By Tray Mason

Correspondent

 

The King’s Fork Bulldogs (14-7, 13-4) used a hot shooting night, particularly in the first quarter, to post an 83-46 win over visiting Hickory in boy’s basketball action on Friday.

On the Bulldogs Senior Night and last home game of the regular season, they jumped out to an early 13-2 lead and never looked back.

KF netted four three-point field goals in the first quarter and led 28-9 going into the second.

Seniors Carl Hailes and Zach Johnson did the majority of their scoring in the first half, with Johnson putting in 10 points, and Hailes nine points. Johnson would finish with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Hailes would tally 13 points, five assists, and four steals.

“The seniors stepped up and played with the defensive tone that I wanted,” said KF head coach Josh Worrell. “They’re great leaders, and they strive to make teammates better.”

The Bulldogs have been nursing a number of injuries and illness going into the postseason. Johnson returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with the flu. Starting center Trevon Wiggins missed the game with the flu, and Jaylen White, a key reserve for the Bulldogs, injured his knee against Grassfield on Thursday.

KF has one game remaining versus Oscar Smith, to whom they lost 64-47 the first time the two teams met.

The Bulldogs are in third place in the Southeastern District behind Great Bridge( 18-3, 15-2) and rival Nansemond River (16-4, 14-3).

The top four teams in the standings at season’s end each play at home in the first round of the SED tournament.