INDIAN LAND – Some nights just are not your night.
For the Catawba Ridge boys’ basketball team that was Tuesday as they dropped their first Region 3-4A game of the season falling to Indian Land 57-41.
“It was an off night,” said Copperheads’ boys head coach Brett Childers. “We have been here one other time where we didn’t have it mentally. The third quarter bit us.”
Catawba Ridge is now 8-1 in the region and can still clinch the region title Friday at Northwestern with a win. The Copperheads are 21-3 overall.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle as each team traded baskets on a consistent basis with the Copperheads taking a 12-11 lead after the first quarter.
Indian Land started the second quarter scoring the first two baskets to get the lead. The Warriors took a small lead, but was able to keep that lead with poor shooting by the Copperheads in the second quarter as the Warriors outscored them 13-6. Catawba Ridge hit 3-of-9 shots in the second quarter.
The Copperheads also had 11 first half turnovers leading to Indian Land points. Indian Land started the second half by slowing play down and holding the ball. Catawba Ridge continued to struggle with turnovers as the Warriors went up by 14 at 32-18. The Copperheads missed their first six shots of the second half leading to a Catawba Ridge timeout.
Indian Land took a page out of the Copperheads’ book and was able to score in transition off Catawba Ridge turnovers. Catawba Ridge didn’t score in the third quarter until 1:12 left in the period.
Indian Land outscored Catawba Ridge 16-3 in the third quarter and carried a 40-21 lead into the final period.
The Copperheads’ Zyan Hager opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, his first points in the game.
Catawba Ridge played better offensively and was able to cut the Warriors lead to 11 with 2:30 left in the game. The Copperheads couldn’t cut into the Warriors lead much more than that as Indian Land again pulled away to get the win.
Lance Barnes led Catawba Ridge with 14 points. Landon Foley added 11 points.
Lady Copperheads grab fifth region win
A 22-7 run in the third quarter was enough to give the Catawba Ridge Lady Copperheads a 49-41 win over the Indian Land Warriors.
The win puts the Copperheads at 5-4 in the region and 7-17 overall.
“That should set us up for a playoff appearance,” said Catawba Ridge girls head coach Sheridan Pressley. “We still need to take care of business on Friday night (at Northwestern).”
Both teams started slow through the first three minutes of the game. Catawba Ridge was able to get ahead with the help of their inside game as Taylor Reilly led them in the opening period. Both teams were nearly even in field goals made in the first quarter, but the Copperheads’ foul shooting gave them a 12-8 lead.
Indian Land opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run as turnovers helped get the Lady Warriors back in the game. Turnovers became an issue for both teams as referees were very liberal with their calls.
Catawba Ridge led 20-17 at the half as again they found most of their success inside by driving to the basket.
The Copperheads came out strong in the second half and maintained their lead in the early portion of the third quarter.
Morgan Davis opened the game up for Catawba Ridge in the third quarter as they went on a small 9-0 run.
Indian Land turnovers led to the run as Catawba Ridge went up 37-24 midway through the third quarter.
The Copperheads led by nearly 20 entering the final period. However, that didn’t stop Indian Land from trying to put together a rally. Just as Catawba Ridge went on a run in the third quarter, the Warriors opened on a 13-3 run to cut that lead to less than 10. Skylar Young was able to get them back into the game scoring 14 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. She finished the game with 23 points.
Catawba Ridge was able to hold on due to the play of Davis who finished with 22 points.
Feb. 6 Roundup
The Nation Ford boys’ and girls’ basketball team fell to Spring Valley Tuesday evening. The boys lost 70-65 to all to 12-12 and 5-4 in Region 3-5A. A score wasn’t reported for the Lady Falcons who dropped to 0-9 in the region and 10-14 overall with the loss.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
