PLAYOFFS: Hamilton pours in career-high 35 points for EW

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 24, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

The Warriors kept one thing in the back of their minds.

D.H. Conley.

After losing to the Vikings, 42-29, on Feb. 16, the Eastern Wayne basketball team upended Northeast Guilford, 64-51, in N.C. High School Athletic Association's second round of the 2-A playoffs on Tuesday night.

"We're super excited and feeling good, especially after coming off a loss with D.H. Conley," EW assistant coach Laura Peedin said. "That hurts, and it was hard. We did not play like Eatern Wayne basketball.

"So, we came back this last week and did nothing but run, box out, rebound and shoot free throws."

And they did all of it against the Rams.

The Warriors trailed NG, 25-23, at halftime, but freshman Nyesha Best and senior Naheria Hamilton entered the third quarter determined to reach the second round of the playoffs.

Nyesha stole the ball and assisted Hamilton with a quick layup. She then dove on the floor for the loose ball and threw it back to Hamilton for two more points. Hamilton drew a foul and swished the free throw.

EW led, 39-33, with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton pulled down a defensive rebound -- one of twelve rebounds -- which eventually led to a free throw by the senior and a layup by Nyesha. The Warriors moved on to the fourth quarter with a 42-33 lead over the Rams.

Nyesha snatched the ball from NG and assisted Myesha Best with a 3-pointer. Senior Vivian Jackson passed the ball to Myesha for a 2-point jumper, and junior Treycie Ford handed the ball to Hamilton, who spun around for a field goal.

Hamilton grabbed two more defensive rbounds, and the Warriors led, 54-43, with three minutes left in regulation.

Ford assisted Hamilton with another layup. Nyesha drove the length of the court and drew a foul. She sank both free throws in the final seconds.

But Hamilton wasn't finished.

She stepped back at the buzzer and banked a 3 as she fell backwards to the court.

Hamilton ended the game with 35 points and was 12-13 from the free throw line. Nyesha added 12 points.

The Warriors (12-14) play host to Jacksonville on Thursday.

"We got to do what we did tonight and do it just that much harder," Peedin said.