Playing for the first time in a week after first round byes, the Fort Mill boys and girls basketball teams hosted two different teams in the second round of the 5A Division II playoffs.
The Lady Jackets opened with the Greenville Red Raiders, while the boys hosted then Woodmont Wildcats.
In the boys’ game, Fort Mill came away with a 68-54 win and will host Indian Land in the third round on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The third-round game is a Region 3-5A match-up as Fort Mill has beaten Indian Land twice this year.
“It is survive and advance,” said Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery. “Woodmont is a good team and its playoff basketball. The third quarter was key for us. I would like to see us close possessions off better.”
Wallace Campbell started off hot for Fort Mill scoring the Jackets’ first five points. Woodmont was strong, but Fort Mill was able to stay a step ahead and use a strong interior game to keep the lead early.
The Wildcats stayed within claws reach in the opening period, but the Jackets’ foul shooting was beneficial for them as they went 9-for-12 in the quarter.
The second quarter started slow for Fort Mill. The Jackets finally scored on a 2-pointer by Logan Parker about two and half minutes into the quarter.
Woodmont kept it close by hitting 3-pointers. Fort Mill didn’t do as well in getting defensive rebounds in the quarter as the Wildcats were able to get multiple second chance opportunities allowing them to pull within one. Parker would hit a 3-pointer before the half to give the Jackets some breathing room at 30-26 at the break.
Fort Mill opened the second half on an 8-0 run before a Wildcats timeout. Things didn’t slow down for the Jackets as they continued the 8-0 run turned into a 14-0 run before another Woodmont timeout. The Jackets pushed the lead to 46-26 before the Wildcats scored as part of a 16-0 run.
Fort Mill would take a 17-point advantage to the fourth quarter outscoring them 23-10 in the third quarter.
Woodmont went on a small run to open the fourth quarter scoring the first four points. Fort Mill shook off the small run and was able to start scoring. The run allowed Woodmont to make it a 10-point game with five minutes left.
The Jackets became more patient with the ball as the Wildcats picked up aggressive defensively. Woodmont was able to keep it competitive as Fort Mill struggled with their ball handling.
Down the stretch, the Jackets were able to hit foul shots to keep their lead in double digits. Fort Mill was 7-for-10 in the fourth quarter at the foul line and 21-for-30 in the game.
Parker led the Jackets with 28 points and Campbell added 13 points. Fort Mill improved to 25-2.
Bad start for Lady Jackets
Early struggles by the Fort Mill Lady Jackets wasn’t enough to overcome Greenville as they lost 40-35 after a bad first quarter.
The Lady Jackets struggled in the first quarter to get their offense going. Greenville wasn’t hot offensively either, but did manage to score early. They jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game before a Jackets timeout. Greenville would go up 13-0 after the first quarter.
The Red Raiders were aided by multiple Fort Mill turnovers holding the Jackets scoreless in the first quarter.
Fort Mill broke a nine-minute scoreless streak at the 6:53 mark in the second quarter with a basket by Kate Marker. The Jackets started going inside for baskets instead of 3-point attempts, which was what they mostly tried in the first quarter.
By going inside, Fort Mill was able to mount a comeback. Greenville continued to be strong in getting rebounds and second chance opportunities, which allowed them to keep the lead. The Jackets pulled within nine, but trailed 23-14 at the half.
Three possessions and three turnovers is how Fort Mill started the third quarter. Despite the early issues, the Jackets were able to get back in the game again pulling within four.
Greenville kept the lead by again getting rebounds and scoring on the inside. Fort Mill struggled to make a surge to close the gap even more as the Red Raiders led by eight points going into the final period.
Fort Mill kept fighting and pulled within five points with four minutes left in the game. Turnovers continued to be an issue for the Jackets in the fourth quarter. Greenville ran more of a four corners offense and milked the clock when they could.
Fort Mill was unable to catch Greenville as they hit foul shots when they needed to in the closing minutes. Kate Marker led Fort Mill with 13 points, as the Jackets finished the season at 16-11.
Feb. 21 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team fell in the second round of the 5A Division II playoffs on the road 63-49 to the Riverside Warriors. The Copperheads finished its season at 11-17.
The Nation Ford Lady Falcons basketball team fell 77-34 in the second round of the 5A Division II playoffs on the road to the Greenwood Eagles. Nation Ford finished their season at 13-15.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
