ROCK HILL – A second quarter surge powered the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets to a nearly 20-point win over the Lancaster Bruins.
Fort Mill won 63-45 for their fourth consecutive win.
Both teams were evenly matched to start the game. Both were also methodical in running their offense and ended the first quarter tied 7-7.
Fort Mill opened the second quarter with three consecutive 3-pointers by AJ Washington and Nas Berry as they started 14-0 and went up 21-7. The Jackets hit six of their first seven shots, five of which were 3-pointers.
Fort Mill led 30-13 at the half and outscored Lancaster 24-6 in the quarter as Washington scored 11 in the quarter and the Jackets hit 9-of-14 shots from the field in the second quarter, including six 3-pointers. Lancaster struggled shooting the ball hitting just three second quarter shots.
Jackets head coach Myron Lowery credited hits defense as much as his offense in the win.
“Defensively, we were fantastic,” he said. “They had nine points with under a minute to go in the half. We kept getting stops and they kept trying to make a run.”
In the second half, Washington and Jordan Watford paced their teams respectively but Lancaster struggled to close the gap and get defensive stops.
Fort Mill wasn’t as effective in the third quarter as they had been in the second, but still managed to hit big shots when needed.
Darryl Carrington scored 9 points in the third quarter for Fort Mill. Washington dropped in 6 points as well as the Jackets went up 45-33.
Fort Mill opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run. Just like in the second quarter, the Bruins were unable to get any offensive consistency through the first part of the final period.
Lancaster then started sending Fort Mill to the foul line where they were able to continue to put space between them and the Bruins.
Washington led the Jackets with 21 points and Carrington added 20 points in the win for Fort Mill.
Fort Mill opens Region 3-5A play with Blythewood next week as they improve to 10-6 on the season.
“It is a good way to go into the region,” Lowery said. “It doesn’t get any easier. The region is really tough. We have to take care of the ball. Defensively, if we can get stops and take care of the ball, we got a chance.”
Lady Jackets rout Lancaster
The Fort Mill Lady Jackets ran through the Lancaster Bruins 62-36 to finish its non-region schedule and improve to 14-2 on the season.
Neither team lit up the scoreboard to start the game as Fort Mill had a slim 6-0 lead after the first six minutes of play.
The Jackets kept their foot on the gas and went up 12-0 after one period.
Fort Mill continued to be strong offensively and scored on most possessions as they extended their lead with the help of inside baskets.
The Jackets had seven different players scoring in the second quarter. Fort Mill took a 34-10 lead at the half as they unofficially hit 8-of-13 from the field in the second quarter.
Fort Mill opened the second half with Reagan Reyes scoring the first seven points for the Jackets as they started the quarter on a 9-0 run.
The Jackets went up by 30 with about 90 seconds left in the third quarter as Reyes dropped in 11 of Fort Mill’s 15 points in the third quarter.
Lancaster started the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run led by Eliza Baskin. Playing against mostly bench players, Lancaster outscored Fort Mill 17-13 in the fourth. Baskins had 16 for Lancaster in the quarter and 25 in the game.
Fort Mill was led by Reyes who had 16 points and Jada Chambliss who added 11 points.
Jan. 5 Roundup
The Nation Ford Lady Falcons beat East Meck 56-38 to improve to 10-5 on the season. The Nation Ford boys team fell 64-55 to East Meck to drop to 7-8 on the season. Nation Ford next plays Clover at home Tuesday, Jan. 9 to open Region 3-5A play.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
