Boys’ basketball wins Lee County tournament
The Hoke County boys’ basketball team swept three games in three days to win the Yellow Jacket Christmas Classic, hosted by Lee County. The Bucks entered play at 6-4 on the year but got hot in a hurry, beating Western Harnett, 52-39, in the opener, then blowing out the host team, Lee County, 65-20. In the championship game, Hoke trailed by six at halftime but dominated play in the second half, outscoring Triton 23-6 in the third quarter and pulling away in the fourth for a 60-44 win.
Saleh Sutton had 40 points in the three games, while Jaylen Sturdivant scored 36. Sophomore Darius Breeden added 26 with a pair of double-figure scoring nights.
Success on the mat for Bucks girls
The Hoke County girls’ wrestling team was ranked No. 7 in SEWrestle’s SE Super 7 after a successful December. The girls won the WRAL HighSchoolOT Invitational at Knightdale, as Zaria Robinson scored a pin at 1:10 to earn the 235 title and Noelia Hipolito got a 9-2 decision to win at 165. Azya Monroe took second at 100 and Sara Warren got third at 114. The Bucks also won the team title at the Mark Adams Holiday Invitational in Cary, with Hipolito and Monroe winning their weight divisions at that tourney.
The Hoke ladies opened the month with another tournament win, giving them three team titles in three weeks.
