NORTH AUGUSTA – The Catawba Ridge boys basketball team bounced the No. 1 ranked North Augusta Yellow Jackets in the second round of the 4A playoffs with a 56-49 win Friday night.
The loss for North Augusta was their first on the season as they fell to 27-1 on the year. Catawba Ridge improved to 24-4 overall and will head to Greenville Monday evening for the third round of the playoffs.
“That was so fun,” said Copperheads head coach Brett Childers. “Our guys are rock solid.”
Childers said Catawba Ridge is used to being in high pressured situations and playing in Region III against the likes of Lancaster and Indian Land, as well as against rivals Fort Mill and Nation Ford has prepped them for situations like Friday.
“We have been in that exact situation,” Childers said. “We knew they would come out shooting. We are used to these tough places to play. We like being on the road and being underdogs.”
Catawba Ridge isn’t sneaking up on too many people as they came into the game ranked sixth in 4A. However, they played smart, disciplined basketball Friday night and never led the pressure get too them.
North Augusta opened the game going up 7-2, but the Copperheads battled back to tie the game at 11 after the first quarter as Tillman Chrisley hit a clutch three to tie the game before the period ended.
Turnovers were uncharacteristically an issue for Catawba Ridge in the game as it allowed them from pulling away. Zyan Hager gave the Copperheads a 20-17 lead with a 3-pointer, and Catawba Ridge held on for a one point 22-21 lead at the half.
The second half really turned the tide for the Copperheads as Catawba Ridge opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to go up 31-21. They got momentum in their corner as they were able to hold off short runs by North Augusta that didn’t rattle the Copperheads.
North Augusta went on an 8-0 run of its own in the third quarter, but Catawba Ridge outscored the Yellow Jackets 15-10 in the quarter and led 37-31 heading into the final eight minutes.
The fourth quarter was more methodical for Catawba Ridge as they didn’t score a lot from the field, but was clutch from the foul line hitting 10-of-13 shots. North Augusta pressed the Copperheads for part of the quarter, but Catawba Ridge was able to wiggle their way around it and still get to the basket, which eventually led them to the foul line.
Catawba Ridge’s Grant Lovette was key in the first half and in the fourth quarter scoring 20 points, while Hager led things in the second half as well scoring 15 points, 12 of which came after the break.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
