The Bulldogs jumped out to a double-digit lead and never looked back as they took a 62-51 victory over Sullivan South on the first day of the Hardee’s Classic at David Crockett on Monday night.
Hampton raced out to a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and then maintained that lead for the length of the second quarter to take a 31-18 lead at the half. In the second half the Bulldogs flirted with a 20-point lead before the Rebels cut the game to 44-28 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Sullivan South battled back in the final stanza as they trimmed the lead to nine points with under two minutes to play. However, Stanley Valentine took full advantage of a and-one to push the lead back to double-digits that allowed the Bulldogs to preserve the win.
Valentine led the way with 21 points, 10 of which came in the first half, while Chris Holtsclaw added 12 points. Cheyenne Camillo hit four 3’s in the game to also record 12 points.
Josh Booker and Garrett Bowery recorded 16 and 13 points to pace the Rebels.
Hampton moves on in the winner’s bracket. That game will be at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night.
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