A consistent defensive approach by the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets led to a 51-34 win over the Catawba Ridge Copperheads.
Fort Mill had four players in double figures as Logan Parker led the Jackets with 20 points. Wallace Campbell had 11 points and both Nas Berry and Jermier Nelson each had 10 points.
Fort Mill stayed undefeated in Region 3-5A improving to 7-0 and are now 18-2 on the season.
Both Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge were playing their second game in as many days, but Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery said he feels like his team played better against the Copperheads than Nation Ford, who they played Thursday.
“I think we were better,” he said. “We played with a little extra fire. We are good at three things right now – scoring, secondly, we guard people, and our chemistry.”
Fort Mill started fast in opening the game. The Jackets were patient early and was able to get a good lead before Catawba Ridge drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to play their way back into the game.
The Copperheads opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run all off 3-pointers to go up 19-16.
The Jackets didn’t panic and put together an 8-0 run to regain the lead. Fort Mill held a 30-24 lead at the half, despite the Copperheads matching them shot for shot in the second quarter.
Parker led the Jackets in the second quarter scoring nine of their 14 points.
Catawba Ridge struggled with their shots to open the third quarter. That allowed Fort Mill to take advantage and start pulling away by getting to the charity stripe.
The Jackets turned their six-point lead to a 12-point lead after the third quarter. Fort Mill just took three shots in the third quarter, but was 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Fort Mill went up by 15 to start the fourth quarter, but then things slowed down for both teams offensively. The gap was enough as the Jackets were able to get a 17-point win.
Catawba Ridge head coach Brett Childers said his youth and inexperience has hurt at times. Isaiah Thomas led the Copperheads with nine points.
“Scoring has been a challenge for us,” he said. “Our youth and inexperience in trying to score.”
Catawba Ridge is now 9-12 on the season and 2-5 in the region.
Third quarter surge aids Fort Mill
A strong third quarter by the Fort Mill Lady Jackets allowed them to pull away for a 60-27 win over Catawba Ridge.
The start of the game was slow for both teams. Fort Mill scored the first five points all from Colbie Wolf.
Catawba Ridge was able to battle back into the game and kept it close, but struggled with their ball handling in the quarter.
Fort Mill held a one-point lead heading into the second quarter and remained strong. Kate Marker took matters into her own hands in the quarter for the Jackets. Marker used her speed to get to the basket and scored eight of Fort Mill’s 15 points in the quarter.
Catawba Ridge continued to struggle with their shot and didn’t hit a basket until less than two minutes left in the half off an Addison Cunningham 3-pointer.
The Jackets took a strong 25-14 lead to the locker room at the half.
Fort Mill went back to Marker to open the third quarter. That helped to allow the Jackets to open on a 9-6 run and go up by 14 points.
Defensively, Fort Mill held the Copperheads to one shot per possession in the third and then was able to score in transition. Fort Mill outscored Catawba Ridge 22-8 in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was a struggle for both teams to score as the Jackets were able to use their 20-point advantage to cruise to the win.
Marker led the Jackets with 20 points and Cunningham scored 13 points to lead the Copperheads.
Fort Mill improved to 12-7 overall and 6-1 in the region, while Catawba Ridge dropped to 2-5 in the region and 7-12 overall.
Jan. 24 Roundup
The Nation Ford basketball teams split with Northwestern Friday night. The Lady Falcons improved to 10-10 on the season with a 54-33 win over Northwestern at home. The puts Nation Ford girls at 4-3 in Region 3-5A play. The Nation Ford boys fell 45-42 to Northwestern and are now 9-11 on the season and 1-6 in region play.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
