CAYCE – Only six games into the season, the Nation Ford girls’ basketball team is learning a lot about themselves.
The Falcons fell to the No. 1 ranked 4A team in the state and the No. 6 ranked team in 5A in back-to-back games to finish fourth in the She Got Next basketball tournament at Brookland-Cayce High School Saturday.
Nation Ford opened the tournament going against North Augusta, who is ranked No. 1 in 4A, and fell 61-37 Friday. They then dropped to the consolation bracket and played 5A No. 6 ranked Rock Hill, who they have already played twice this season before Saturday. The Falcons would fall to the Bearcats 57-37 to finish fourth. Nation Ford is now 1-5 on the season.
“We are growing,” said Falcons’ head coach Coretta Richmond. “We are young. We are going to get better. We have the pieces. We have to capitalize and learn how to make baskets. We have to be able to finish.”
Nation Ford is so young it is starting three freshmen on its varsity squad in Jalyn Bennett, Harper McKain and Georgia Sharpless.
Against Rock Hill, the Falcons started slow but then came on strong as the first half wore on. The tournament consisted of teams playing two halves, instead of the normal four quarters.
Rock Hill opened the game on a 7-2 run, but Nation Ford used their height in senior Payton Brookover and McKain to get inside looks and battle on the glass at both ends of the court. Rock Hill did make a run to end the first half, as Nation Ford struggled with 13 first half turnovers. Despite their issues, the Falcons took a 22-21 lead into the half.
The second half was all Rock Hill as they picked up on their aggressive style of defense and caused Nation Ford to turn the ball over on three consecutive possessions to open after the half. The Bearcats outscored Nation Ford 36-15 in the second half.
Rock Hill opened the second half on a 10-2 run and used a stifling man defense and half-court trap to throw Nation Ford off, leading to more turnovers and easy baskets in transition.
Nation Ford was led by Brookover with 16 points and McKain added 11 points in the loss.
In the opening game against North Augusta, junior Elizabeth Cohen led with 13 points and McKain added 10 points in the loss.
“Fatigue set in and finishing around the rim was a challenge,” Richmond said.
Nation Ford will now turn its attention to the regular season and open Tuesday hosting Catawba Ridge at 6:30 p.m. They will also play Indian Land Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and then at Lugoff-Elgin Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
