Titans’ struggles did not show Tuesday night vs. Hough.

By Justin Parker

Hopewell might as well have greeted Hough's bus when it pulled into the parking lot Tuesday night.

The Titans were that ready to play their still-new rival from the northern end of north Mecklenburg County, and proved it throughout a 56-47 win that was close only for a stretch in the fourth quarter.

"We definitely circled this as a big game," said Hopewell coach Damon Bost. "Given where we were with wins and losses, we just had to have it."

Coming off back-to-back losses, the Titans (3-6 overall, 1-1 I-Meck) scored the game's first basket 37 seconds in and took a commanding 15-2 lead before six minutes had expired. Hough (3-6, 0-2) had no answers and had as many turnovers (seven) as shot attempts in the first quarter. Hopewell led throughout.

"They wanted it more than we did at the end of the day," said Hough coach Justin Batts. "They came up with most of the 50-50 balls, came up with numerous, numerous offensive rebounds. They scored easy lay-ups in transition because we turned the ball over."

A basket by Tyrone Curry at the start of the third quarter gave Hopewell a 17-point lead, its largest of the night, at 31-14. It took five three-pointers from Hough's Jacqueaz Jackson (two) and Drexler Clark (three) in a span of 6:41 from late in the third quarter until deep into the fourth to trim the lead to five, at 48-43, with 2:17 to play. But Hopewell, now 3-0 against Hough, again had the answer, this time from the foul line, where it hit 8-of-11 shots down the stretch, including its final six, to close out the victory.

Bost was proud of the way his team, which includes four freshmen, set the tone all night, and said his team is progressing.

"I think it helped tonight," he said. "We're not all the way where we want to be, but it helped tonight."

Curry's 13 points led Hopewell, and Jordan Burgess added 12, while also shouldering a large load defensively. Burgess often defends the opposing team's top player, and the Titans put him on Hough freshman Luke Maye, a 6-foot-6 standout who has regularly posted 20-point nights. Maye finished with one field goal and six points.

"They did a good job, especially in the first half, trying to keep Luke out of the game," said Batts. "They denied him all over the whole court."

But the Hough coach also acknowledged that there were times Maye was open near the basket and just didn't get the ball.

Jackson finished with 17 points. Clark added 13.

Having lost four straight, Hough now heads into Friday's home game with rival North Meck, a team that lost for the first time Tuesday. Hough led most of the way against Vance last Friday, but lost its I-Meck opener 58-52. Maye scored a team-high 20.

Hopewell struggled against defending state champion West Charlotte in its first I-Meck game, falling 71-45 on the road. Cameron Moore and Taj Middleton each scored 10 to lead the Titans.

Hopewell travels to Lake Norman Friday.