Green Hope boys and girls basketball sweep Fuquay-Varina

There was a plethora of pink in Green Hope’s gym on Thursday night as the Falcons hosted a fundrasier for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in memory of the former N.C. State women’s basketball coach.

The two varsity games went the home team’s way. Green Hope’s boys grinded out a 56-51 victory against visiting Fuquay-Varina, while the girls broke open a tight contest in the second half to win 54-34.

Falcon boys move to .500

It was an offensive struggle, but Green Hope’s boys basketball team was able to overcome its mishaps with tough defense down the stretch. Green Hope led just 9-6 after the first quarter. In the third, neither team scored until there were 3 minutes, 50 seconds left in the period.

“I thought Fuquay played very well,” Green Hope coach John Green said. “Defensively I thought they did a pretty good job.”

In his first game back from being out three weeks, Green Hope’s Quavis Johnson was back to full form, scoring a team high 12 points. Despite being sideline by an injury, Johnson was able to help prevail the Falcons to a victory.

“I feel good, I had to get my feet under me for a second, but once I got that down I was ready to go,” Johnson said.

Green had very high praise for Johnson, who had only practiced once since returning from injury.

“To get Quavis Johnson back in the lineup was really big, it was an emotional lift for us. He’s a captain and leads us offensively and defensively,” Green said.

Rasheed Reams was also huge for the Falcons scoring eight points and picking up four boards despite being in foul trouble. He fouled out with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.

As for Fuquay-Varina, there were many bright spots in the loss.

Ladji Samora scored 14 points and picked up five rebounds, while Taylor Layton scored 12 points. Fuquay went into halftime down 26-21 and was never able to reclaim the lead in the second half despite coming close.

With the win, Green Hope (12-6, 5-5) was able to move to .500 in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference. Fuquay (5-12, 2-7) continues to struggle, losing five of its last six.

Green Hope girls race by Bengals

Nia Washington and Kelly Fitzgerald led the way for the Falcons’ girls basketball team as Washington posted 15 points, five rebounds, five steals and five assists, while Kelly Fitzgerald scored 12 points, which were all in the first half.

“It was a little rough, but we managed to fight through and get the win,” Washington said.

For the Bengals, Kelley Suggs came off the bench and scored nine points and Ava Bethea scored five points and picked up 11 rebounds.

Fuquay-Varina (7-11, 2-7) kept it close in the first two quarters going into half down 26-18, but turnovers seemed to doom the Bengals as Green Hope extended the lead to 20 late in the game. Green Hope (15-3, 9-1), which has now won 12 of its last 13, forced 13 steals.

“I thought we scrapped and fought, and (Fuquay) didn’t go away… I thought they did a great job of keeping us unbalanced,” Green Hope coach Mike Robinson said.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 12:21 AM with the headline "Green Hope boys and girls basketball sweep Fuquay-Varina."