COURTLAND
The Southampton Academy boys basketball team opened up the season last week at the ninth-annual Lt. Nick Brantley Scholarship Tournament in Ahoskie, North Carolina. The Raiders posted a 3-0 record, winning the tournament for the third time in four years.

“As with all early-season games, we didn’t have great shooting,” said head coach Chris Pope. “Our defense was the difference maker, though.”

In wins over Northeast Academy, 54-38, Bethel Christian Academy, 56-44, and Lawrence Academy, 50-46, senior guard Matt Rose averaged 9 points and 12 rebounds per game. Rose was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Joining Rose on the all-tournament team was junior point guard Andrew Lowe, who averaged just over 14 points per contest.

The Raiders played their first non-tournament game of the season on Tuesday night, falling to Brunswick Academy, 64-59. Lowe, once again, led the team in scoring with 16 points, but Pope said it was just one of those nights where the other team simply hit more shots.

“They shot over 50 percent from the field, and we struggled, hitting about 40 percent of our shots,” said Pope.

Southampton Academy will hit the road again on Saturday, traveling to Hampton to take on Denbigh Baptist. Including two tournaments, the Raiders may play 12 games on the road before playing their first home game on Jan. 9.