BOYS BASKETBALL

Whale Branch 43, Hilton Head High 26: Leroy Perry put up 17 points and 16 rebounds to guide Whale Branch to a win over visiting Hilton Head High in both teams' season opener.

Stedmon James added nine points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Warriors (1-0). Andre Watson finished with five points and four steals, and Eric Frazier came up with five points, three assists and three steals for Whale Branch, which plays at Battery Creek on Friday.

The Seahawks (0-1) were led by Bennett Murphy with eight points and Robbie Iulo with five points. Hilton Head High plays at Ridgeland on Friday.

Dorchester Academy 53, Hilton Head Prep 41: The young and inexperienced Dolphins nearly picked up a win in their opener of Colleton Prep's Warhawk Invitational, but Dorchester Academy rallied from three points down with four minutes left and pulled away.

Charlie Wilmot had 12 points and six assists, and John Sheehan had 12 points and four steals to lead the Dolphins (0-1). Shaun Topper added eight points and Randy Young had a team-high five rebounds for Prep, which forced 22 turnovers.

Dorchester Academy shot 20 more free throws than the Dolphins, who play Holly Hill Academy in the second round on Friday at Colleton Prep.

Colleton County 57, Battery Creek 49: The Dolphins led nearly the entire game before Colleton County overtook them in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.

Justice Oliver led Battery Creek with 13 points. Tavon Jennette and Leroy Jennette both had nine points. Michael Robinson had seven points and five assists.

Battery Creek will host Whale Branch on Friday night.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hilton Head High 31, Whale Branch 24: The Seahawks pulled out the win in a hard-fought opener, led by double-doubles from Sabrina Drammis and Jamese Franklin.

Drammis had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals. Franklin had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Tashawna Washington finished with five points and five steals, and Lauryn Bush had six steals and four assists. Shy Fleming had 14 rebounds for the Seahawks (1-0), who play at Ridgeland on Friday.

Kemoni Jenkins led Whale Branch (0-1) with eight points. S'nitra Mack had six points, and Shaniqua Johnson and Kenyada Moultrie scored four apiece.

"We're head and shoulders ahead of where we were last year," Whale Branch coach Wilbert Bryant said.

The Warriors play at Battery Creek on Friday.

Dorchester Academy 47, Hilton Head Prep 45: Halie Parker had 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals, but the Dolphins dropped their opening game of the season in Colleton Prep's tournament.

Abby Miles added nine points, seven rebounds and eight steals for the Dolphins (0-1), Maggie Gasser had eight points and Brooke Churchich tallied five points and four steals.

Dorchester Academy was led by Elizabeth Brownlee and Caroline Burns with 12 points apiece.

Hilton Head Prep continues the tournament Friday against Holly Hill Academy.