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By C.Y. Peters

Star Correspondent

The Hampton Bulldogs’ season came to an end after a hard-fought battle against the Austin-East Roadrunners in regional play. Making the jump to Class 2A this season, Hampton faced the challenge of competing against Knoxville-area teams stacked with athletic talent. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they ran into a red-hot Austin-East team that delivered an 83-62 victory, securing its spot in the next round.

The Roadrunners wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a commanding 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. Junior Leekori Curry was on fire from beyond the arc, draining three 3-pointers and leading Austin-East with 20 points. Larrione Winton added to the offensive onslaught, scoring seven in the first quarter and finishing with 13 points.

Hampton found itself in an uphill battle early but showed flashes of resilience. Chase Davenport was a scoring force for the Bulldogs, erupting for 17 of his 24 points in the second half. Despite his efforts, Hampton struggled to close the gap as Austin-East maintained control. The Roadrunners extended their lead to 36-21 at halftime and never looked back.

Tuff Robinson turned in a solid performance for Hampton, contributing 16 points. Jayden Nave, Hampton’s only senior, battled hard on the boards, pulling down five rebounds. Though the Bulldogs fought until the final buzzer, Austin-East’s depth and athleticism proved to be too much to overcome.

Hampton closes the season with an impressive 22-10 record, including a stellar 9-1 district mark. While the loss stings, there was a major milestone to celebrate—head coach Ned Smith reached his 500th career win this season, an achievement that cements his legacy in Hampton basketball history.

Though its season ends here, the Bulldogs have plenty to be proud of and will look to build on this year’s success as they continue to compete at the 2A level.

Hampton 7 14 14 26 – 62
Austin-East 21 15 18 29 – 83

Hampton: Nave 4, Creed 4, Jones 2, J. Nave 11, Robinson 16, Davenport 24, Turbyfill 1
Austin-East: Johnson 11, Hundley 11, Pruitt 2, Jones 7, Curry 20, Winston 13, Fenderson 9, Turner 3