It was a good day for the Catawba Ridge Copperheads basketball program as the boys and girls teams each won the Copperhead Basketball Classic.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ team started the celebration off with a 51-43 win over the defending 5A state champion Rock Hill Bearcats to repeat as Copperhead Classic title holders.
“We came out and executed how I asked us to,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Sheridan Pressley. “For the most part, we executed what we tried to do. Rock Hill is a great team. It is exciting for us and gives us confidence heading into the region. I am proud of them.”
Rock Hill showed their strength early taking a 14-8 lead in the second quarter after starting the period on a 7-2 run. However, Catawba Ridge finally found their rhythm and finished the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 25-20 lead into the half.
Despite the slow start, the Copperheads outscored Rock Hill 19-13 in the second quarter. The second half was all Catawba Ridge, although Rock Hill stayed within striking distance for the most part.
Catawba Ridge went on an 8-2 run in the third quarter and held a 41-33 lead after the period. The Copperheads opened the final quarter on a 6-0 run and tournament MVP Morgan Davis for Catawba Ridge came up big scoring six of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Catawba Ridge had four players score in double figures with Davis, Tatum Postel and Brielle Windisch all scoring 11 points, while Makaliah Davis, who was named to the All-Tournament team, scored 10 points.
The win put Catawba Ridge at 10-3 overall on the season as they will host Fort Mill next Tuesday, Jan. 3 to resume the regular season.
Copperheads go 3-for-3 in tourney titles
For the third time this season, the Catawba Ridge boys’ team has captured a tournament title.
Catawba Ridge beat Parkwood 59-48 off the help of a strong second quarter where they outscored them 15-5 and led from that point onward to capture the boy’s bracket in the Copperhead Basketball Classic.
The Copperheads were led by Lance Barnes, who scored 18 points and made the All-Tournament team, and Grant Lovette, who scored 14 points and was named tournament MVP in the win.
After the second quarter outburst, Catawba Ridge took a 26-17 lead at the half and kept Parkwood, who was 11-2 coming in, at bay for the second half. Barnes scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half and Catawba Ridge used a slower style of play in the second half to help them control the pace of the game.
Copperheads’ head coach Brett Childers said the game was as tough as he expected it to be.
“The guys have really stepped up and did a remarkable job,” he said. “I feel really good about where we are at. This will carry over.”
Owen Elliott also had a big game in the finals against Parkwood scoring 16 points in the win.
Catawba Ridge improves to 12-2 on the season. They claimed the Milltown Basketball Classic title to open the season and last week they won the Chesnee Roundball Classic for the second consecutive year. The tournament title Friday makes it three this season for Catawba ridge.
The Copperheads will next play Tuesday, Jan. 3 where they will meet Fort Mill for a third time this season.
Lady Jackets finish seventh in the tournament
The Fort Mill girls’ team finished seventh in the tournament with a 52-31 win over Harding University.
Fort Mill was led by Lydia Laney, who scored 12 points in the win, as the Jackets improved to 7-7 overall on the season. Julienne Chambliss was named to the All-Tournament team for Fort Mill.
Fort Mill opened up the game strong scoring 15 points and leading 15-4 after the first period. The Jackets struggled in the second quarter and were outscored 10-5 as Harding clawed their way back into the game.
Despite the rally, Fort Mill held a six-point lead at 20-14 after the first half.
In the second half, Fort Mill got back on track and outscored Harding 32-17 with the help of a 17-point third quarter. Chambliss scored six of her 11 points in the quarter and helped to pace Fort Mill.
The fourth quarter was just as strong for Fort Mill as Laney knocked down two 3-pointers in the period.
Fort Mill head coach Nathan Wruble said he feels his team has a lot of potential if they can correct some things.
“We have got to get more consistent,” he said. “Turnovers and defensive rebounding, if we can iron those out, we will be tough.”
Fort Mill heads back to Catawba Ridge for their first game in 2023 on Jan. 3.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
