By ANDREW FAISON/CORRESPONDENT
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

WINDSOR—Southampton High School defeated Windsor High School 78-67 in a non-district match-up Monday night.

Southampton improved to 8-4 on the season remains 3-4 in the Southside District. Windsor fell to 4-8.

Leading the way for Southampton was Tonee Hill with 17 points, including three, 3-point shots. Nick Doyle and Jay’R McCain added 14 points each and Josh Johnson had 13 points.

Leading the way for Windsor was Tony Walton with 24 points; he went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line, while Gavin Horton added 18 points, including four, 3-point shots, and R.J. Edwards had 14 points.

“I thought we played very well tonight,” said Dukes Coach Chris Smith. “Southampton is a good team. We were able to come in tonight and hang with them and give them a run for their money.”

Southampton was the first on the board as Hill hit a 3-point shot with 7:22 left in the first quarter; this led to 15-point run by Southampton. The run was ended by a 3-point shot by Windsor’s Horton with 3:47 left in the quarter. The first quarter ended with Southampton leading 23-8.

“We just didn’t have the killer instinct to finish,” said Indians Coach Will Melbye. “We didn’t smell blood in the water and didn’t go after it and it kinda cost us and made it a ball game all the way down the stretch.”

Southampton pulled its starting line-up with more than half of the second quarter remaining. Windsor took advantage, outscoring Southampton 17-11 to close the quarter 34-25.

“Our legs hurt us,” said Melbye. “We’re playing like three games in four days now. I ran everyone out there in the first half, and we just couldn’t put ‘em away.”

Windsor fought back to within 6 points of Southampton at the end of the third quarter heavily on the heels of Walton who had 8 points and Horton who had 7. The third quarter ended with Southampton leading 53-47.

“They hung around and shot the ball,” said Melbye. “Big guy (Walton) has a nice touch down low.”

Southampton will travel to Powhatan High School on Wednesday, Jan. 26, and Bluestone on Friday, Jan. 28; both games are district match-ups and begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Dukes will host Tri-Rivers District foe Charles City at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28.

On this week’s upcoming games, Melbye said his team cannot have any let downs. The Indians have to play to their ability and cannot play down their competition.

“We have to take care of the things we can take care of,” said Melbye. “Every game now is a have to have if we want to continue our way up to the top half of the Southside District and towards the top couple of seeds.”