FORT MILL – The Nation Ford Falcons completed the season sweep of their newest rivals, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads.
Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball team beat Catawba Ridge heading into the holiday break. The Nation Ford girls won handily 67-33, while the Falcons boys’ team was just as impressive with a 58-41 win.
In the girls’ game, Nation Ford was led by three players – Kelci Adams, Adrienne Ruffalo, and Denaundria Greene, who all scored in double figures. Adams led with 30 points, as Ruffalo had 15 points and Greene added 14 points.
Nation Ford started the game on a hot streak and never really looked back going up 25-11 after the first quarter. Nation Ford hit 10-of-15 shots from the field in the first quarter, while defensively causing nine turnovers unofficially for Catawba Ridge.
The Falcons’ hot shooting cooled off some in the second quarter, but still they were able to put a lot of defensive pressure on the Copperheads. Despite the comfortable lead, there were times that Nation Ford head coach Coretta Richmond wasn’t happy with her team’s offense.
“There were some errors I saw that we are trying to eliminate before region play starts,” she said. “Defensively, we picked up the intensity.”
Catawba Ridge started the second quarter off on a 7-0 run hitting more close-range shots, while Nation Ford struggled with turnovers themselves. Nevertheless, the Falcons took a 17-point lead into the half at 37-20.
Nation Ford’s offense found that gear they had in the first quarter and started the third quarter on a 11-2 run within the first three minutes. Catawba Ridge again struggled with turnovers and managed just three points in the third quarter, as the Falcons dropped in 19 during the period. Catawba Ridge was led in scoring by Tatum Postel, who scored 15 points.
Nation Ford 58, Catawba Ridge 41
A strong first half by Nation Ford allowed them to distance themselves from Catawba Ridge. Nation Ford was led by Andrew Meacham and Petey Tuipulotu, who both scored 12 points each. The Falcons also shot the ball well from behind the 3-point line hitting 13 in the game.
Nation Ford hit four of five 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead. The Falcons continued their hot had hitting four more in the second quarter to take a 30-14 lead into the half.
Despite the hot shooting, Falcons’ head coach Jared Adamson said he was most proud of his team’s defense.
“We defended the ball well,” he said. “We have been preaching about doing your job. We are just focused on getting better.”
Nation Ford started the second half on a 9-3 run and went up by 20 with about 2:45 left in the quarter. Tuipulotu scored six of his 12 points in the third quarter and Catawba Ridge’s Davante Gonzalez scored six of his team high 15 points in the third quarter as well.
Catawba Ridge outscored the Falcons 17-13 in the final quarter to finish strong, however, head coach Brett Childers said the intensity wasn’t there the entire game like it needed to be for his team to win.
“We were stagnate,” he said. “We didn’t have the best defensive intensity. We came out flat. We got a lot more of the season to go.”
Nation Ford heads into the second half of the season Jan. 7 at York Prep. Catawba Ridge will resume play Jan. 6 at home against Great Falls.
Mac Banks: mbanks@comporium.net, @MacBanksFM
