Hornets whip Westside for first victory
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because the look back at each day in Bryant athletic history has been so favorably received during the time when there was no sports during the COVID-19 shutdown, BryantDaily.com will continueposting past stories of Bryant athletics either posted on BryantDaily.com (from 2009 to the present) or published in the Bryant Times (from 1998 to 2008).
JONESBORO — Treylon Payne tossed in 19 points and Camren Hunter scored 15 points while Khalen Robinson added 14 and Aiden Adams 12 as the Bryant Hornets opened the 34thannual Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic at Jonesboro High School with a 74-57 win over the Jonesboro Westside Warriors on Thursday.
It was the first win and just the second game of the season for the Hornets who advance to play host Jonesboro in the second round tonight at 7 p.m.
The Hornets opened the game with a 9-1 run, forcing a Westside timeout. Bryant’s lead was 32-24 at the half.
The game was plagued by fouls, which, according to Bryant head coach Mike Abrahamson, had both coaches frustrated along with the folks in the stands, which were predominately from Westside. Bryant senior Rodney Lambert hardly got to play, Abrahamson mentioned.
“He wasn’t even on the court that much,” the coach said.
A.J. Jenkins came off the bench to score 5 points for the Hornets. Colby Washington had 5 and Jonathan Hall 4.
“Khasen Robinson’s not playing right now with a knee and we already had O.J. Newburn, who we were going to use off the bench, out with a dislocated finger; he’s still out,” Abrahamson mentioned. “Then we had foul trouble and we were just lucky to survive.
“People like Aiden stepped up and made some shots,” he continued. “Jonathan Hall played well for us down the stretch in the second half. Jalen Montgomery game us a few good minutes. Guys stepped up and got us through.”
Khalen Robinson was plagued by foul trouble, picking up two early and coming out of the game. He returned before the half was over and picked up his third trying to take a charge. “We thought it was a great charge,” said the coach. “We thought it was perfect but they called ‘block’. Then he gets his fourth one early in the second half. We were just out there surviving.”
Abrahamson praised Hunter for a strong second half and Payne for a good overall game throughout.
“They’ve got good guards,” he said of Westside. “We’re very similar. I thought this time — you know, we were in foul trouble against Marion (in the season-opening loss) and that was a rough game — although this was a different opponent, I thought we adjusted to the foul trouble a little bit better.
“We led the whole game but it wasn’t a big lead most of the game,” the coach said. “We pulled away in the fourth quarter when I didn’t know if we were wearing down or if we were going to make it. And (Westside) kind of wore down. We finally got to the point where they kind of had to chase us and we spread them out and got some easy baskets to really extend.”
Reva
Great article. Can you please update the name to Treylon Payne? It’s not Treyvon. If you’re able to send me the updated article, that would be great. Thank you very much.
Reva