Junior shooting guard Elizabeth Cohen led the Nation Ford Falcons girls’ basketball team with 16 points in a 48-37 home loss to Gaffney Tuesday night in Region 3-5A play in the team’s first game back since Jan.5th.
The Falcons, now 4-9, 1-1 in the region, fell behind early in the first half, and was unable to mount the comeback necessary to overtake the visiting Indians, who improved to 6-5 and 1-2 in the region.
Senior small forward Mikirea Shippy led Gaffney with 16 points, while senior power forward Kilaya Sims added nine points, and senior point guard Zee Sims added seven points.
The Falcons were cold from the floor from the opening tip, and started the contest with 1-for-11 shooting until Cohen was able to stop the rot with a long jumper. By then, Gaffney had opened up a 15-4 lead midway through the second quarter.
Cohen nailed a long 3-pointer to punctuate a short 8-0 Nation Ford run heading into the halftime break trailing 22-12.
Still, Gaffney kept Nation Ford at arm’s length in the second half. Sims and Shippy both made easy transition baskets to open up a 36-20 lead by the end of the third quarter, the largest lead of the game.
The Falcons responded with a 17-point fourth quarter to keep the Indians honest.
Freshman power forward Harper McKain, scored four points and senior point guard Victoria Robinson added six points. Senior power forward Payton Brookover dropped in 11 points and Cohen all hit clutch shots to trim the Gaffney lead to eight with 2:04 left on the clock.
But Sims was able to convert two transition layups in the final stages to ice Gaffney’s first region win of the season.
Nation Ford is now scheduled to travel to Gaffney Friday night to complete the season series with the Indians. The Falcons boys’ team is sidelined for a while as they are battling COVID issue within the program.
