WILMINGTON, N.C. – It sounds cliche, but all records get thrown out the window when New Hanover boys basketball tangles with cross-town rival Hoggard.

Wednesday night was different; the records were identical.

In a battle of 17-2 overall teams who both held pristine 10-0 conference records, the Wildcats survived in the final seconds to win 57-52 at Brogden Hall.

Over the final four minutes of play, New Hanover watched a 16-point lead dissolve to as little as three. Late free throws were just enough to push its win streak to 14 straight.

The Wildcats started the night with an instantly ahead 14-0. Thanks to seven early points from Rodmik Allen, momentum comfortably sat on the home side.

A Hoggard run late in the period narrowed the gap to 18-7 after one. The two sides played even with a 10-10 second quarter.

Nolan Billings turned in a strong second quarter to enter the break with a game-high 10 points. He finished second in scoring with 16 total.

Hoggard sophomore Hunter McGrath quickly began the third quarter with a pair of threes. The Vikings’ early execution trimmed the New Hanover lead to as little as six points, but Billings and Kellum Brown had a late responses to inflate the Wildcat advantage to 45-32 after three.

A technical foul assessed to Hoggard pushed New Hanover’s lead to 16 but worked as a jolt of late life for the Vikings.

Will Seward and Lawson Brown combined for 17 fourth-quarter points, 14 of which came in the final four minutes, reducing the score to 55-52.

The Wildcats registered a single field goal over the final eight minutes but 10 of New Hanover’s 14 fourth-quarter free throws found the bottom of the net.

Next Thursday night, the rivalry shifts over the Shipyard Boulevard.

BOX SCORE:
NHHS: 18-10-17-12 57
HOG: 7-10-15-20 52

SCORING:
NHHS: Allen 18, Billings 16, Brown 11, Batts 6, Kornegay 4, Wright-McGee 2
HOG: Brown 20, Seward 14, McGrath 13, Durand 3, Morgan 2

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