In the nightcap of opening day of the 2023 Copperhead Classic, Catawba Ridge cruised past the Buford Yellow Jackets 90-17.
Catawba Ridge opened sharing the ball well as they had five different players score in the first six minutes of the game to go up 14-4. After a Buford timeout, the Copperheads ended the quarter on a 12-0 run to lead 26-4.
Quh Webb opened the second quarter scoring 7 points for the Copperheads. Catawba Ridge kept their pace up and created extra opportunities with second chance points as well as creating turnovers on the defensive end.
The Copperheads went into the locker room with a commanding 57-10 lead. Catawba Ridge hit 15-of-18 shots in the second quarter, mostly coming from fast break points or put-back rebounds.
The Copperheads opened the second half on a 13-0 run to push their lead to 70-10 in the first five minutes of the quarter.
Catawba Ridge took a 77-15 lead into the fourth quarter which was played with a running clock.
The Copperheads had six players in double figures led by Zyan Hager with 16 points. Webb had 15 points, followed by 14 points from Lance Barnes, 13 points from Sully Gay, 11 points from Stephen Murry and 10 points from Pierce Morgan.
“We needed a get right game and talked about finding a rhythm,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Brett Childers. “Our level was high tonight. We were ready to go.”
Catawba Ridge will play Aiken Green Hornets at 6 p.m. Friday.
Girls’ bracket
Catawba Ridge gets second win
The Catawba Ridge Lady Copperheads picked up their second win of the season beating York Prep 61-37 in their opening game of the Copperhead Classic.
The Lady Copperheads and York Prep started the game matching each other point for point. Addison Cunningham hit two 3-pointers in the opening quarter to pace Catawba Ridge as they went up 10-8 after the first quarter.
Despite the lead, the Copperheads struggled shooting the ball hitting just 4-of-22 shots. Catawba Ridge missed multiple high percentage shots at the basket. The Copperheads were strong on defense keeping York Prep from getting many shots off.
Morgan Davis helped push the pace for Catawba Ridge in the second quarter. Davis scored 8 points in the period to lead the Copperheads. York Prep was able to stay with the Copperheads at the foul line.
York Prep struggled with turnovers as well lessening their chances of scoring consistently. The Copperheads took a 20-15 lead at the break.
Catawba Ridge opened the second half on a 15-0 start powered by Davis and Cunningham to extend their lead to 35-15. The run was part of a 22-0 run for Catawba Ridge in the quarter.
“We came out and took care of things on the defensive end,” said Catawba Ridge girls head coach Sheridan Pressley. “The more we can create on the defensive end it will help on the offensive end.”
The Copperheads entered the fourth quarter leading 49-23 after hitting 10-of-19 shots in the third quarter and outscoring York Prep 29-8 in the period.
Catawba Ridge was led by Davis with 19 points and Cunningham with 16 points. Zakia Wilson added 13 points in the win.
Catawba Ridge plays Palisades at 4 p.m. Friday at the school.
Fort Mill gets second loss on the season
The Lady Jackets opened the Copperhead Classic tournament against a strong Marvin Ridge team falling 64-48 to drop to 11-2 on the season.
Fort Mill started off slow falling behind 9-0 to open the game in the first two minutes before a timeout.
The Mavericks went up 11-0 before Fort Mill scored. It was obvious that it was going to be a long day for the Jackets as Marvin Ridge extended their lead to 19-4 hitting several 3-pointers before another Fort Mill shot. Fort Mill struggles with turnovers in the opening quarter giving extra opportunities for Marvin Ridge.
The Mavericks took a 24-6 lead into the second quarter. Fort Mill started better, but had a big deficit to overcome. The Jackets climbed back into the game starting the second quarter on an 8-0 run before Marvin Ridge hit pause with a timeout.
Fort Mill continued to chip away with the help of Reagan Reyes, who scored six of the Jackets’ 17 points in the quarter.
The Jackets cut the lead to seven at 30-23 right before the half. Fort Mill shot better in the second quarter hitting 5-of-12 shots from the field.
Marvin Ridge opened the second half with four straight points extending their lead.
Reyes hit a 3-pointer, however, that was about all Fort Mill could muster midway through the third quarter. Fort Mill’s ball handling troubles returned in the third quarter, again giving the Mavericks extra opportunities. The Jackets hit just 2-of-10 shots in the third quarter as Marvin Ridge led 48-32 after the period.
The teams opened the fourth quarter matching each other point for point. Fort Mill played better in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Marvin Ridge went up by 20 with about 2:30 left in the game.
Reyes led Fort Mill with 13 points and Jada Chambliss added 10 points for the Jackets.
Fort Mill plays South Point (NC) at 2 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket.
Dec. 28 Roundup
The Fort Mill boys’ basketball team fell 60-47 to Independence to open the Wolverine Classic at West Cabarrus High School. The loss drops them to 6-6 on the season. They will face Hickory Grove 3 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket.
The Nation Ford girls’ basketball team fell to Darlington 46-43 in the opening round of the Carolina Invitational in the Charleston area. The loss drops them to 8-3 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
