Good starts by both the Nation Ford boys’ and girls’ basketball teams wasn’t enough down the stretch as the Falcons were defeated for the second time in a week by the Rock Hill Bearcats.
The Nation Ford boys lost 44-38 after faltering in the fourth quarter with about two minutes to go. Rock Hill went on a 6-0 run during that time to pull away.
“Rock Hill made some shots down the stretch,” said Falcons’ head coach Jared Adamson. “We had some guys out and some others stepped up. We put ourselves in a real good position.”
Adamson said his team could use the loss as a learning experience going forward. Nation Ford jumped out to a 12-8 lead after the first quarter, but Rock Hill tied it up rather quickly into the second quarter.
Both teams used the second quarter to show some patience as they combined for just 14 points with the Falcons taking a 20-14 lead into the half.
Rock Hill opened the second half on a 6-0 run to tie the game in the first couple minutes, which was aided by three Nation Ford turnovers. The Bearcats outscored the Falcons 13-9 in the quarter leaving them clinging to a two-point lead at 29-27 entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was back-and-forth for each team as Nation Ford used trips to the foul line to keep pace with the Bearcats. The Falcons got their looks at the basket, but hit just 2-of-11 shots from the field.
Nation Ford was led by Devon Fletcher, who scored 15 points and Quadeir Hand, who scored 14 points. The Falcons are now 1-7 on the season.
Lady Falcons struggle in first half
The 10th ranked Nation Ford girls’ team stayed with fifth ranked Rock Hill in the opening quarter, but experience from the Bearcats quickly showed through in the remining part of the game.
Tied at 6-6, Rock Hill went on a 4-0 run to end the first quarter and then started the second quarter on another run distancing themselves from Nation Ford. Rock Hill outscored the Falcons 15-2 in the second quarter and took a 25-8 lead into the half.
“We fought with what we had with little coming off the bench to match up against the speed of the Lady Bearcats,” said Nation Ford head coach Coretta Richmond. “We are young and will keep building on a stronger defensive foundation with high hopes that they will buy into defensive game strategies.”
Nation Ford hit just 1-of-6 second quarter shots as they struggled to get looks inside at the basket. The Falcons also struggled giving up multiple second chance points to Rock Hill by getting outrebounded.
The Falcons played better in the second half but still struggled from the floor hitting just one of their first five shots in the first four minutes. Nation Ford went down 33-13 with about 3:30 left in the quarter and Rock Hill used that lead to take a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Nation Ford was led by freshman Harper McKain with 10 points. Both Payton Brookover and Victoria Robinson each added seven points in the loss. The Falcons are now 3-8 on the season.
Both the boys’ and girls’ game against East Clarendon has been canceled for next Tuesday. Nation Ford is next scheduled to play at Catawba Ridge Dec. 18.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
