LANCASTER – Despite fourth quarter shooting woes, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets were able to hold off the Lancaster Bruins on the road.
The Yellow Jackets won 58-49 to improve to 4-1 on the season.
Fort Mill didn’t open December with a cupcake as they took on the defending 4A state champs in the Lancaster Bruins in the Bruins Den in the Red Rose City.
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Jackets made sure to get both Wallace Campbell and Jermier Nelson involved. The two scored Fort Mill’s first nine points, but three consecutive turnovers led Lancaster to an early 12-9 lead.
Fort Mill battled back and AJ Washington’s free throw tied the game at 14 heading into the second quarter.
The Jackets scored the first two buckets of the second quarter. However, Lancaster’s athleticism kept them within striking distance.
Campbell, Nelson, and Washington scored 23 of the first 25 Fort Mill points. Midway through the second quarter, the Jackets took advantage of the Bruins turnovers going on a 10-0 run to take a 34-23 lead at halftime. Fort Mill outscored the Bruins 20-9 in the second quarter.
Scoring slowed to open the second half for both teams. Fort Mill kept the edge scoring the first four points of the third quarter. As the Jackets went up by 12, Lancaster increased the defensive pressure.
Fort Mill took that dozen point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bruins came out hot opening with a 3-pointer using turnovers and a rowdy home court advantage to start the period on a 6-0 run, pulling within six. The Jackets went the first three and half minutes of the fourth quarter without scoring.
Fort Mill didn’t score their first field goal until 2:30 left in the fourth quarter, but managed to keep the lead at the charity stripe, despite the Bruins hanging in there. The Jackets were strong on the glass and went 9-for-12 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, and hit just the one field goal as the Bruins outscored them 14-11.
Washington led with 22 points, while Nelson added 18 points and Campbell chipped in 14 points.
Fort Mill next plays Gaffney at home on Friday, Dec. 5.
Girls’ basketball
The Fort Mill Lady Jackets added a check in the win column pulling out a close win over Lancaster 48-40 to improve to 3-0.
Fort Mill started strong, but turnovers kept the Lady Bruins in the game in the opening four minutes of their game.
Lancaster was also strong on the offensive glass allowing them to keep a slight edge. Zoe Williams inside basket on the block gave the Yellow Jackets a slight 16-14 edge after the opening quarter.
Williams kept Fort Mill in the game early in the second quarter by being a force on the block.
Turnovers were an issue for both squads in the second quarter, as was scoring midway through the period.
Fort Mill used a 6-0 run towards the end of the first half to create some distance between them and the Lady Bruins, taking a 26-23 lead to the locker room.
Lancaster tied the game at 26 to open the third quarter on a 3-pointer.
Turnovers slowed both team’s offense during the quarter as neither were able to find a rhythm.
Although they struggled shooting, Fort Mill was able to go on another small 8-0 run to open a gap against the Lady Bruins.
Lancaster went on a run of their own in the final minute of the quarter and pulled within four at 36-32 entering the fourth.
The Lady Bruins pulled within one to open the fourth quarter, but Fort Mill didn’t allow them to get the lead as the Lady Jackets outscored Lancaster 12-8 in the period to get the win.
Williams led Fort Mill with 13 points and Colbie Wolf added 11 points.
The Lady Jackets will host South Pointe at home on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Dec. 2 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball team beat Cheraw 59-32 to improve to 2-2 on the season.
The Nation Ford boys’ basketball team fell to Charlotte Latin 61-45 to drop their first game of the season and are now 3-1.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
