WAXHAW, N.C. – The Catawba Ridge Copperheads boys’ basketball team closed out 2024 on a positive note.
Catawba Ridge beat the Piedmont Panthers 55-49 to improve to 5-8 on the season in their last game of the Phenom New Years Bash at Marvin Ridge High School.
Catawba Ridge started strong scoring the first six points all on baskets from Isaiah Thomas. Thomas scored eight of the first 10 points for the Copperheads. Catawba Ridge was strong offensively as they started 13-2 against Piedmont hitting on six of their first eight shots.
Piedmont rallied some and closed the game finishing the first quarter on an 8-2 run as Catawba Ridge held a 15-10 lead after the opening quarter. Thomas scored 11 first quarter points for the Copperheads.
Piedmont opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to pull within two, but the Copperheads answered on the other end of the court. Catawba Ridge was patient with the ball and didn’t rush their shots the closer Piedmont got.
The Panthers pulled within one at 17-16 about six minutes left in the first half. Catawba Ridge’s guard play was beneficial to them in the game as it allowed them to stay one step ahead of Piedmont. Thomas, Elijah Peters and Preston Heffner all came up with key baskets in the second quarter.
Catawba Ridge also had just four turnovers in the first half as Piedmont rallied some to pull within two at 32-30 to end the second quarter. The Copperheads hit 15-of-23 shots in the first half from the field and didn’t attempt a free throw.
The Copperheads started the second half with Thomas again scoring, but turnovers became a small issue for both teams in the third quarter in the early going. Piedmont’s blunders gave Catawba Ridge extra offensive chances.
Thomas and the Copperheads took those chances with them extending their lead by seven at 38-31 about midway through the third quarter. Offensively, Catawba Ridge wasn’t as strong, but neither was Piedmont as the Copperheads hit just 4-of-14 shots from the field unofficially.
Piedmont pulled within two with about two minutes to play in the third quarter at 38-36. Mark Caslaru hit a 3-pointer with less than 15 seconds left in the third quarter to give Catawba Ridge some breathing room headed into the final period. Caslaru finished with nine points.
Catawba Ridge picked up the pace in the fourth quarter capitalizing on Piedmont turnovers. Piedmont stayed close with the Copperheads for the most part, but wasn’t able to keep pace like they did earlier in the game.
Piedmont cut the Catawba Ridge lead to four with two minutes left at 51-47, but free throws down the stretch helped the Copperheads. The Copperheads didn’t shoot a free throw until the fourth quarter, but went 6-for-8 at the line.
Thomas led with 24 points for Catawba Ridge. The Copperheads return to action on Friday, Jan. 3 hosting Northwestern in their second Region 3-5A game of the season.
Dec. 30 Roundup
The Nation Ford girls’ basketball team finished their time in the Carolina Invitational in Charleston falling to Summerville 59-46. Nation Ford dropped to 7-6 on the season and resumes their season on Friday, Jan. 3 against Weddington.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
