DAYTON, Tenn. – Hamilton Heights’ Lady Hawks won two games Thursday and advanced to the Division 2 championship game of the National Association of Christian Athletes basketball tournament at Fort Bluff Camp.
The Lady Hawks used a 34-5 run in the second and third quarters to blast Providence Christian, 48-22, from Johnson City, Tenn., in the day’s opener.
Ema Plentauskaite scored 11 points and Victoria Monyei added 10 for the Lady Hawks.
Hamilton Heights (18-13) went on a 33-9 run in the middle quarters on the strength of five 3-pointers to build a 41-19 third-period lead and cruise to a 68-25 victory over Maryland’s Riverdale Baptist.
Augusta Kievisaite scored a game-high 15 points and Kamile Kasciunaite contributed 14 for Hamilton Heights.
In boys play, Hamilton Heights trounced American Basketball Institute from Atlanta, 61-42, behind a team-high 17 points by Ezekiel Balogun and another double-double by sophomore center Abdulahakim Ado.
The Hawks (34-7) will play Faith Baptist from Ludowici, Ga., in the Division I consolation game.
ABI, coached by former University of Georgia and NBA player Literial Green, was led by Jared Davis’ 22 points, including six of the team’s seven 3s.
SUMMARIES
Girls
Hamilton Heights 10 17 17 4 – 48
Providence Christian 7 2 3 10 – 22
Hamilton Heights (48) – Paulauskaite 4, Balogun 2, Vukosaljevic 6, Zalkauskaite 4, Victoria Monyei 10, Kasciunaite 2, Izundu, Ema Plentauskaite 11, Kievisaite 1, Hunt 8.
Providence Christian (22) – McKennon Trujilla 3, Schoondyke 2, Williams, Rolier 8, S. Harrod 2, McKenzie Trujilla 3, Bryan, Hollowell 2, E. Harrod 2.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights none, Providence Christian 3 (Trujilla, Rollier, Trujilla)
Hamilton Heights 8 13 20 17 – 68
Riverdale Baptist 12 5 4 4 – 25
Hamilton Heights (68) – Paulauskaite 2, Balogun, Vukosaljevic 7, Zalkauskaite 6, Kamile Kasciunaite 14, Izundu, Plentauskaite 7, Augusta Kievisaite 15, Hunt.
Riverdale Baptist (25) – Chambers, Holmes 5, Betton 9, Marrell, McPherron 1, Augustine 1, Mitchell 3.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 6 (Kasciunaite 2, Kievisaite 2, Monyei, Plentauskaite), Riverdale Baptist 2 (Holmes, Betton).
Boys
Hamilton Heights 14 19 13 15 – 61
American Basketball Institute 10 8 15 9 – 42
Hamilton Heights (61) – Roknic 8, Duran 7, Vilius Nauseda 10, Aleksa Jugovic 13, Ezekiel Balogun 17, Olatunji 1, Ado 5.
American Basketball Institute (25) – Andrews 2, Waymans, Etianne 10, Perryman 2, Mike 1, Bigalow 2, Spence, Jared Davis 22, Chung 2, Berry.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 5 (Nauseda 2, Jugovic 2, Roknic), American Basketball Institute 7 (Davis 6, Etianne).
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com)