BLACKSBURG – Crucial free throws down the stretch allowed the Nation Ford Falcons boys basketball team to advance to the finals of the Founders Federal Credit Union Christmas tournament in Blacksburg.
Nation Ford beat Collins Hill High School out of Georgia 59-56 to move to the finals on Saturday where they will face the winner of York or host Blacksburg.
Collins Hill jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of the opening period before a Falcons timeout. Nation Ford came out of the timeout and scored consecutive buckets. The Falcons pulled within two, which led Collins Hill to start pressing on defense.
The Eagles opened the game up before the end of the first quarter to get some momentum heading into the second quarter. Collins Hill started the second quarter on a 6-2 run and went back to a half court press.
Nation Ford, which struggled at first with the press, was able to start to break it more often leading to scores in transition. The Falcons would put together small runs in the second quarter, but nothing big enough to overcome the Eagles lead. Ben Chuttey scored seven of Nation Ford’s 15 points in the second quarter as Collins Hill led 31-28 at the half.
Nation Ford took a small one-point lead at 34-33 off an Isaiah Williams dunk in the third quarter, but the lead was short lived as Collins Hill scored on their next possession. The Falcons were able to keep pace, but could never get a run like they needed during the period. Collins Hill went up by seven with about 90 seconds left in the third quarter.
Chase Walters got Nation Ford back in the game with a half court 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 45-43 pulling the Falcons to within two.
Despite getting and staying close, Nation Ford struggled to take the lead until Walters scored on two critical possessions with a 3-pointer and a steal and a bucket putting the Falcons up 50-49. Collins Hill would tie the game later in the fourth quarter as the team’s traded baskets.
Anthony Pryer came up clutch in the fourth quarter for Nation Ford with six points. Williams would hit a foul shot with 8.4 seconds left to give the Falcons a 57-56 lead. Chuttey would ice the game for Nation Ford with two more free throws.
Walters led with 18 points for the Falcons, while Pryer had 13 points and Chuttey had 11 points. Nation Ford improved to 4-6 on the season.
Dec. 27 Roundup
The Fort Mill boys’ basketball team beat Spartanburg 63-44 to improve to 12-1 on the season as they had four players score in double figures led by Wallace Campbell with 17 points in the Poinsettia Classic at Greenville High School.
The Nation Ford girls’ basketball team fell to 6-5 on the season after losing 63-50 to Etowah (Ga.) in the Charleston Invitational.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team fell to Charlotte Country Day 68-39 as part of the Phenom New Years Bash at Chambers High School in Charlotte. Isaiah Thomas led Catawba Ridge with 17 points as they fell to 4-7 on the season.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball team beat Highland Tech 48-28 in a tournament at South Point High School in North Carolina. Addi Cunningham and Brooke Berninzoni each had 15 points to lead the Lady Copperheads. They are now 5-6 on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
