Catawba Ridge’s Grant Lovette tries to drive around a York defender to the basket during Friday nights game at the school.

As coronavirus cases and contact tracing create havoc with the winter sports schedules, local teams are doing their best to get games in where they can.

Both varsity basketball teams for Catawba Ridge were supposed to finish their season series against York Friday night, but only the varsity boys got to play as the girls’ game was postponed until Feb. 1 because of possible COVID issues.

The Catawba Ridge boys took advantage of their opportunity and were able to get the win against York 55-37 to pick up their first Region 3-4A win of the season and improve to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the region.

“We took two on the chin earlier this week,” said Copperheads’ head coach Brett Childers. “We really had a focused practice (Thursday). I am proud of the way they played. We never know what tomorrow will be.”

Catawba Ridge was led by Grant Lovette, who scored 16 points, and Carter Hendrick, who added 11 points in the win.

Both teams got off to a slow start to open the game as the Copperheads clung to a slim 12-10 lead after the opening period, which saw them jump out to a 6-0 lead in the first 4:15 of the game. Catawba Ridge started heating up in the second quarter and with the help of their inside shooting and second chance points, were able to take a 11-point lead into the locker room at 26-15.

The Copperheads continued to improve in the third quarter as their 2-3 zone was stifling for York, who struggled to penetrate it and allowed Catawba Ridge to crash the glass and outrebound them handily. That style of play pushed the Copperheads lead to 25 points entering the final quarter.

York played their best basketball of the game in the final period causing turnovers and outscoring Catawba Ridge, but it wasn’t enough to mount the comeback they needed for the win.

Catawba Ridge is scheduled to next play at South Pointe Jan. 21.

Fort Mill takes season series from Boiling Springs

Fort Mill took the 70-mile trek west Friday to battle the Boiling Springs Bulldogs in a return engagement from Tuesday’s blowout win. 

In what can only be described as a testy and physical first half, Fort Mill held a slim one-point lead at halftime 28-27.  Jackets came flying out of the gates to start the second half building a 13-point third period lead.  Fort Mill continued their work from the free throw line finishing off the Bulldogs by a final of 67-54. 

Fort Mill improves to 4-4 overall, but more importantly moves to 2-0 in Region 3-5A.  The Jackets were led by Kyle Neibch with 32 points, while Reed Fanta pumped in 16 points in the win as well for Fort Mill. The next game for the Jackets is today at 6 p.m. against Arborbrook Academy.   

Nation Ford games rescheduled

Out of an abundance of caution, the Nation Ford Falcons have had a week of rescheduled basketball games. Athletic director Jaybe Shackleford said games were moved to be cautious because of contact tracing in one of the programs.

The Falcons were supposed to play Clover this week but those games have been rescheduled to Feb. 9 at Clover and Feb. 12 at home against the Blue Eagles. Nation Ford is scheduled to return to the court next week with a home game Jan. 19 against Gaffney and then on the road Jan. 22 at Gaffney.

John Turner contributed to this article.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep