The Tigers of Hargrave Military Academy took a midweek trip down to Lincolnton, North Carolina where they returned victorious with a 62-59 win over Combine Academy. Hargrave now stands at 4-2 overall this season.
Winning is never easy on the road and this phrase rang true on Wednesday night as the Tigers found themselves in their third consecutive close game. Hargrave came out on fire, hitting five three pointers in the first half as they led 23-7 after the opening frame. However, the second quarter was a different story as the Tigers struggled to maintain the same momentum as Combine Academy turned up the defensive pressure, forcing the majority of the Tigers 24 turnovers on the game during their 20-7 run in the second quarter. Heading into the locker room for halftime, the Tigers were clinging to a 30-27 lead.
At the start of the third quarter, the Tigers opened up with a few quick buckets to increase their lead but Combine Academy came storming back with a barrage of fast break points and three pointers. Despite their best efforts, the Tigers trailed 46-40 heading into the final quarter of regulation. After hitting five three pointers in the first quarter, Hargrave did not make any three pointers in the second or third quarters and finally, Nathan Kania ’20 came off a ball screen and rose up from outside NBA range to nail his then third three pointer of the night. Kania’s basket ignited the Tigers, on the floor and on the bench. That energy led the Tigers to a 17-2 run over the span of two and a half minutes which include another three pointer by Kania and a personal 5-0 run by Matthew Brown, Jr. ’19. Brown’s five points ultimately gave the Tigers the advantage they needed to close out the 62-59 victory.
Notable Performances:
Matthew Brown, Jr. ’19–17 points, 6 rebounds
IJ Ezuma ’21–15 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks
Grant Okolo ’19–14 points, 4 rebounds
Nathan Kania ’20–12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
The Tigers are back in action on Saturday afternoon as they head to Warrenton, Virginia to compete in the Highland Holiday Showcase. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM as the Tigers take on Great Bridge Christian Academy.
