A first half that saw Tennessee High connect on seven three pointers and build a 34-27 lead at the halftime break allowed the Lady Vikings to score a 59-54 victory over Hampton on Wednesday evening at Patriot Palace.

Guard Makayla Richards hit a pair of long range shots and the Lady Vikings forced 13 first half Lady Bulldogs turnovers.

“We had 13 turnovers in the first half,” Lady Bulldogs head coach Buddy Hazelwood said. “In the second half we played hard and got the lead and didn’t play smart. We fired up a couple of shots and let them get back into it.”

Despite the turnovers the ‘Dogs stayed close – trailing 16-15 after the first period. The Vikings used the Hampton turnovers to better advantage in the second period, outscoring the ‘Dogs 18-12 to take the seven point halftime lead.

Hampton (2-2) closed the gap to 44-43 late in the third period on a bucket and a three point bomb from Alexus Grubbs. A trey from Grubbs gave Hampton a 48-47 lead and was part of a nine point run for the ‘Dogs.

Hampton led 52-49 with just over three and a half minutes remaining in regulation when Hope Bridgeman hit a deuce, which was answered by a triple from Richards to make it a 54-52 game with 2:22 left.

“We give up a three then go down the other end and mug someone,” Hazelwood said. “We have got a long way to go. We have to get more consistent.”

The Vikings tied the game on a drive to the bucket from Adison Minor and on Hampton’s next possession Grubbs was hit with a technical foul and Brea Arrants hit both to give THS a 56-54 lead.

“She was probably getting mugged to death under the basket,” Hazelwood said. “It’s always the person who retaliates that gets caught. She plays hard and just lost her composure there.”

From there, the Vikings closed the game with free throws from Arrants and one of two from Lauryn Arzu.

For THS, Richards scored 12 on four three pointers with Arrants leading the team with 18 points and eight rebounds. Tuelle led all scorers with 19 points with Grubbs adding 16. Megan Garland scored six points and had 16 rebounds.

“Megan turned up her defense in the second half,” Hazelwood said. “You have to play hard and you have to play smart. We do both in spurts and that’s what I mean about basketball smarts. Until we get consistent in both areas it will be tough.”

Tennessee High 59-54

THS (59)

Richards 12, Hatcher 3, Arrants 18, Arzu 5, Locke 8, Pugh 5, Lett 3

Hampton (54)

Tuelle 19, Grubbs 16, Bridgeman 5, Hill 6, Carriger 2, Garland 6.

Tennessee High 16 18 10 12 – 59

Hampton 15 12 16 11 – 54

3-point goals: THS 11-22 (Richards 4-9, Hatcher 1-2, Arrants 2-4, Arzu 1-2, Locke 1-3, Pugh 1- 2, Lett 1-1). H 5-9 (Tuelle 0-2, Grubbs 2-4, Bridgeman 1-1, Hill 2-2)