CHESNEE – With something tangible to play for, Catawba Ridge head basketball coach Brett Childers motivated his team to play their best basketball all season as they were dominate in winning the Chesnee Roundball Classic at Chesnee High School Thursday evening.
Catawba Ridge ran over Boiling Springs in the finals of the three-day tournament 85-44 as they had five players score in double figures led by Zyan Hager with 14 points. Grant Lovette and Carter Hendrick each had 12 points and Landon Foley and Jack Turnbow each added 10 points as well. Hager was named to the All-Tournament team and Lovette was named Tournament MVP.
“Defensively, shooting, rebounding, communication, that was a complete game,” Childers said. “We really wanted this. This is the first time we have had a chance to do this. We shot the ball really well the past two nights.”
The two teams started playing each other close, as Catawba Ridge struggled some in the opening quarter to hit shots. However key aspects of the game for them again were their rebounding and second chance points which gave them a one point 16-15 lead after the first quarter.
It was the second quarter that really made all the difference in the game for the Copperheads as they opened the period on a 15-0 run and started hitting 3-pointers. Catawba Ridge hit five 3-pointers in the quarter and hit 12 of 22 3-point attempts in the game. Defensively, the Copperheads were also able to cause turnovers and stopped any momentum Boiling Springs had as they outscored them 30-6 in the second quarter to take a 46-21 lead at the half.
Catawba Ridge opened the third quarter on an even better run with a 20-5 burst that really put the game out of reach as they outscored Boiling Springs 25-6 in the third quarter. The Copperheads hit another five 3-pointers in the quarter. Hager scored six of his 14 points in the quarter and Turnbow scored all 10 of his points in the quarter to help put Catawba Ridge up 66-26 with 1:30 left to play in the quarter.
With the game well secured, Catawba Ridge emptied their bench and had nearly every player score in the game. Unofficially, the Copperheads hit 34-of-59 shots in the game from the field to run away with the championship.
The win puts Catawba Ridge at 12-1 on the season as they will have another three games next week hosting the Copperheads Basketball Classic with both the boys’ and girls’ teams playing Dec. 28-30 at the high school.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
