HILLSBOROUGH — Jordan Hamilton pumped in 33 points and pulled down 15 rebounds on Saturday afternoon up at Eno River High in Hillsboroough to help Chatham Charter to an easy 68-51 victory over Research Triangle in the finals of the 1A Central Tar Heel Conference Tournament.
Chatham Charter, which improved to 28-1 on the season, won every period in cruising to the win.
Knights coach Jason Messier said Research Triangle came ready to go especially early in the contest.
“Research Triangle came ready to play, starting the game on a 6-0 run but we responded with our own run and finished the quarter up 13-4, never giving up the lead for the remainder of the game,” said Messier. “The boys played with a lot of energy on the defensive end and were efficient in our execution on the offensive end.”
Messier also mentioned the effort by Hamilton as well as strong games from Trevor Golden and Connor Murphy.
“Jordan had a super game with 33 points on 14-17 shooting from the field and 5-7 from the free throw line,” continued Messier. “He also worked hard on the glass and pulled down a game high 15 rebounds. Trevor Golden added 16 points, 5 rebounds and Connor Murphy added 8 points and 10 rebounds with strong outings in the winning effort.”
Leading 13-10 after one, Chatham Charter used a 14-8 run to go up 27-18 at the half, and a 17-14 spurt in the third to head into the final quarter with a 44-32 advantage.
The locals put the game away in the fourth quarter with a 24-19 surge.
Ryan White added five points in the win while Cole Milholen chipped in three and Clay Griffin two. Milholen added two boards and seven assists in the win while White chipped in two rebounds and four assists.
Barry Marrow had 14 points to pace the Raptors (17-7) while Eric Klappenbach and Eli Griffith chipped in 12 each. Klappenbach chipped in nine boards, an assist and three steals in the loss while Harry Hale added seven boards, two steals and two assists, and Marrow five rebounds, one assist and four steals.
In semifinal round action on Wednesday evening at Eno River in Hillsborough, Chatham Charter belted Raleigh Charter (6-14) by a dominating 69-37 count.
Hamilton was a force inside per norm as the senior postman poured in 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field while adding 14 rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Murphy added 18 points for the Knights who shot 58 percenet (31-53) from the floor while White added seven, and Milholen, Golden, Jackson Brown and Amir Mapp four apiece.
Also in the floor game it was Milholen collecting two boards and six assists, Murphy five rebounds, two assists and five steals, White three boards and two assists, and Golden five rebounds, one assist and two steals.
Chatham Charter opened a 16-12 advantage after one quarter in the books before holding a slim 27-21 lead at the half.
In the third period, however, the Knights blew the game wide open with a 24-5 surge before claiming an 18-11 advantage in the fourth to close out the convincing 69-37 win.
Chatham Charter opened the conference tournament on Monday in Siler City and drilled Eno River Academy 67-45 after racing to a 14-5 lead after one and winning the second period 16-12 to go up 30-17 at the half, the third 13-9 to pull in front 43-26, and the fourth 24-19 to close out the win.
Hamilton had 21 points for the Knights in the victory while White chipped in 15, Golden 10, Mapp seven, and Milholen six.
Milholen added two boards, eight assists and two steals in the triumph while Hamilton dominated the glass with 16 boards while adding three assists. Murphy added four points, eight boards and a steal while White chipped in two rebounds and an assist, and Golden six boards and an assist.
“It has been a fun ride! This is a great group of young men that have spent a lot of hours in the gym and it has been enjoyable to see all their hard work paying off,” said Messier. “We are excited to be able to participate in the NCHSAA State Playoffs for the second consecutive year. We have had a strong year and are looking to make a run in the playoffs.”