Sampson Middle Mikayla Boykin works the ball against Hobbton's Makenzie Williams, No. 24. (Stephanie Gore/Sampson Independent)

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Hobbton Middle's Makenzie Williams looks for an opening during a game with Sampson Monday afternoon. The Dark Horses won the game. (Stephanie Gore/Sampson Independent)

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Sampson Middle girls went head-to-head with Hobbton Middle’s young Wildcats Monday afternoon, edging the visiting county team 43-30.

It was, Sampson coach Jamie Harper said, a hard-fought battle.

“Hobbton played a great game,” Harper said. “It was really a tough battle.”

In fact, the Sampson coach said the score was back and forth for most of the first two quarters and even into the third, before the home team was able to put a little distance between themselves and the Wildcat girls.

The middle ‘Cats came out fired up, taking a first quarter lead, but Sampson would not be denied, catching up and knotting the score by the half-time buzzer. The teams went into the break tied at 14.

“I thought we had great leadership and team work from both our veterans and our new players. They showed toughness tonight,” Harper said.

Young Dark Horse Mikayla Boykin had what Harper called “another terrific night,” scoring 34 points for the Sampson team. Also contributing was Reagan Barefoot, with 3 points; and Kiera Mabrey, Edye Carr and Kadaysia Dawson each contributing 1 point a piece.

Monday’s win moves the Sampson team to 2-0. They will face Roseboro-Salemburg Elementary School in a Wednesday afternoon game which begins at 4 p.m.