Hampton was intent on protecting home court on Friday night.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 15-0 lead and then held on to take a 60-51 victory over rival Cloudland on Friday night at Hampton. Stanley Valentine recorded a game-high 27 points to pace Hampton to the win.
Coby Jones hit three 3-pointers in the first four minutes to help power the Bulldogs to a 15-0 lead. Jesse Potter and Preston Benfield drained 3-pointers to get Cloudland on the board, but Hampton took a 21-10 advantage into the second quarter.
Hampton opened the second stanza on a 8-2 run that was capped by Nathan Norris and Cheyenne Camillo 3-pointers. The ‘Landers, however, answered with a run of their own as they closed the half with four straight free throws from Chris Wagoner and a pair of free throws from Dalton Vines, but Hampton maintained a 33-20 lead at the half.
Cloudland continued to cut into the Hampton lead in the third period as Vines and Wagoner answered a Valentine bucket as the ‘Landers pulled within eight points. Jones and Camillo stopped the Cloudland run to push the lead back to double-digits and a 45-33 advantage entering the final period.
The fourth quarter saw Valentine take over as he scored 12 points in the period for Hampton. Cloudland cut the gap back to eight points in the fourth, but it was as close as the ‘Landers could get.
Valentine led the way for all scorers with 27 points, while Jones finished with 13 points. Camillo had eight points.
Cloudland was paced Vines and P. Benfield as they recorded 16 points apiece. Wagoner finished with seven points.
Postgame Audio
Hampton Head Coach Ned Smith
Cloudland Head Coach Gary Harrison
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