Ezekiel Balogun, far right, was named Hamilton Heights' MVP in the Hawks' 77-54 win over New Hope in the Huntington Prep Classic on Friday.
photo by From Hamilton Heights
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Hamilton Heights’ strong second half was too much for New Hope in the prestigious Huntington Prep Invitational on Friday.
The Hawks (23-2) got another triple-double by talented junior post Abdulhakim Ado and placed three other players in double figures in a 77-54 victory over New Hope. Hamilton Heights scored 44 second-half points to turn the game into an impressive rout.
New Hope, which played in the 2014 Scenic City Showcase at Chattanooga’s East Hamilton High School, led the Hawks by 35-33 at halftime, but managed just 19 points after the break.
Hamilton Heights will play Reach Your Dream out of Memphis, Tenn., Saturday.
RYD is led by Kentucky signee Skal Labissiere, the nation's No. 3-ranked prospect by Scout.com.
Ado scored 16 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked 10 shots. He also turned in a triple-double in an 87-62 victory over American Basketball Institute on Jan. 24.
Ezekiel Balogun had a game-high 19 points and added 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists. Balogun was named the Hawks’ MVP for the game.
Strahinja Micakovic had 18 points and five assists and Milos Andelic finished with 12 points. Andelic, a defensive demon, also had four steals and three assists.
Summary
New Hope 19 16 9 10 – 54
Hamilton Heights 14 19 17 27 – 77
New Hope (54) – Gathings 4, Pittman, Zibertas 1, Jermaine Marrow 11, Davis 8, McCurley 9, Gierdraitis 6, Warren, Bollo Gnahore 15.
Hamilton Heights (77) – Duran 8, Abdulhakim Ado 16, Chantha, Strahinja Micakovic 18, Ezekiel Balogun 19, McCartney, Milos Andelic 12, Adheke 3, Massengill, Abubakar.
Three-Point Goals – New Hope 2 (Davis 1, McCurley 1), Hamilton Heights 4 (Micakovic 2, Andelic 2).
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)