Berean Christian Academy brought the biggest player to Hampton on Saturday in 6’9” center Nathan Hastings, but the player with the biggest impact was Bulldogs forward Nathan Norris who scored a game high 21 points.

Senior guard Coby Jones scored his 1,000^th point as a Bulldog in the third period and finished with 20 points and seven steals. The Bulldogs relentless defense forced 23 turnovers and grounded the Berean Christian Academy Eagles by a 75-46 tally on Saturday evening at Van Huss / White gym.

“Every game is a big game,” Jones said. “We have a target on our backs now and teams are coming to beat us. Our coaches had a good game plan and were just glad to get the win tonight.”

The first quarter was nip and tuck as Hampton led 11-9 with Eagles guard Preston Piper hitting a long range shot and the ‘Dogs getting eight points from Jones. The ‘Dogs made a run in the second period, going on a 9-2 run to take a 20-11 advantage.

In the run, Jones had six more points and Norris added six more. By the half Jones had scored 16 points with Norris right on his heels with 15 as Hampton took a 36-18 halftime lead. The ‘Dogs also forced 15 first half turnovers from the Eagles which contributed heavily to the scoring run.

“Our press is something we work on all the time,” Norris said. “We go at it hard in practice and we work on getting steals and getting layups from it.”

A Norris trey at the 3:26 mark of the third period staked Hampton to a 50-26 lead before Jacob Dunn hit a free throw for the Eagles. Norris dropped in another trey before the end of the stanza as the ‘Dogs took a 52-29 lead into the final period.

“They like to compete with each other in practice,” Smith said. “Even those guys down the end of the bench that don’t get to play a lot, that’s what makes us good. Playing hard in practice and competing and always working to get better.”

For Berean Christian (15-12 overall), Hastings had 18 points and a game high 10 rebounds and four blocks while forward Royce Mershon added 10 points and six boards.

The ‘Dogs (25-6 overall) had 11 players score at least two points in this one with Dakota Crumley and Jared Andrews each adding six points while Wyatt Lyons had four points and a team high seven rebounds.

Hampton will take on Northview Academy on Tuesday at Chuckey-Doak.

Region 1-2A

Hampton 75-46

Berean Christian (46)

Piper 5, Dunn 3, Causey 4, Miller 3, Mershon 10, Hastings 18, Wilson 3.

Hampton (75)

Holtsclaw 2, McClain 3, Jones 20, Norris 21, Lyons 4, Velazquez 4, Butler 5, Crumley 6, Timmons 2, Andrews 6, I. Kelly 2

Berean Christian 9 9 11 17 – 46

Hampton 11 25 16 23 – 75

3-point goals: BC 5-11 (Piper 1-3, Dunn 0-1, Holley 0-1, Hastings 3-5. Wilson 1-1), H 5-14 (Holtsclaw 0-2, McClain 1-2, Jones 0-4, Norris 4-4, Butler 0-2)