The Nation Ford Falcons overcame first half turnover issues to rally and sweep the season series against the Catawba Ridge Copperheads on the hardwood Friday.
Nation Ford boys team edged Catawba Ridge 58-57 with the help of a hot shooting Nick Chuttey, who led the Falcons with 21 points, and a key free throw by JJ Rembert, who scored 14 in the win.
“Chuttey got us going in the second half,” said Nation Ford head coach Charles Brown. “That energy was what we needed.”
Catawba Ridge led 33-25 at the half after Nation Ford had 13 turnovers in the first half, nine of them coming in the second quarter. The Copperheads outscored Nation Ford 20-14 in the second period, while it was Chuttey who kept Nation Ford in the game scoring 10 of those points.
Chuttey and the Falcons came out of the locker room a different team as Nation Ford opened the third quarter on a 10-6 run. Brown said he felt like his team was too wrapped up in the large crowd that was in Nation Ford’s gym for the game.
“They were playing the crowd,” he said. “I told them they needed to pick up the intensity.”
Nation Ford did just that as Catawba Ridge, who had the hot hand in the second quarter with the ability to penetrate and get fast break points off turnovers, suddenly struggled shooting hitting just three of 10 shots from the field.
“We let our defense slip in the third,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Brett Childers.
The Copperheads clung to a 43-42 lead after the third quarter as the game went back-and-forth from that point forward. Grant Lovette tied the game at 57 with a free thrown with 17.8 seconds left for Catawba Ridge, but Rembert was able to get to the line and hit the first of a one-and-one with 1.4 seconds left to give Nation Ford the win.
For the Copperheads, Lance Barnes led with 15 points, while Lovette and Zyan Hager, each had 11 points for Catawba Ridge and Landon Foley added 10 points.
The loss dropped Catawba Ridge to 6-2 overall, with both loses on the season coming to the Falcons. The win improves Nation Ford to 3-8 overall on the season.
The Nation Ford boys will next play in the Wolverine Classic at West Cabarrus Dec. 28-30 over the holiday break. Catawba Ridge will head to the Chesnee Roundball Classic Dec. 20-22 at Chesnee High to defend their tournament title from last year.
Catawba Ridge 47, Nation Ford 44
The Catawba Ridge girl’s game was also a close battle that the Copperheads were able to pull away at the end.
Nation Ford had a small 9-8 lead after the opening quarter, but Tatum Postel was able to score seven of the Copperheads’ nine points in the second quarter which kept them in the game.
The Falcons led 18-17 at the half, but Catawba Ridge got hot in the third quarter and outscored Nation Ford 15-8 to take a 32-26 lead.
Nation Ford fought their way back into the game off Kayla Wilmore and Camille Kerridge, who led the Falcons down the stretch. However, both Makailah Davis and Morgan Davis came through in the final quarter for Catawba Ridge to hold off the Falcons.
The win put Catawba Ridge at 6-3 overall, while dropping Nation Ford to 4-5 overall.
Nation Ford girls will now host Marvin Ridge next Tuesday, before heading to Charleston the week after Christmas for the Carolina Invitational tournament. Catawba Ridge will play South Point, of North Carolina, next Tuesday, before hosting the Copperhead Holiday Classic the week after Christmas as well.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
