DUNCAN – After their come from behind win versus Woodmont, the Fort Mill High boys basketball team hit the road Saturday night to battle the Byrnes Rebels in a second round match-up.
Byrnes came into the game with an impressive 23-4 record while going a perfect 8-0 in Region II so the Jackets knew it would take an outstanding effort to knock off the Rebels. In the end, Byrnes knocked Fort Mill out of the playoffs with a 66-43 final.
Fort Mill got off to a hot start getting a bucket from Darryl Carrington and a 3-pointer from AJ Washington giving the Jackets a 5-0 in the opening 60 seconds of play.
It was all Rebels after that.
Fort Mill became sloppy with the ball which turned into transition buckets for Byrnes. The Yellow Jackets needed to keep Kayzzin McDowell contained while also finding an answer for forward Will Fowler.
To make matters worse, Fort Mill wasn’t very good on the glass allowing the Rebels second and third chances. At the end of the first period, the Rebels built a 20-13 lead as the energy in the building turning in Byrnes favor.
The second period became a track meet as both teams missed shots. However, shots began to fall for McDowell, Fowler and Evan Enos.
Fort Mill countered with five more points from Washington, while also getting contributions from Carrington and Kishawn Anderson. Byrnes made two runs forcing Fort Mill head coach Myron Lowery to burn three of his timeouts in the first half. In the end, the second stanza was a draw as Byrnes took a 34-24 lead into halftime.
Hoping the second half would bring about change of momentum was short lived for the Jackets as Byrnes started the second half like a house afire.
It was more of the same as Fort Mill couldn’t get on the glass while also turning it over leading to fast break points as Byrnes continued to play full court press.
Fort Mill began to drive the basketball trying to get to the line and slow the game down. They had some success but the Rebels countered every time the Jackets made a run. After three periods, it looked bleak for Fort Mill as the Rebels enjoyed a 49-34 lead.
The fourth and final period of play mirrored the first three acts of the game. Fort Mill continued to try to slow the game down, but was careless with the basketball.
Washington led the way scoring wise for Fort Mill dropping in 15 points while Carrington had 10 points. The Yellow Jackets finish the season with a 16-12 record. Byrnes will now welcome the TL Hanna Yellow Jackets, who bested Nation Ford, on Tuesday, Feb. 20 for the third round.
