In the girls’ game, Chantell Walker scored 19 points, making 11 of 12 free throws, to lead the Lady Vikings to a 63-39 victory. It was the Cape Fear Valley 3A Conference opener for both schools.
The Viking boys didn’t score a single point in the first quarter, and Overhills went up 22-0 before the Vikings scored in the second period. Sam Wilborn of Union Pines scored four three-point baskets, as did Overhills’ leading scorer, Wyatt Hardison. Hardison finished with 28 points, while Wilborn led the Vikings with 21.
The Vikings threw a scare into the home team late in the first half and early in the second, hitting five-three pointers in an heroic comeback effort. Wilborn hit three of his three-pointers, and Brandon Verbal made the other two as the Vikings chopped Overhills’ lead to seven at the break, 35-28. Verbal opened the second half with a deuce to make it 35-30. But by the end of the third quarter, Overhills pushed its lead past the 10-point mark, and the third quarter ended with another trey by Hardison, making it 53-37.
The Vikings came within six points twice during the fourth quarter. A bucket by Jeremy Davis, followed by another trey and two free throws by Wilborn, shrank the deficit to 70-64 with 1:10 left in the game.
But the Jaguars scored six points and held the Vikings to a single basket, by Davis, during the last minute of the game.
The loss brings Union Pines’ record to 3-4 overall, 0-1 in the conference. Overhills goes to 1-5, and 1-0 in the league.
Davis and Verbal also scored in double digits for the Vikings with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Carlton Wellington was second in scoring for the Jaguars, with 13.
The Viking girls stretched a two-point first-quarter lead to 10 at half-time and did not give up the advantage. The two teams played on even terms in the third quarter, 13-13, and Union Pines maintained a 40-30 advantage. The away team gained its second wind in the fourth quarter, blowing past the hosts 23-9 for the 24-point margin of victory.
Overhills came within five in the third quarter, but Union Pines went to a man-to-man defense, and a delay game. Overhills fouled Walker often, and she hit five of six free throws during the closing minutes of the third period. In the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, Walker scored three more baskets and hit four of four foul shots. Lindsay Cameron added five during the same stretch, including a three-point conversion.
“We had to bring them out of the zone,” said Viking coach Henry Douglas. “We went into a delay game so we could bring them out of the zone, and Chantell started the rally for us.”
Aided by two foul shots by Tiffany Oxendine and a three-pointer by Shamecca Mosley, Union Pines went up 60-37 with 2:19 left to play.
Union Pines goes to 5-2, and 1-0 in the conference. Overhills remains winless in the girls’ division at 0-6.
Boys’ Box Score
Union Pines 0 28 9 29 —66
Overhills 15 20 18 23 —76
Union Pines— Wilborn 6 5-8 21, Davis 5 3-9 13, Verbal 5 0-1 12, Morales 2 3-4 7, McLean 3 0-0 7, Korver 1 2-4 4, Collins 1 0-0 2. Totals— 22 13-26 66.
Overhills— Hardison 8 8-10 28, Wellington 5 2-3 13, Williams 3 3-8 9, Lee 2 4-8 8, King 4 0-0 8, Davis 2 2-4 6, Bosch 2 0-0 4. Totals—26 19-36 76.
Three-point baskets :Union Pines 7 (Wilborn 4, Verbal 2, McLean), Overhills 5 (Hardison 4, Wellington).
Girls’ Box Score
Union Pines 9 18 13 23— 63
Overhills 7 10 13 9— 39
Union Pines— Walker 4 11-12 19, Cameron 4 2-3 11, Mosley 3 0-0 8, Lucas 2 0-1 5, Sauer 2 1-1 5, Shiflett 1 1-6 3, Wilborn 1 1-2 3, K. Fairley 1 0-0 2, V. Fairley 1 0-2 2, Oxendine 0 2-4 2,Thurlow 0 2-5 2. Totals— 19 21-37 63.
Overhills— Elliott 3 2-2 9, Williams 4 0-0 8, McAuley 3 1-2 7, Hull 2 0-0 4, Maurer 1 2-2 4, Ingram 1 1-9 3, Stephenson 1 0-0 2, Thomas 1 0-0 2. Totals— 16 6-10 39.
Three-point baskets: Union Pines 3 (Mosely 2, Lucas); Overhills 1 (Elliott).
