Hamilton Heights’ boys’ and girls’ teams posted opening-round, late-night victories in the NACA Division I national tournament at Fort Bluff in Dayton, Tennessee, on Wednesday.
The Hawks (23-7) defeated Mountain Mission of Grundy, Virginia, 60-36, and the Lady Hawks blasted New Hope from Landover, Maryland, 69-34.
Coach Zach Ferrell’s Hawks built a 20-15 lead, but took command by outscoring the Crusaders, 22-11, in the third quarter.
In the quarter, Hamilton Heights, which was 0 for 6 from 3-point distance during one first-half stretch, found the range and also had strong inside play from Uros Plasvic, who converted a three-point play to stretch the lead to 16 points.
Guard Jordan Rawls led the Hawks with 16 points and Plasvic added 14.
The Hawks advanced to Thursday’s semifinals at 8 p.m.
Mountain Mission had had two players committed to major colleges – 6-foot-10, Flo Thamba to Baylor University and 6-7 Daniil Kasatkin to Penn State – but Ian Lee led its offense with 10 points. The Hawks’ inside strength held the Mission pair to a combined 12 points.
In the girls’ game, McDonald’s All-Americans Elizabeth Balogun and Jazmine Massengill combined for 18 points and the Lady Hawks went to halftime with a 38-22 advantage. Balogun, a Georgia Tech signee, scored all 10 of her points in the quarter and Massengill, who will play collegiately at Tennessee, added eight.
Sophomore Treasure Hunt paced the Lady Hawks (21-2) with 17 points and six assists while Massengill added 15 points, eight steals and five assists. Esmery Martinez finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds and sophomore Kamilla Cardosa had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Shelby Hicks led the Lady Tigers (11-12) with 12 points.
Boxscores
Boys Game
Mountain Mission 5 10 11 10 – 36
Hamilton Heights 9 11 22 18 – 60
Mountain Mission (36) – Thamba 9, Adebe 1, Saczewski 1, Ulcznski 2, Ian Lee 10, Kasatkin 3, Wilson, Mbiya 6, Abdrabou 4.
Hamilton Heights (60) – Ellis 3, Jordan Rawls 16, Panzo 8, Edwards 3, Gilgeous-Alexander 2, Ambrose 2, Ruzhentsev 4, LeQuenne 3, Jitoboh 5, Uros Plasvic 14.
3-Point Goals – Mountain Mission 2 (Lee 2), Hamilton Heights 4 (Panzo 2, Rawls 1, Edwards 1.
Girls Game
Hamilton Heights 17 21 13 18 – 69
New Hope 10 12 13 9 – 34
Hamilton Heights (69) – Jazmine Massengill 15, Elizabeth Balogun 10, R. Balogaun 2, Treasure Hunt 17, Rodrigues, Smith, P. Martinez, Kamilla Cardosa 11, Esmery Martinez 12, Jitoboh, Manzano 2.
New Hope (34) – Eubanks 9, Ballinger 1, Paul 4, Shelby Hicks 12, A. Porter, L. Porter, Norris 8.
3-Point Goals – Hamilton Heights 4 (Massengill 2, Hunt 2), New Hope 4 (Hicks 3, Eubanks 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)