ROCK HILL – Despite three losses in Region 3-4A, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads are still alive in the fight for a playoff spot.
Catawba Ridge lost the season series to the South Pointe Stallions after dropping their second region game to them and third overall 55-47 Thursday night. Earlier in the season, the Copperheads were blown out by the Stallions 83-47. Despite the loss, Thursday’s game was a big improvement from their first encounter.
“We got good shots, the difference was we didn’t hit the shots,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Brett Childers.
The Copperheads are now 5-6 overall and 1-3 in the region. Catawba Ridge has two losses to South Pointe and has split the season series with York with one win a piece. Up next for the Copperheads when it comes to region play are games against Indian Land next week and then against Lancaster, the week after as neither of them have started their region schedule because of COVID-19 issues within the Lancaster County School District. Only two top teams make the playoffs out of the region.
“We have a couple of ways to get back in it,” Childers said.
Against South Pointe Thursday night, the Copperheads came into the fourth quarter trailing by one at 35-34, but only hit 5-of-14 shots from the field unofficially in the quarter and were outscored 20-13.
Catawba Ridge was led by Grant Lovette, who scored 12 points, while Carter Hendrick added 11 points and both Jacobie Henderson and Landon Foley each scored 10 points in the loss.
South Pointe opened the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run as they were able to get penetration into the paint and make the most of easy lay-ups, while Catawba Ridge struggled. The Copperheads also struggled in the second quarter heading into the half as they turned the ball over nine times and went down 27-22 at the break.
During the second quarter, South Pointe on two occasions went on small runs to pull away from the Copperheads. Catawba Ridge did shoot the ball well, but didn’t get many chances due to turnovers.
Catawba Ridge played better in the third quarter coming out of the locker room and outscored South Pointe 12-8 to rally. The Copperheads went on a 10-0 run to take a 32-31 lead as part of a 12-0 run with about two minutes left in the quarter. The majority of those points came from Lovette attacking the basket. The Copperheads also cut down on the turnovers.
The rally fell short at the start of the fourth quarter as the Stallions started pulling away to open the period.
Catawba Ridge is now scheduled to go to Fort Mill Saturday night for a 6:30 p.m. game before returning to region play at Indian Land Jan. 27.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
