8, Victoria Monyei 12, Kamilie Kasaciunaite 12, Plentauskaite 2, Amber Hunt 15.
3-Point Goals – Central Park none; Hamilton Heights 2 (Massengill, Hunt).
Boys Game
Central Park 13 16 13 8 – 50
Hamilton Heights 25 14 25 23 – 87
Central Park (50) – Davis 2, P.J. Grooms 17, MaKutor 4, C.J. Jones 14, Hinton, Wright 2, Baudie 3, Elsheika 3, Alberhareri 5.
Hamilton Heights (87) – Pitts, Duran 7, Banys, Abdulhakim Ado 16, Chantha, Ezekiel Balogun 20, Micakovic 9, Monaire McCartney 14, Andelic 2, Adheke 9, Massengill 3, Abubakar 5, Laing 2.
3-Point Goals – Central Park 3 (Grooms 2, Alberhareri); Hamilton Heights 6 (Micakovic 3, McCartney 2, Adheke).
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryflemng44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)