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Landyn Newborn (2) tries to get a shot away over Zachariah Foote (11). (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Demetrius Sanders poured in 16 points for the Bryant Blue Hornets seventh grade team of Bethel Middle School but it wasn’t enough as the Bryant White Hornets of Bryant Middle School took an early lead and held off their crosstown rivals for a 31-27 win at Bryant Middle School gym on Thursday night.
“It was hard-fought contest,” said Bryant White head coach John Harrison. “We struggled making free throws and layups and had a hard time staying in front of kids. We finally made a few free throws late to get the win against a quality opponent.”
Isaih Kearney led Bryant White with 9 points. Gavin Burton added 7 with Landyn Newborn, Cameron Booth and Caleb Carter contributing 4 each. Daizure Hale scored 3.
For Blue, Zachariah Foote hit a pair of 3’s for 6 points. Jaylen Williams scored 4 and Isaac Devine added a free throw.
Bryant White forged an 8-5 lead by the end of the first quarter with Carter scoring his four points and Burton matching that. Foote hit his first trey and Sanders contributed a conventional three-point play.
Isaac Devine (33) pushes a shot up over Turner Seelinger (12) in front of Cameron Booth (21). (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Booth and Kearney each had 4 in the second quarter while Burton had a three-point play. For Blue, Sanders struck for 9 including another three-point play.
White went in at the half up 19-14.
The teams played evenly in the third quarter. Newborn had his 4 points for White while Foote knocked down his second trey. It was 26-21 going into the fourth quarter.
Down the stretch, Kearney was 3 of 4 from the line and Hale was 2 for 4 to help the White Hornets hang on. Baskets by Williams and Sanders fueled Blue’s comeback hopes.
Bryant White improved to 4-1 this season with the victory as they head into a jamboree at North Little Rock on Saturday. They travel to Sylvan Hills on Monday then finish up their pre-Christmas schedule at home against Cabot North on Tuesday.
Bryant Blue, now 5-3, is also scheduled to play in the jamboree on Saturday before hosting Lake Hamilton on Tuesday in its final outing before the Christmas break.
Demetrius Sanders (31) led all scorers with 16 points in Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Evan Barrett (50) tries to squeeze a shot between Cameron Booth (21) and Daizure Hale (22). (photo by Kevin Nagle)
