After a rough time last week against Gaffney, the Nation Ford Falcons were able to get back into the hunt for a playoff spot by running over the Boiling Springs Bulldogs Monday night.
The Falcons beat Boiling Springs 61-28 to improve to 2-2 in Region 3-5A play and 5-10 overall. Nation Ford was led by Harper McKain, who scored 23 points, and Elizabeth Cohen, who added 12 points in the win.
“We have got to crash the board more,” said Nation Ford head coach Coretta Richmond. “We played well. Our transition offense picked up.”
Despite having a 14-point lead at the half, Nation Ford played even better in the second half, especially the fourth quarter. The Falcons outscored Boiling Springs 20-4 in the fourth quarter with McKain scoring 12 points in the quarter herself.
Nation Ford started the game on a 15-2 run and got seven early points from Payton Brookover, who went down in the first quarter with an injury. The Falcons hit 6-of-9 shots in the opening period to go up 18-4.
The second quarter was sloppy for both squads as Boiling Springs matched Nation Ford shot-for-shot as the two teams combined for 16 points. Nation Ford hit just two second quarter shots from the field.
The Falcons didn’t shoot the ball as often in the third quarter, but was more accurate when they did as both Cohen and McKain started taking the game into their own hands. Nation Ford took a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter at 41-20, and continued to surge as the final period culminated in the win.
One thing that aided the Falcons in the game was their foul shooting as they were just as impressive from the line. Nation Ford hit 20-of-24 foul shots and went 20-for-48 from the field in the game.
The Nation Ford boys’ varsity team is still out due to COVID-19, but should be back in action Friday night as both the girls’ and boys’ host Arborbrook Academy out of North Carolina in non-region action.
Nation Ford girls have four more region games as they take on Fort Mill next week in two games and then Clover the week after.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
