Photos by Kevin Nagle
Cameron Hunter went 6 for 6 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 9 for 9 in the game as the Bryant White Hornets seventh grade team of Bryant Middle School gradually pulled away from the Bryant Blue Hornets of Bethel Middle School for a 49-39 win at the Bryant Middle School gym Monday night.
The game was tight until Bryant White outscored Blue 12-3 in the final period.
Bryant Blue led 17-12 after a quarter with Hayden Purdy scoring 10 of his team high 18 points and Austin Schroeder connecting on all five of his free throws. Hunter, who finished with 19 points in the game had 8 of White’s 12.
By halftime, White had narrowed the gap. Blue led 29-28 buoyed by a pair of 3’s from Landon Nelson. White benefited from foul trouble for Bethel, connecting on 10 of 11 shots from the stripe.
Both teams ratcheted up the defense in the third quarter. Austin Ledbetter hit a 3 and a pair of free throws while Caleb Goines added 4 points as White pulled ahead 37-36 going into the fourth quarter.
Purdy managed a three-point play for Blue in the final period but that was all his team could muster. White was 8 of 11 from the free-throw line down the stretch.
To go with Hunter’s 19, Ledbetter had 7, Goines 5. Gavin Brunson, Kannon Allison and Miles Aldrich scored 4 each. Aiden Adams had 3, Trey Miller 2 and Connor Coleman 1.
To go with Purdy’s 18, Nelson and Schroeder finished with 7 each. Brayden Godwin added 6 and Cameron Palmer hit a free throw.
Bryant Blue wraps up the season with their next game against Cabot White on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Bryant White is set to play at Lake Hamilton tonight.
