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R-S Central sizzled from the field early Monday, that quick start fueling the Hilltoppers’ 77-52 victory over Polk County in the opening round of the Mountain Foothills 7 Conference Basketball Tournament in Rutherfordton.

 

Polk County ended its season with a 6-17 record. R-S Central improved to 17-8 and moves into Wednesday’s semifinals to face Brevard.

 

R-S Central senior Isaiah Hipp buried five 3-pointers in the first quarter, then added two more in the second period to spark the Hilltoppers’ opening surge. Hipp’s five threes were two short of matching the state record for most in a quarter.

 

R-S Central hit 10 3-pointers in the opening half in building a 48-20 halftime lead and finished with 14 triples in the game. Polk County had seven 3-pointers.

 

Damon Williams led Polk County with 14 points, with Kris Littlejohn scoring 13 and Aaron Jackson adding 11.

 

Mackus Simpson scored nine points, with Wayne Carson adding four and Landen Bradley scoring one.