By Chris Yow
CULLEOKA — Landon Andrews poured in seventeen points for Culleoka in the first quarter alone, and finished with a game-high 29 to lead the Warriors to a 77-43 win on homecoming over Hampshire.
Culleoka, which improved to 8-6, 3-1 in District 10-A play, donned throwback uniforms for homecoming reading “Blue Devils” across the chest. Look good, play good may have helped fuel Andrews early.
“We got these as a gift for winning the (district) championship,” he said. “I think they’re awesome.”
Culleoka coach Mike Lovett said he was excited to see the long ball drop early for Andrews.
“We’ve been really trying to get more shots on the perimeter,” he said. “Normally, we try to pound the ball inside because we have big post players, but we want to shoot more and tonight it was falling.”
Four of his six first-quarter field goals came from the left wing, a spot Andrews will tell you he feels comfortable.
“I was just feeling it tonight,” he said. “I know the spots I like, and I was open so I hit them.”
Hampshire (1-10, 0-4 10-A) tried to slow the game’s pace on offense, but any time Culleoka had possession, the Warriors were getting up the floor quickly. Leading 26-11 after one, there was no chance the slower pace would affect the outcome.
In the second quarter, Andrews put an exclamation point on the night with a slam dunk off a fast-break, off-the-backboard alley oop from Ranger Graham, bringing the crowd to its feet.
“I was yelling for him the whole way down the floor,” Andrews said. “We know when we get a chance we have to take it.”
A total of 12 Warriors scored in the game, including a number of younger players. The Hawks were led by Cameryn Bass who totaled 18 in the game.
Culleoka boys 77, Hampshire 43
H -11 10 14 8 43
C – 26 11 26 14 77
Hampshire (43) – Cameryn Bass 18, Ethan Bowden 13, Kendall Morton 5, Jed Page 4, Peyton Morton 3
Culleoka (77) – Tavon Bagsby 9, Landon Andrews 29, Erik Mick 2, Eli Harrison 2, Cooper Parks 10, Hunter Harris 2, Blake Delk 3, Tanner Wray 2, Elijah Hargrove 6, Peyton Calvert 2, Jaxon Davidson 2, Colby Mitchell 8
3 pointers – Hampshire 4 ( Bass 1, Bowden 3), Culleoka: 9 (Bagsby 1, Andrews 5, Delk 1, Hargrove 2)
Lady Hawks spoil Homecoming for Lady Warriors
Kortney Rowland had 20 points, including going a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter on Friday to help push her team to a 50-37 road win in District 10-A.
The Hawks led 31-27 after scoring just two points in the third quarter, but turned up the heat to pull away late.
“We went back to the press in the fourth quarter. Some of my girls got into foul trouble early, so I got out of it to protect them,” Hampshire coach Ronnie Brewer said. “Once we turned the pressure back up, I think we were able to pull away.”
Culleoka coach Derrick Adkison was pleased with his team’s effort in the loss, and said he found some things his team can build upon.
“We pressured them well at times tonight, and we have some girls who really get after it on defense,” he said. “I have to credit our girls on the way they battled all night against a really good team.”
Normally a slower-paced team, the Lady Warriors pushed the ball on offense more than normal, but found some success. By the fourth quarter, however, fatigue began to set in.
“We play better when we can set up and we tried to play faster tonight, and I think we got a little tired, too,” Adkison said.
Obviously, the duo of Kortney and Karlee Rowland were going to find a way to make an impact. They were the only two Lady Hawks in double figures.
“Having girls 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-2 is definitely a luxury. They are big for us; they play hard,” Brewer said. “We look to them in big spots to come through.
“I don’t think Kortney missed a free throw down the stretch.”
Hampshire girls 50, Culleoka 37
H 18 11 2 19 50
C 10 11 6 10 37
Hampshire (50) – Hailey Potts 2, Kortney Rowland 20, Ansley Stoner 8, Kayla Stephens 6, Karlee Rowland 11, Kadence Stoner 1, Madison Cagle 2
Culleoka (37) – Madison Ingram 7, Breanna Dickson 14, Hannah Collins 1, Tyler Reischman 11, Alex Skinner 2, Emilee Rochester 2
3-pointers – Hampshire 4 (Stephens 2, Ko. Rowland, A. Stoner), Culleoka 2 (Ingram, Reischman)
Photos by Chris Yow / SM-Tn Sports