A quick start by the Catawba Ridge Copperheads led to an 84-66 blowout win over the South Point Red Raiders Monday night.
The Copperheads came out fast and used their speed to their advantage.
Catawba Ridge was able to get points in transition as both Lance Barnes and Quh Webb came out attacking the basket. Zyan Hager came on late in the quarter dropping in 8 points. Barnes led the scoring in the quarter with 13 points as the Copperheads took a 29-12 lead after the opening period. Catawba Ridge hit 12-of-18 shots from the field in the period.
The Copperheads weren’t as aggressive offensively in the second quarter, but was just as effective as they continued to pull away.
Catawba Ridge was able to play at a quick pace and continued to get points in transition off South Point turnovers. The Copperheads took a comfortable 49-23 lead into the half.
“We started fast,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Brett Childers. “We had a great first half. We came out attacking. We shared the ball well. You shoot the ball well when you share the ball.”
Catawba Ridge came out in the second half and continued to attack the basket in transition.
The Copperheads pushed the score to 63-33 about midway through the third quarter at which the starters for the game were pulled.
Hager had 25 points and Barnes ended with 20 points. Webb added 10 points as well.
Catawba Ridge is now 7-1 on the season.
Lady Copperheads let one slip
The Catawba Ridge Lady Copperheads lost a close 48-37 game to South Point dropping to 1-7 on the season.
Neither team came out too hot from the field. Catawba Ridge had good looks early, but didn’t get shots to fall.
The Copperheads went up 3-2, but then South Point went on an 8-0 run about midway through the first quarter. Turnovers started to become an issue for Catawba Ridge but thankfully South Point couldn’t take advantage of it.
Turnovers became an issue for South Point as well in the second quarter. However, Catawba Ridge wasn’t able to convert the extra opportunities and struggled to hit midrange shots in the paint.
Catawba Ridge made a small run towards the end of the second quarter and pulled within seven at 23-16 at the half.
South Point opened the second half on a 6-1 run before a basket by Addison Cunningham that kept the difference at 10.
The Red Raiders gave Catawba Ridge several extra opportunities with turnovers in the quarter. However, every time the Copperheads would get close, South Point would drain a 3-pointer to extend their lead. Catawba Ridge wasn’t able to convert the shots they needed to cut into the South Point lead hitting just 3-of-14 shots in the quarter.
Morgan Davis hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, but the Copperheads shooting went cold again soon thereafter. The only offense they seemed to muster was from Davis who scored 11 of her team leading 18 points in the quarter. She scored all but two points in the fourth quarter for the Copperheads.
Catawba Ridge will host Nation Ford on Friday, Dec. 15 for their next game.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
