Hartfield Academy’s High School basketball teams swept a pair of games from Newton County Academy High School Saturday evening in Decatur. 

The Lady Hawks were able to pull away from the Lady Generals, who started a couple of sophomores and one senior, with a 14-2 fourth quarter to take the 44-32 win in a game much closer than the final score. 

NCA coach Michael Alexander wasn’t happy with the final score, but he was pleased with his young squad’s effort and improvement. 

“I thought we let one get away today; we aren’t scoring consistently enough, but we’re headed in the right direction and we are in these games in the fourth quarter, so we’re going to build on that,” Alexander said. 

The Lady Generals jumped out to a 15-7 lead after one quarter behind the play of point guard Kelli Hollingsworth on the outside, and AnnaLaurel Moody in the paint. Hollingsworth scored seven of her team’s first nine points while Moody ended the first frame with four unanswered scores. 

The Lady Hawks took control in the second quarter, out scoring NCA 15-4, with a 15-0 run that put them ahead, but the Lady Generals were still within reach  as they trailed the Lady Hawks 22-19 at the halftime break. 

NCA had a 9-8 scoring advantage in the third quarter  to make it a two-point game, 30-28 in favor of Hartfield with a quarter left to play. 

The Lady Hawks turned up the defense in the fourth quarter and held NCA to just four points while ringing up 14 to take the 44-32 win. 

Hollingsworth led NCA with 11 points, followed by Kaleigh Cosgrove with seven and Moody chipped in five. The Lady Generals fell to 2-9 on the year and will return to action in the Lamar Tournament. 

Hartfield Boys 57, NCA 42

The NCA boys team gave an effort that head coach Tanner Smith was proud of, but the Generals were just outmatched by the Hawks’ defensive play. 

“Hartfield has a really good defensive team that we just weren’t prepared for. They outmatched us with their lineup and rebounded well, and that’s what hurt us,” Smith said. “ My guys battled until the end, and I’m proud of them for that.”

The Hawks went on a seven to zero run to start the game before the Generals’ offense came alive, but Hartfield had an answer for each NCA basket and led 21-11 at the end of one quarter. 

Hartfield went on a 14-2 run in the second frame before Sage Gunn scored on a steal and layup, followed by an Ethan McDill trey to give the Hawks a 35-18 lead at the break. 

NCA outscored Hartfield 8-6 in the third quarter as both defenses tightened to leave the score at 41-27 after three quarters of play. 

The Generals got good inside play from Bailey McDill in the fourth quarter with the Senior center hitting six points, and sophomore shooter Luke Alexander connected on a long 3-pointer but the Hawks answered each time with 3-point shots or baskets off of offensive rebounds to take the 57-42 win. 

Bailey McDill finished the night with 16 points to lead NCA. Sage Gunn poured in 12 points followed by Ethan McDill with eleven. 

The Generals fell to 8-3 on the season.