The Nation Ford Lady Falcons shook off a slow start to open the 5A Division II basketball playoffs beating the Hillcrest Rams.
Nation Ford won 56-39 and will head to Greenwood High School on Saturday, Feb. 21 for a second-round game to try and avenged last year’s blowout second round loss.
“We owe Greenwood one,” said Nation Ford head girls coach Kelly Bennett. “That is what we wanted, to get back to Greenwood. They put a whooping on us last year. We are growing as a team and we want to show them that.”
Neither team started quickly as Nation Ford struggled to penetrate the Hillcrest defense to open the game.
The Falcons were able to go up early, but only to have the Lady Rams tie the game at six. Nation Ford was able to get to the foul line often in the opening period, but a late 3-pointer by Haven Land helped to give them a 12-9 lead heading into the second quarter. The Falcons hit just 3-of-13 shots in the opening period.
Land opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer as Nation Ford started more patience on offense. The Falcons were able to find holes in the lane and get to the basket better in the quarter. Bennett’s team was able to adjust to the Rams defense and picked up the defensive pressure on their own going on a 15-3 run in the quarter. That defensive pressure led to Hillcrest turnovers and Nation Ford points.
Both Ariah Heard and Aubrey Morrow came alive in the second quarter helping Land in the scoring column for the Falcons. Nation Ford was better from the field in the second quarter and was even better from the foul line to go up 33-18 at the half.
The Falcons opened the second half with two consecutive turnovers, as Hillcrest went on a 5-0 run. Land stopped the run for Hillcrest by scoring for the Falcons, as the scoring slowed some in the game. Hillcrest was aggressive in their shot selection and on the offensive glass as well. Nation Ford‘s offensive game struggled, simply because they didn’t get as many possessions in the third quarter. They also had a handful of turnovers through the first six minutes of the third quarter.
Jordyn Kerr came alive offensively for the Falcons in the third quarter giving them just the edge they needed. Nation Ford’s offense started to spark some as the quarter continued bringing more life back into their team. The Falcons went up by 20 at 45-25 with about a minute left in the period.
Hillcrest cut into the Falcons lead to open the fourth quarter. However, Nation Ford went to a more spread offense to start trying to take time off the clock with about five minutes left in the game. The Falcons struggled on offense in the fourth quarter but was able to use their big lead to keep Hillcrest at bay.
Despite their struggles from the field, the Falcons were able to do well at the foul line in the fourth quarter. Nation Ford went 7-of-12 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and hit just one field goal, which came from Heard as she scored her 1,000-career point.
Nation Ford was led by Morrow, who scored 16 points. Land finished with 13 points and Heard added 12 points. The Falcons improved to 14-12 overall on the season with the win.
Feb. 17 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge girls’ basketball team lost 68-36 on the road to the Riverside Warriors in the first round of the 5A Division II playoffs to end their season at 11-13 overall.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
