With basketball season just around the corner, the Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers tipped off the 2014-15 season with their annual season-opening event, Hilltopper Hysteria, on Saturday night in Diddle Arena.

Both teams participated in 20-minute scrimmages in front of the fans for the first time this season. The red team defeated the white team in the men’s scrimmage 43-41 while the black team defeated the red team 44-29 in Lady Topper action.

Redshirt sophomore guard Chris Harrison-Docks led the men’s red team with 14 points off of four three-pointers. Freshman forward Justin Johnson tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds for the white team in his first action as a Hilltopper.

“It was good,” Johnson said. “This was my first time participating in it. I’ve been coming for three years, so this was a big deal for me. Watching it growing older in high school and now to finally participate was a big deal for me, and it was a great time.”

On the Lady Topper side, senior guard Alexis Govan scored 15 points for the black team while Sophomore forward Bria Gaines racked up 12 points and nine rebounds to go along with Govan’s performance.

Govan played in only 11 games a season ago due to a stress fracture in her left tibia.

“I couldn’t stop smiling, I think my teammates knew that I was excited to be here with them and it didn’t matter what happened.” Govan said.

After the scrimmages, junior college transfer Ayinde Sprewell took home the annual dunk contest crown by defeating Johnson in the final round. Sprewell also defeated last year’s champion, senior guard Trency Jackson along with freshman guard DJ Clayton in the contest.

“It was the best experience I’ve ever had in my life,” Sprewell said. “It was fun and the crowd was excited. It was a joy I can’t explain. It was wonderful.”

The hysteria continued with the brand new three-point shootout event, pitting freshman forward Ivy Brown and junior guard Micah Jones against each other, along with one lucky Red Wave member on each team. Excitement filled the air as the two teams frantically threw up three pointers. Jones and her teammate immerged victorious after the shootout.

“It was a lot of fun, and it was great to see everybody out here and supporting us…I enjoyed it,” Brown said.

The men’s team will be in action on Nov. 10 in an exhibition against Pikeville while the Lady Toppers open play on Nov. 7 in an exhibition against Bellarmine University. Both games are in Diddle Arena.