ROCK HILL – It wasn’t like playing on their home court at Fort Mill High, but the Fort Mill basketball teams made the best of winning at their home away from home to open the season.
Both the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams won their season opener at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center, where they are playing their home games after a broken water pipe at the school in October ruined their gym floor.
The Fort Mill girls’ basketball team won 55-51 over the South Point Red Raiders of North Carolina, while the boys’ varsity team bookended the nightcap 67-66 holding on for the win.
The win for the Fort Mill boys was also the first win for new head coach Myron Lowery. Lowery said he was proud of his team for holding up under pressure in a place they aren’t used to playing in.
“I knew they (South Point) were good,” Lowery said. “We have been practicing closing out games.”
The Fort Mill boys opened with their best quarter of the game going up 24-21 after the first quarter as they hit 10-of-16 shots from the field. Fort Mill started the game going up 9-0, but South Point stayed within striking distance for nearly the entire game. Christian McCain scored nine of his game leading 19 points in the opening quarter for Fort Mill.
South Point outscored Fort Mill 17-15 in the second quarter as the Jackets offense sputtered some.
Fort Mill played better in the third quarter outscoring South Point 17-10 as they did a good job getting to the basket with McCain scoring eight more points as the Jackets took a 56-48 lead after the period.
South Point opened the fourth quarter going on a 6-0 run to pull within two points at 56-54. Fort Mill was able to get inside to score as both AJ Washington and Nas Berry each contributed big in the fourth quarter. Berry and Washington each scored 13 points in the game as Berry hit the game winning free throw with about 3.5 seconds left.
Logan Parker also scored 15 points in the game for Fort Mill as well.
Lady Jackets rally for the win
The Lady Jackets were able to get the 55-51 win as they rallied in the fourth quarter after being down at the half and end of the third quarter.
Fort Mill outscored South Point 19-12 in the fourth quarter as the Jackets were led by Reagan Reyes with 10 points. The Jackets were clutch in the fourth quarter going 6-for-8 from the foul line.
Fort Mill started the fourth quarter trailing 39-36 and was able to open the final period on a 5-0 run. South Point went on a 7-1 run to go up 48-42, but the Jackets kept chipping away until they were able to tie the game at 49 off a 3-pointer from Julienne Chambliss.
Reyes then stole the next possession for South Point and was able to hit a lay-up giving Fort Mill a 51-49 lead as they would hold on down the stretch.
The Fort Mill girls and boys are back in action Wednesday, Nov. 29 at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center hosting Christ Church.
Nov. 28 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team won their home opener 59-40 over Marvin Ridge. Quh Webb led with 16 points and Lance Barnes added 11 points in the win. Catawba Ridge is now 4-0 on the season and will play Fort Mill at Nation Ford High School on Friday.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball team lost to Marvin Ridge 83-21 to fall to 1-2 on the season.
The Nation Ford boys’ basketball team beat Charlotte Latin 63-61 as Jackson Burnham scored 31 points to lead the Falcons in their season opener. Burnham scored 12 of his 31 in the fourth quarter and Caden Giles added 12 points in the win as well. Nation Ford will next play in the Battle at the Rock Friday, Dec. 1 against South Pointe.
The Nation Ford girls’ basketball team lost to Charlotte Latin 52-38 as they were led by Jayln Bennett who scored 17 points in the loss. The Nation Ford girls will play next in the Battle at the Rock Thursday, Nov. 30 against Byrnes.
(Keith Cooke contributed to this article.)
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
