BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN

CORRESPONDENT

Tool Time was a popular television show, but on Thursday night at Van Huss / White gym it was Tuelle time. Frehsman guard Shyanne Tuelle – along with sophomore Alexus Grubbs – scored nine points in the first quarter to help ignite the Hampton offense in the first half against Chuckey-Doak.

The Lady Bulldogs (5-4 overall) went on to score a 56-48 non conference victory over the Lady Black Knights with Grubbs leading the way with 21 points.

“It felt good to beat them,” Grubbs said when reminded C-D had beaten the ‘Dogs earlier in the season. “We were ready. We were shooting good and you have to take control. When we get it going everyone else follows.”

The Lady Knights (6-3 overall) opened strong, but Tuelle knocked down an early three-ball to jump start the ‘Dogs who missed their first four shots from the floor. After Tuelle’s early long range shot, Grubbs and fellow sophomore Tatum Street each connected in the first half as Hampton built a 31-26 halftime lead.

C-D cut the lead to 31-30 on buckets from Taylor Southerland and a pair of deuces from Katie Lawson, the last of which gave the Knights a 32-31 lead at the 4:20 mark of the third period.

Hampton went cold in the stanza with C-D outscoring the ‘Dogs 10-0 until Grubbs hit a pair of free throws to cut the margin to 36-33.

“They went to a zone on us and we went on a 10-0 run on us,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Bud Hazelwood. “We tried to force it inside and didn’t do a good job of it. That first game they beat us 55-34 and played a lot of subs in that one. They hit us in the mouth in that one and we didn’t respond.”

Tuelle knocked down another triple to tie the score at 36-36 with a minute left. The ‘Dogs took a 38-36 lead into the fourth quarter on Grubbs free throws to end the third period.

Tuelle dropped in another three to give Hampton a 45-38 lead at the 4:18 mark of regulation and the ‘Dogs forced a turnover at the other end but did not capitalize. A deuce from Tuelle gave the ‘Dogs a 48-38 advantage at the 2:59 mark and forced C-D head coach Beth Frye to use a timeout.

Tuelle finished with 17 points on the night and earned high marks from Hazelwood. “She didn’t play like a freshman. I don’t want t jinx her, but she played well.”

A pair of free throws by Street gave Hampton a 10 point lead at 54-44, but Keri Ricker hit a pair for C-D to close to within eight.

Andi Lamb led Chuckey-Doak with 11 points followed by Southerland with 10.

GIRLS

Chuckey-Doak (48)

A.Lamb 11, E.Lamb 2, Aubry 2, Lawson 6, Ricker 9, Southerland 10, Myers 2, Manuel 6.

Hampton (56)

Miller 2, Bridgeman 3, Street 9, Grubbs 21, Tuelle 17, Garland 4.

Chuckey-Doak 17 9 10 11 – 48

Hampton 18 13 7 18 – 56

3-point goals: C-D 1 (Ricker), H 5 (Tuelle 3, Grubbs 1, Street 1).