JV hoops claims comeback win against resilient Dudley

D.J. Johnston continued his strong start to the season by scoring 17 points to pace the Heels as they rallied in the second half to defeat the Dudley High School Panthers.

The Tar Heels opened the game on a 19-3 run, making it seem like another ho-hum drubbing of an inferior team.  However, the Panthers came storming back to close the half on a 28-8 run, punctuated by a three-point shot from near the half court line by UNC commit P.J. Hairston. 

After going into the locker room down 34-38, the Tar Heels took control of the game behind Johnston’s 13 second-half points.  They outscored the Panthers 44-33 after halftime. 

The Panthers created a havoc on defense by forcing a lot of turnovers and long jump shots during their massive first-half run, but the Tar Heels won the game by moving the ball better and playing good defense of their own in the second half.

Hairston, Rivals.com’s 25^th-ranked player in the 2011 class, had 23 points on the night, including five three-pointers and two thunderous dunks.  He had 14 of his points in the second half.  Hairston had to work hard for his points, moving without the ball with the help of screens to get open for his three-pointers. 

Hairston, a five-star recruit, should make a fine addition to the Tar Heels and could very well step into the void that will be left by Dudley High School alumnus Will Graves.