252 HoopState TipOff: Wayne Country Day/First Flight Game Recap

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Wayne Country Day School squared off against First Flight High School in a battle of public vs. private in a game that didn't disappoint. Take a look at the recap and standouts from the game.</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get&nbsp;30% OFF payment&nbsp;on your first billing cycle with offer code:&nbsp;<strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne Country Day and First Flight High was a back-and-forth affair that saw WCDS hold off the Nighthawks until the very end. The Chargers came out firing in the early going as did First Flight and after one quarter, things were set at 18-17 in favor of WCDS. [player_tooltip player_id='2277363' first='Jeremiah' last='Mercer'] showed off his shooting stroke in the early going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WCDS would start the second quarter on a 6-0 run thanks to the presence of [player_tooltip player_id='2127718' first='Jaelen' last='Solomon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1338306' first='Carlos' last='Vazquez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1120961' first='Kayleb' last='Coles'] in the painted area. With 4:55 left in the first half, the lead blossomed to 30-19 before First Flight would knock things back to single digits. While [player_tooltip player_id='1220133' first='Mason' last='Dobie'] struggled scoring the ball in the first half for FF, [player_tooltip player_id='1693993' first='Kaleb' last='Spencer'] still managed to score six points and Cole Hahne came through with five points of his own. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the half, WCDS led First Flight 38-29. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Flight would come out hot in the second half as they would narrow the deficit to four points with 5:11 left in the quarter. First Flight knocked down four 3-pointers in the frame to keep things close and a lead that was once nine points was now 50-49 in favor of WCDS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyheim Jones would explode in the fourth quarter for WCDS as things would continue to remain close, though they never gave up the lead. Another four 3-pointers from the Nighthawks would make things 66-65 with two minutes left but Jones' 11 points in the quarter came at just the right time. WCDS would hold on for a 76-72 victory in the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1120961"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2277452,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Coles was a burden to the bare on the interior all game long as he showed he could clean up the glass and make things happen around the rim. He finished with 14 points as he did well to battle through contact and get to the free-throw line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2127718"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Solomon was another impressive presence on the interior for WCDS. He showed off his increased strength with his ability to finish around the rim with his athleticism as well. He was another top performer in finishing with nine points and a number of rebounds.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1338306"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Vazquez was impressive slashing to the rim and switching things up with his ability to attack in space. He did well to create opportunities for himself and was another heavy free-throw shooter who made FF defend him. He finished with 18 points and went 9-for-12 from the FT line.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1220133"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Dobie really got his shooting stroke going in the second half to keep the Nighthawks in the game. He finished with 27 points, 20 in the second half, while knocking down five 3-pointers and pacing the offense. He's a confident scorer who should have a strong junior campaign in 2023-24.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2277363"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":2277454,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Mercer was an impressive 2027 prospect to get to know with WCDS when it was all said and done. He showed he could knock down shots on the perimeter with purpose and defend with his length at 6-foot-3. He knocked down four 3-pointers to pace the backcourt with what he could do.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1693993"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Spencer did well to anchor the painted area and clean up misses with his ability to rebound on the offensive end. He finished with 10 points and held things down around the rim with his length and abilities.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Cole Hahne","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"First Flight","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Hahne was another unsigned senior who stood out for First Flight with his ability to shoot the basketball. He knocked down some tough shots in space to keep the Nighthawks in the game and keep the deficit close. He finished with 11 points along with three made 3-pointers in the game.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b624eced41"} /-->