LEXINGTON – A strong overtime and fourth quarter play led the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets to beat the Byrnes Rebels in the finals of the National bracket at the Lexington Roundball Classic.
Fort Mill edged Byrnes 82-79 in overtime. The two teams came into the game with near identical records, with both having 11 wins in the season. The Rebels had two losses compared to the Jackets three.
Fort Mill trailed by six points to start the fourth quarter, but outscored Byrnes 27-21 in the final period to send the game into overtime tied at 69.
The Jackets outscored Byrnes 13-10 in overtime despite two key players in Wallace Campbell and Jermier Nelson fouling out. Nelson, who was named tournament MVP, scored six of his game high 29 points in overtime and AJ Washington added four of his 23 points in the extra period including another big 3-pointer.
“Anytime you can beat a program like that, it is good,” said Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery. “It’s a marquee win for us.”
Both teams started slow in the first quarter. Fort Mill had three early turnovers, but Byrnes failed to capitalize. Turnovers continued for Fort Mill as they also struggled getting good looks at the basket.
Byrnes pulled ahead off the turnovers, as they took Campbell out of the game offensively. That left both Washington and Nelson to carry the offense as the Jackets trailed 19-15 after the first quarter.
Fort Mill stayed within striking distance, but turnovers hurt any momentum they were trying to obtain. The Jackets also struggled on the defensive glass at times allowing second chance points to the Rebels.
Byrnes started a half court press and soon went up 33-23 as the Jackets couldn’t keep up. Fort Mill struggled shooting the ball in the second quarter hitting just 3-of-10 shots from the field.
Byrnes took an eight-point lead into the half and quickly regained a 10-point lead to open the second half.
“We missed free throws and didn’t finish,” Lowery said. “I told them at half if we played our game, we can get back into the game. Being down and being able to come back was great for us.”
Despite George Stewart aiding Fort Mill midway through the third quarter, the Jackets were unable to find a rhythm as Byrnes answered Fort Mill nearly every possession.
Fort Mill did go on a 6-0 run towards the end of the third quarter to pull within four points of the Rebels.
Byrnes opened the fourth quarter leading by six points and pushed it to nine on their first possession. The Jackets tried to keep it close, but the Rebels were deadly from behind the 3-point line.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Washington pulled the Jackets to within six at 59-53 midway through the fourth quarter.
A Campbell 3-pointer cut it to a three-point game with less than 90 seconds left in the game. Campbell, was named to the All-Tournament team, came on late in the fourth quarter scoring seven of his 16 points.
Washington would hit his third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with two seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Fort Mill is 12-3 on the season and will return to Region 3-5A play on Friday, Jan. 2 hosting Clover.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
