‘Dogs smoke Chiefs to tip off season with win
Published 1:03 am Friday, November 19, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A new season was tipped off Thursday at VanHuss-White Gymnasium as the Hampton Bulldogs hosted the Cherokee Chiefs in the first regular-season game of the 2021-2022 season.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Bulldog guard Isaiah McCoury drives the baseline toward the rim during first-quarter play against Cherokee.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Cadon Buckles swoops in for a running one-handed jumper.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Logan Whitehead goes in strong for two points in Hampton's opening-game win over visiting Cherokee.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton post Hayden Campbell battles inside for two of his 15 points.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Conor Burleson pulls up for a mid-range jumper against the Cherokee defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Levi Lyons prepares to launch a baby hook shot for Hampton during first-half action.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Dalton Holtsclaw squares up for one of his eight treys in the contest.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hampton's Dalton Holtsclaw glides to the basket for two of his game-high 30 points.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
With key parts of their team sitting in the ‘Dog Pound awaiting Friday night’s football game, Coach Ned Smith’s Bulldog team didn’t let that affect them in the opening game of the 2021-2022 season against the visiting Cherokee Chiefs Thursday as Hampton blew out to a 62-19 advantage by the half and never looked back.
When the final horn sounded, the ‘Dogs hung 97 points on the Chiefs to take a 97-39 win.
Dalton Holtsclaw simply was in a zone for Smith’s squad as there didn’t appear to be a shot from beyond the arc that he couldn’t hit as he ripped the cotton for 21 first-half points to push Hampton to the comfortable lead.
Holtsclaw has plenty of support as big post Hayden Campbell was crashing the boards to contribute 10 first-half points hitting 4-of-4 from the charity stripe in that total.
Cadon Buckles added nine in the first 16 minutes taking the ball to the rim on drives to create all types of problems for the Cherokee defense.
Isaiah McCoury and Logan Whitehead also chipped in with six points apiece in the opening half.
Colin Ryan had five points in the first half to pace Cherokee who just couldn’t buy a basket for most of the half. Chandler Drinnon, Bryce Elliot, and Brayden Leech chipped in with one trey each in the half.
Hampton picked right back up where they left off in the first half outscoring Cherokee 18-12 in the third period.
Michael Anspaugh had five points to lead the charge while Conor Burleson totaled four to extend the Hampton lead.
With a running clock in the fourth period, the remainder of the game was clean-up time for both squads.
“He (Holtsclaw) shot the ball well and shared the ball well,” Smith said. “I thought they all shared the ball well tonight. Our kids came out energetic and got after them and got them to turn the ball over and we attacked the basket.
“We still have to learn to block out better.”
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Hampton, 97-39
Hampton (97)
Levi Lyons 5, Michael Anspaugh 7, Isaiah McCoury 8, Ty McElyea 7, Cadon Buckles 11, Dalton Holtsclaw 30, Logan Whitehead 6, Conor Burleson 8, Hayden Campbell 15.
Cherokee (39)
Colton McClain 10, Joey Henley 4, Chandler Drinnon 5, Collin Ryan 9, Conner Mowell 2, Bryce Elliot 3, Brayden Leech 3, Jayden Ward 3.
Hampton…… 32 30 18 17 – 97
Cherokee…… 7 12 12 8 – 39
3-pt goals: Hampton 10 (Holtsclaw 8, McElyea, Buckles). Cherokee 7 (McClain 2, Drinnon, Ryan, Elliot, Leech, Ward).
