CONCORD – With a late fourth quarter run, the host West Cabarrus Wolverines beat the Nation Ford Falcons boys’ basketball team in the finals of the Wolverine Holiday Classic at West Cabarrus High School Friday.
West Cabarrus won 68-62 going on a 6-0 run off back-to-back 3-pointers with 2:30 left to take a 60-55 lead. That little run gave them the edge they needed as they hit foul shots down the stretch despite Nation Ford staying within striking distance.
The Falcons were led by JJ Rembert, who scored 27 points, 19 of that coming in the second half. Nation Ford was playing without two starters in Nick Chuttey and Jackson Faulkner as they were both dealing with injury and sickness.
Nation Ford was outscored 24-14 in the fourth quarter despite leading the majority of the game, including holding a four-point lead at 48-44 entering the fourth quarter.
“We have to work and continue to build on the good things we do,” said Nation Ford head coach Charles Brown.
West Cabarrus led 11-10 after the first quarter, but Nation Ford started to pull away in the second quarter as Rembert and Turner Blackwood, who scored 13 in the game, combined to score 13 of the team’s 19 points in the quarter. Nation Ford took a 29-23 lead to the locker room and came out just as strong offensively in the third quarter.
Nation Ford struggled some on defense in the second half failing to stop West Cabarrus and getting beat on the boards for part of the quarter. Rembert scored 11 third quarter points and led the Falcons offense to the four-point lead heading into the final period.
Both teams started the final period slow, but it was Nation Ford who struggled on the offensive end of the court hitting five fourth quarter shots. The Falcons were unable to get to the foul line but three times in the period.
After the West Cabarrus run towards the end, the Falcons failed to regroup and despite pulling within a two-possession came, couldn’t find a way to tie it.
Both Rembert and Sheldon Joseph were named to the All-Tournament team for Nation Ford. The Falcons dropped to 5-9 overall on the season and will get back to action against Northwestern at home Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Fort Mill falls in overtime
Leading by seven points at 59-52 with 90 seconds left in the game, Fort Mill almost had the game won. However, eight consecutive turnovers (six of which Hickory Grove Christian scored on) allowed them to tie the game at 59-59 sending it to overtime, where the Jackets would fall 67-66.
Fort Mill finished fourth with the loss, struggling down the stretch in handling the ball and finding a way to put Hickory Grove away.
The Jackets had a 47-39 lead entering the fourth quarter, after outscoring Hickory Grove 23-11 in the third quarter. In the final quarter, it was Hickory Grove that outscored Fort Mill 20-12. In the extra period, Fort Mill hit just two of six shots from the field.
Both teams were evenly matched in the opening period, but Hickory Grove started pulling away in the second quarter and took a 28-24 lead at the half. In the third quarter, Fort Mill hit 11-of-16 shots, mostly coming on fast break points and high percentage shots.
The Jackets had four players score in double figures led by Gabe Tooper, who had 18 points, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Tooper scored 16 of those points in the second half and in overtime. Both Braylen McCain and AJ Washington each had 13 points in the game and Zach Jennings added 10 points.
Fort Mill dropped to 6-7 overall on the season and will return to action Tuesday at Catawba Ridge.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
