Jr. Dogs wear down Happy Valley in second half for a 52-31 win
Published 1:23 am Saturday, November 2, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jr. Warrior Rex Ranck goes up for a field goal attempt in Thursday's game against Hampton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Hayden Campbell blocks the shot of Happy Valley's Jadin Kent during action from the Tiger Invitational at Blountville Middle School on Thursday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's big post player Hayden Campbell goes up for a short-range jumper in the Jr. 'Dogs contest with Happy Valley on Thursday,
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Dylan Trivett is hounded by Jr. Warrior defender Austin Nickles in Thursday's Tiger Invitational.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Happy Valley's Rex Ranck dishes the basketball off while coming up the court on a fast break.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jr. Warrior Dakota Grindstaff sets up the offense for Happy Valley Middle.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
BLOUNTVILLE – It might have been very early in the 2019 basketball season, but any time that Happy Valley and Hampton tangle it’s always an entertaining contest as both teams yearn to take the other down in the cross-county middle school rivalry.
Thursday during the Tiger Invitational at Blountville Middle School, the Hampton Jr. Bulldogs one-upped the Jr. Warriors on the season by taking a 52-31 win after a very challenging first half of action between the two schools.
It was a 10-5 game at the end of the first quarter in Hampton’s favor and the Jr. Dogs managed to build their lead to 24-14 at the break.
Dylan Trivett led the Jr. ‘Dog charge in the half by draining 10 points in the half. Jr. ‘Dog post player Hayden Campbell also had a big half as he was unstoppable from ten feet out recording eight points.
Michael Anspaugh totaled four points and Geno Carrico chipped in with two points to close out the scoring for Hampton.
The Jr. Warriors were led in the opening half by Joseph Sowards with six points while Dakota Grindstaff and Rex Ranck drained a trey each. Jadin Kent added a field goal as well.
Coming out to start the second half, the Jr. Warriors played the Jr. ‘Dogs tight in the six-minute period as Hampton just barely outscored Happy Valley 16-12.
The final period proved huge for Hampton as the Jr. ‘Dogs outdueled the Jr. Warriors 12-5 to push the winning edge out to a larger margin.
Trivett led all scorers with 18 points on the night while Campbell reached double figures as well totaling 12 points.
Chance Point added eight points for the winners while Anspaugh finished with six points. Dominique Burleson (4), Carrico (2), and Grayson Young (2) closed out the scoring for Hampton.
Happy Valley’s Sowards paced the Jr. Warriors with 10 points in the contest. Ranck registered seven points while Grindstaff (3), Colton Johnson (3), Blevins (2), Tucker Shoun (2), Nathan Ragusa (2), and Kent (2) tallied out the book for the Jr. Warriors.
