(This story has been updated)
Hamilton Heights’ Hawks and Lady Hawks opened the 2017 National Association of Christian Athletes Division national basketball tournament Wednesday with victories.
The Hawks posted a 93-53 quarterfinal demolition of Dawson Christian at Fort Bluff on Dayton Mountain. The Lady Hawks defeated TPLS 55-46. On Thursday, the Lady Hawks knocked off West Oaks (Fla.) in pool play 78-58 behind freshman Treasure Hunt’s 22 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a Kentucky signee, sparked the Hawks with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting and added six steals and five assists.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and made 4-of-5 3-point attempts. Therren Shelton-Szmidt added 12 points and eight rebounds. Wheza Panzo grabbed eight rebounds.
Walker and Szmidt will play college ball at Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee State, respectively.
Tony Pulice led Dawson (25-5) with 17 points, Matt Chism scored 15 and Vusa Moya finished with 14.
The Hawks (27-6), who led Wednesday’s game 55-25 at halftime, will play the Tennessee Prep-Mountain (Va.) Mission winner on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m.
The Lady Hawks placed four players in double figures. Jazmine Massengill led the way with 13 points while Treasure Hunt, Amber Hunt and Elizabeth Balogun each added 12 points.
Massengill and Treasure Hunt each grabbed seven rebounds and Kamilla Cardosa blocked five shots.
In the girls’ Thursday game, Treasure Hunt had four 3-pointers included in her team-high 22 against West Oaks. Amber Hunt had 15, Massengill 15 and Cardosa added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Hawks (23-1).
Massengill and Treasure Hunt combined for eight of the team’s 10 3s.
Polina Nikulkina of West Oaks (8-9) led all scorers with 25 points.
LINESCORE
Boys
Hamilton Heights 22 33 17 21 – 93
Dawson Christian 12 13 13 15 – 53
Hamilton Heights (93) – Nickeil Alexander-Walker 23, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 35, Rawls 3, Massengill, Edwards 8, Samake 2, Therren Shelton-Szmidt 12, Diawara 4, Panzo 2, Jitoboh, Ezeagu 4.
Dawson Christian (53) – Tony Pulice 17, Kumaru, Heirs, Matt Chism 15, Burns 3, L. Chism 1, Setzekorn 3, Vusa Moya 14.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 7 (Walker 4, Alexander 1, Rawls 1, Szmiddt 1), Dawson Christian 8 (Moyo 4, Pulice 3, Burns 1).
Girls
Hamilton Heights 15 10 12 18 – 55
TPLS 9 17 12 8 – 46
Hamilton Heights (55) – Jazmine Massengill 13, Elizabeth Balogun 12, Treasure Hunt 12, Doumbia 6, Hickey-White, Amber Hunt 12, Cardosa.
TPLS (46) – S. Camp 4, Jannen Camp 8, Eads, Janae Camp 4, Jennifer Davis 17, Madison Lowery 13.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 6 (Massengill 2, T. Hunt 2, Balogun 1, A. Hunt 1), TPLS 8 (Davis 5, Lowery 3).
Hamilton Heights (78) – Jazmine Massengill 14, E. Balogun 4, Treasure Hunt 22, R. Balogun, Doumbia 8, Hickey-White 5, Amber Hunt 15, Jitoboh, Kamilla Cardosa 10.
West Oaks (58) – Polina Nikulkina 25, Anastasia Nikulkina 11, Anica Gavonic 10, Martin 4, Knezevic, Kabundi 8, Jai Epps, Jan. Epps.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 10 (Massengill 4, T. Hunt 4, Doumbia 1, Hickey-White 1), West Oaks 5 (P. Nikulkina 3, Gavoric 2).
Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)