INDIAN LAND – The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets boys’ basketball team picked up a must win Region 3-5A victory over the Indian Land Warriors to split the season series.
The Jackets won 67-46 over the Warriors to improve to 19-6 overall and 8-3 in the region.
“We were getting shots we wanted in the first half,” said Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery. I told them to stick to the game plan. We had a great effort from the kids. We have to take care of business on Friday.”
Fort Mill started well using back door cuts and screens to get to the basket easily in the first quarter going up 10-2 before an Indian Land timeout. The Warriors came out of the timeout and went on a 5-0 run to make it more competitive before the end of the first quarter. The Jackets doubled up Indian Land to go up 14-7 after the first quarter.
Neither team started the second quarter very well. Both teams struggled with their shot missing easy layups, and high percentage shots. Neither team scored in the first four minutes of the second quarter.
Sequel Patterson finally got Indian Land on the board just under the four-minute mark. Fort Mill missed their first 12 shots from the field, before a Caleb Tooper lay-in.
Fort Mill’s big three struggled at times. AJ Washington didn’t score in the first half, while Wallace Campbell only scored three points in the second quarter and Jamir Nelson scored just six points in the first quarter, but nothing in the second quarter.
The Jackets were outscored 7-5 in the second quarter, but led 19-14 at the half. Fort Mill was 2-of-13 from the field in the second quarter and unofficially 8-of-26 in the first half.
The Jackets came out empowered opening on a 5-0 run to go up by 10 at 24-14. Fort Mill was also more methodical with the ball, taking their time and getting to the hoop to score without rushing their offense. Tooper was also key in the Jackets offense getting off the ball to open play for Fort Mill and create a distraction for the Jackets big three.
Defensively, Fort Mill held the Warriors to one shot per possession and allowed them to make mistakes leading to defensive rebounds. The Jackets outscored scored the Warriors 25-11 in the third quarter as they went up by nearly 20 to enter the fourth quarter. Washington scored 10 points in the third quarter as he was able to find his shot.
Fort Mill went up by 21 shortly after the fourth quarter began. Things started to unravel for Indian Land as they got two technicals within the first minute of the fourth quarter. Their student section even got a warning by an official. Both Nelson and Washington continued to lead Fort Mill on offense in the fourth quarter.
The referees continued to give out technicals as the Jackets got two of its own in the fourth quarter. However, they still managed to control the game going up by 22 with about three minutes remaining in the game.
The Jackets started milking the clock soon thereafter to end the game. Fort Mill was led by both Nelson and Washington as each had 20, with Washington scoring all his points in the second half. Tooper dropped in 14 points and Campbell added nine points.
Girls’ basketball
The Fort Mill girls’ basketball team continued a run for first place in Region 3-5A with a resounding win over the Indian Land Warriors.
The Lady Jackets improved to 14-11 overall and 9-2 in the region with the 62-31 win.
It was a slow start for both teams as they combined for only three points through the first three minutes of the game. Fort Mill picked up the defensive pressure, which in turn led to turnovers and offense on the other end of the court for the Jackets.
Fort Mill started the game 17-0 as Indian Land didn’t score until under a minute left in the first quarter.
Indian Land played their way back into the game to open the second quarter on a 4-1 run pulling within 10 points of the Jackets. Scoring slowed for Fort Mill in the second quarter despite them holding a comfortable lead. Fort Mill again picked up the defensive intensity late in the quarter causing more turnovers as they were able to add to their score and went into the locker room up 35-10.
Play got sloppy for both teams in the third quarter as turnovers were aplenty for both schools. Neither team was able to find a rhythm as they both struggled with their ball handling. Despite the offensive struggles early, Fort Mill was up by 34 points entering the fourth quarter up 53-19.
Fort Mill was led by Colbie Wolf with 14 points. Journi Berry added 12 points and Kate Marker dropped in 10 points for the Jackets.
Fort Mill will finish the regular season Friday, Feb. 13 at Nation Ford.
Feb. 10 Roundup
The Nation Ford girls’ basketball team fell to Clover 53-46 to drop to 11-12 overall and 6-4 in Region 3-5A. The Nation Ford boys’ basketball team beat Clover 54-40 to improve to 17-7 overall and 6-4 in the region.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball team fell to 11-11 overall and 4-7 in Region 3-5A with a 68-31 loss to Rock Hill. The Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team beat Rock Hill 71-56 to improve to 5-6 in the region and 15-9 overall.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
