The 2025-2026 hoops season tipped off Friday night at Fort Mill High School with a thrilling boys’ game for the Jackets.
The No. 2 ranked Fort Mill held off North Carolina’s No. 1 ranked 5A team the Hunter Huss Huskies 81-71 in overtime as the Jackets’ big three-AJ Washington, Jermier Nelson, and Wallace Campbell led with 74 of their 81 points.
Fort Mill struggled at times against a strong Huskies defense, but regrouped going into the overtime period.
“I told them to start over and get back to what we were doing,” said Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery.
Fort Mill started the overtime period scoring five straight points and scored 19 points in the five-minute extra period. They were led by Washington, who scored 24 points, 13 of which came in overtime.
“As the game progressed, he is big time in big time moments,” Lowery said, of Washington.
Fort Mill was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field in the extra period.
If there was any rust left over from last season Fort Mill needed to work out, it didn’t take them long as they opened the game on a 15-0 run.
After a time out, Hunter Huss started playing better and outscored Fort Mill 9-8 as the Jackets led 23-9 after the opening period.
Fort Mill went up by 20 at 33-13 with about five minutes left in the first half.
Despite the lead, the Huskies outplayed Fort Mill down the stretch in the quarter and outscored them 14-3 as the Jackets took a 36-27 lead into the locker room.
The Huskies started the third quarter on a 5-0 run and pulled within one at 38-37 with about five minutes left in the third quarter, before a Fort Mill timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Jackets went on a 5-0 run to create a small gap. That didn’t last long as the Huskies caught up and took a 44-43 lead. The two teams would trade baskets as Hunter Huss led 50-48 going into the fourth quarter.
Fort Mill hit just 2-of-9 shots in the third quarter, but was 8-of-11 from the foul line.
The Jackets opened the final period on a 5-0 run. Fort Mill struggled on the block and was unable to get defensive rebounds allowing second chance points by the Huskies.
As the Jackets improved in getting rebounds, it opened their offense allowing them to surge ahead 60-54 with 3:30 left in the game off baskets from Nelson, Campbell, and Washington.
The surge was enough to give Fort Mill some momentum and much needed breathing room, but the Jackets couldn’t hold off another Huskies run as they tied it at 62 forcing overtime.
Nelson led the Jackets with 26 points and Campbell dropped in 24 points. Fort Mill will host York Prep on Monday, Nov. 24 in their next game.
Girls’ basketball
The Fort Mill Lady Jackets weren’t able to hold a 16 point halftime lead and fell to the Lady Huskies 59-56 in their season opener.
The Lady Jackets were able to get off to an early lead through the first quarter, but turnovers kept Hunter Huss in the game early as they went up 11-8 after the opening period.
Fort Mill opened the second quarter scoring two consecutive baskets to regain the lead, by going inside to Kate Marker and Zoe Williams. The run was part of a 13-0 start for the Jackets.
Hunter Huss was able to stay within striking distance of Fort Mill midway through the period but the Lady Jackets put together another run to end the half.
Fort Mill had just four turnovers in the second quarter and outscored the Huskies 27-8 in the quarter to go up 35-19 at the half.
The Lady Jackets started the second half slowly. Hunter Huss wasn’t much better as they couldn’t capitalize on early Fort Mill turnovers.
In the third quarter the Huskies pulled within 11 points, but a Marker 3-pointer extended the Jackets lead.
Fort Mill’s inconsistency allowed Hunter Huss to cut the Jackets lead to less than 10. The Huskies doubled up the Lady Jackets in the third quarter outscoring them 16-8 as Fort Mill led by eight heading into the fourth quarter and hit just 3-of-15 shots in the third quarter.
Hunter Huss started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run pulling within two points. They took the lead with about 4:30 left in the game as the two teams started trading baskets going back-and-forth.
The Lady Jackets struggled with their shot in the fourth quarter as they weren’t able to get off the shots they needed and again were plagued by turnovers.
Marker led the Lady Jackets with 18 points. Gigi Demarco added 14 points and Colbie Wolf scored 13 points.
Fort Mill plays Bamberg-Ehrhardt next at Heathwood Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
