Dec. 22, 2003 – Scott Draughn led the Hamden Hall Country Day School Hornets with 24 points as they defeated the Antilles Hurricanes, 55-45 at the Charlotte Amalie High School gymnasium Monday night. The Hornets, hailing from Hamden, Connecticut, extended their undefeated streak to 15.
Team defense really set the tone early as both teams first field goal attempts were rejected with authority. The Hurricanes’ Kaylen Gregory smacked the Hornets’ Chaz Phillips attempted layup out of existence. However, Draughn soon returned the favor with a mammoth block that sent the 'Canes’ Chad Newberger’s three-point attempt back into the bleachers.
The Hornets offense swarmed into action after the defensive exchange as they scored 11 points in the next two minutes, while holding the Hurricanes to just two. The Hornets ended the first quarter with a 10-point lead, 16-6.
Hamden's Marcus Wellman, whose parents have a home on St. Croix that they visit several times a year, had five points to lead the Hornets during the offensive surge. However, Wellman's early foul trouble limited his offensive output for the remainder of the game.
Both teams scored 15 points apiece in the second quarter as the Hornets maintained their 10-point lead at halftime, 31-21. Draughn scored 13 of his points in the half to lead the Hornets. Gregory led the Hurricanes with nine points in the quarter and 11 in the half.
The Hurricanes struck back and closed the deficit to 33-32, with less than four minutes left in the third quarter. However, the Hornets answered back with an 8-0 run and took a 41-34 lead into the final quarter.
The Hurricanes came out strong in the fourth quarter, scoring the first four points to whittle the lead down to three. However, Antilles was never able to close the gap, and the Hornets emerged victorious, 55-45.
Last year's New England Prep School Champions, the Hornets improve their record to 9-0 for the season and extend their winning streak to 15.
"We have a lot of work to do," said Hurricanes head coach Calvert White, adding, "We were not aggressive enough inside. We stopped doing the things that got us back into the game, which were being aggressive and taking the ball to the rim," he added.
The Hurricanes fall to 1-2 for the season.
Adding to Draughn's 24-points were Keivon Jones with 10 and Chaz Phillips with 9.
Kaylen Gregory had a game-high 25 points to lead the Hurricanes.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice… click here.
