Hillside boys, girls sweep basketball doubleheader at Smith

Forward Malik Evans converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 33 seconds left to snap a 65-all tie and lift visiting Hillside to a 68-65 win over E.E. Smith.
Hillside (6-2) opened the fourth period down 55-45 and had trailed since the opening minutes against 1-4 E.E. Smith, a traditional Hillside rival. The schools have a relationship that pre-dates the civil rights era when they were the high schools in Durham and Fayetteville that served black students during the days of segregated schools.
The Hornets trailed by 13 points late in the third quarter when R.J. Robinson — who scored a team and career best 20 points — knocked down a 3 to make it 55-45.
Robinson hit another pair of 3s to further slice the E.E. Smith lead in the fourth period and a pair of standout plays, one on defense, then Evans’ on offense gave Hillside the win.
In the final minute, Marius McAllister blocked a Smith shot from the corner and controlled the rebound himself to set the state for Evans’ three-point play. Smith got off the final shot, but it was a Hail Mary that never had a prayer.
Hillside coach Crasten Davis wasn’t crowing about the win afterwards.
“I’m glad we won, we showed fight, we showed perseverance,” Davis said. “That’s nice, but we can’t continue to start slow like we did tonight and like we have been. If we can put together four quarters we’ll be a pretty good team, but we’re not doing that.”
Hillside’s slow start included 17 turnovers in the first half, 23 for the game. On the plus side, the Hornets had been having trouble at the free throw line, but Robinson banged home all seven of his free throw tries and DeShon Self was 4 for 4 including three in the fourth quarter.
“These slow starts,” Davis said. “We just couldn’t get it going. Missing chip shots, making turnovers.”
McAllister, a 6-foot-4 senior wing whom Davis believes is a legitimate college prospect — “I believe he’s a small Division I caliber athlete, but needs to be a lot more aggressive,” Davis says — has been the glue keeping Hillside together through its tough times on the court.
“He was more aggressive tonight,” Davis said. “He had two dunks that were challenged and he had nine rebounds. With eight points, he was just short of a double-double.”
Evans and Self finished with 15 points each for the Hornets.
— Staff writer Mark Donovan contributed to this report.

Hillside 68, E.E. Smith 65
Hillside—D’Ontray Johnson 2, R.J. Robinson 20, Malik Evans 15, Marius McAllister 8, DeShon Self 15, Timothy Mangum 3, Marcus Bowling 1, Emanuel McGirt Jr. 4.
E.E. Smith—Damien Manning 4, Amir Williams 1, Tamell Bradham 24, Ismail Williamson 13, Jaeland Newson 4, Shawn Barnes Jr. 8, Eric Murphy 9, Troynell Reese 2.
Hillside|16|12|17|23—68
E.E. Smith|21|10|24|10—65
Records—Hillside 6-2, Smith 1-4.

GIRLS’ GAME
Hillside 71, E.E. Smith 38
FAYETTEVILLE — Mylea McKennith scored 17 points to lead all scorers and Jordyn Smith chipped in 15 and a co-team high 12 rebounds as the Hillside girls routed E.E. Smith 71-38 here Saturday.
Justine Lyons, a guard, added eight points and tied power forward Smith with 12 rebounds for the Hornets who led 40-13 at the half and welcomed preseason starter Khara Herring back for her first game since suffering a hip injury.
Herry had six points in her debut.
“We played really well defensively,” Hillside coach Ovester Grays said. “We hadn’t played in a week, so it was hard to get in a rhythm defensively. Overally, I was pleased.”
Hillside improved to 7-1 while Smith dropped to 1-5.
— Staff writer Mark Donovan contributed to this report.

Hillside 71, E.E. Smith 38
Hillside—Tykyrah Williams 4, Mylea McKennith 17, Sydney Brown 7, Justine Lyons 8, Mya Webb 2, Jordyn Smith 15, Khara Herring 6, Daesha Marshall 11.
E.E. Smith—Jailene Ramos 6, Alecia Hardy 8, Azha McNeil 8, Kaila Warren 1, Unique Porter 4, Tyme Crumble 6, Mikeya Stanley 4.
Hillside|22|18|18|13—71
E.E. Smith|4|9|19|6—38
Records—Hillside 7-1, Fayetteville E.E. Smith 1-5.