CABOT — Behind a 17-0 start, the Bryant White Hornets eighth grade team of Bryant Middle School overwhelmed the Cabot North Panthers Monday night. The lead was never less that 14 points the rest of the game as the Hornets earned their fourth win in five games this season, 38-13.
There was actually no score in the contest over the first 2:19. But a layup by Bryant White’s Camren Hunter broke the ice. An offensive-rebound basket by Gavin Brunson made it 4-0 and, with turnovers piling up instead of shots, the Panthers took a timeout.
When play resumed a three-point play by Austin Ledbetter led to another timeout.
But that didn’t slow the Hornets either. Hunter made a steal and Ledbetter cashed it in with a layup. Following a Panther turnover, Aiden Adams drained a 3.
Myles Aldridge made a steal that led to a 3 from Trey Miller, making it 15-0.
In the closing seconds of the opening quarter, Adams, from his knees, dished a pass to Brunson for a bucket to complete the opening blitz.
The Panthers were forced into 11 turnovers in just that first quarter.
Cabot North finally scored with 4:21 left in the first half. Tyler Parks scored inside only to have Hunter drive to the rack for an answering bucket to make it 19-2.
Garrett Hill connected from 3-point range to start a brief run by the Panthers as they trimmed the margin to 21-7. They had a chance to get closer but Hunter made another steal that led to a basket by Adams. Ledbetter knocked down a 12-footer with :09 left in the half to make it 25-7.
“Once again, our defense led the way,” noted Hornets coach John Harrison. “We did a great job in our zone press and we turned them over often. It was a total team effort where everyone saw action.”
Though the Hornets backed out of their press, the turnovers continued in the second half. Aldridge made a steal and Hunter rebounded his miss to score as the third quarter got underway.
Though Parks hit a free throw, the Panthers didn’t manage a second-half field goal until Tyler Gee hit a shot with 2:14 left in the third.
A driving jumper from Ledbetter and a basket inside by Jeremiah Trezvant off a feed from Hunter had increased the margin to 31-8 before Gee’s bucket.
Late in the game, Caleb Goins put together consecutive baskets including a 3 for the Hornets. Two free throws by Aaron Spangler put the finishing touches on the romp.
The Hornets are scheduled to return to action on Monday, Nov. 28, at Lake Hamilton.
BRYANT WHITE 38, CABOT NORTH 13
Score by quarters
Bryant White 17 8 6 7 — 38
Cabot North 0 7 3 3 — 13
BRYANT WHITE 38
Ledbetter 4-9 1-1 9, Aldridge 1-2 0-0 2, Brunson 1-1 0-0 2, Hunter 3-4 0-0 6, Adams 2-5 0-0 5, Miller 1-1 2-2 5, Goins 2-2 0-0 5, Curtis 0-0 0-0 0, Coleman 0-2 0-0 0, Parker 0-2 0-0 0, Trezvant 1-3 0-0 2, Carey 0-1 0-0 0, Spangler 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 15-31 5-5 38.
CABOT NORTH 13
Parks 2-3 2-4 6 Gee 1-3 1-2 3, Ralston0-1 0-0 0, Ezell 0-1 0-0 0, Olegario 0-2 0-0 0, Jackson 0-2 0-0 0, Hill 1-2 0-0 3, Polk 0-3 0-0 0, Spencer 0-2 0-0 0, Cooper 0-1 0-0 0, McMullen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 4-20 4-8 13.
Three-point field goals: Bryant White 3-5 (Adams 1-2, Miller 1-1, Goins 1-1, Ledbetter 0-1), Cabot North 1-3 (Hill 1-2, Olegario 0-1). Turnovers: Bryant White 12, Cabot North 20. Rebounds: Bryant White 6-10 16 (Ledbetter 1-3 4, Hunter 2-1 3, Brunson 1-1 2, Goins 0-2 2, Carey 1-1 2, Adams 0-1 1, Miller 0-1 1, Spangler 1-0 1), Cabot North 8-10 18 (Jackson 0-4 4, Gee 1-1 2, Spencer 2-0 2, Cooper 1-1 2, Parks 0-1 1, Ralston 0-1 1, Ezell 0-1 1, Olegario 1-0 1, Polk 0-1 1, team 3-0 3). Team fouls: Bryant White 11, Cabot North 11.
