By John Turner
Correspondent
CLOVER – It seems like every time Fort Mill and Clover play each other in basketball, it comes down to the final seconds. However, Tuesday night was the exception.
Over the past several years, the varsity boys game between Clover and Fort Mill always seems to come down to the final possession. Yet, Tuesday night would be the exception as the Blue Eagles would celebrate Senior Night having won two of their last three while Fort Mill rolled into The Nest having won six wins in a row.
In the end, Fort Mill cruised to a 61-50 win over Clover giving the Yellow Jackets their seventh straight victory.
Fort Mill’s victory, combined with Blythewood’s victory over Rock Hill, gives the Jackets sole possession of first place in Region 3-5A.
The game was begun hectically in front of a fairly large, yet quiet crowd as both teams wanted to get off to a good start. As each team finally settled into their game plan, things seemed to calm down as points began to pour in. The first period ended with the Blue Eagles up 10-8.
The second period of play was full of calls by the officials that made people wonder while other calls were not made with what appeared to be easy calls. Both teams entered halftime clearly frustrated as the Blue Eagles led 25-23.
The second half would start with more of the same, but scoring would begin to pick up as each team would find ways to find their way to the front of the rim. Five different Jackets scored in the third period, while four different Blue Eagles would score as Clover ended the third period with a three point lead.
However, there was one stat not in the Blue Eagles favor and it ended up being the difference in the game. Clover had six team fouls while the Yellow Jackets only had one. The game changed on a bizarre play as Fort Mill’s Braylen McCain flew down the left side of the lane banking in a shot while a foul was called on Clover. However, the foul was not on McCain. It was for a hold on Will Stumpf which gave Fort Mill the ball back. That’s when fans, coaches and players all began to bark as the officiating became even more head scratching. At one point, both fan bases were booing the officials.
As Clover went cold near the end of the game, Fort Mill was coming up with big rebound after big rebound making Clover commit foul after foul sending the Yellow Jackets to the charity stripe. Of the 23 points scored by Fort Mill in the fourth period, nine came from the free throw line.
As the Fort Mill lead began to grow, the impatience of the Blue Eagles became more prevalent taking quick shots which didn’t find the bottom of the net.
Gabriel Tooper led the way for the Jackets with 17 points. AJ Washington put up 16 points while McCain added 15 points.
Fort Mill is now 14-10 overall and 7-2 in region play. If Fort Mill defeats Nation Ford this Friday night at home, the Yellow Jackets will be the Region 3-5A champs for the second year running.
Clover hands Lady Jackets a road loss
Clover, for the first time in many years, had lost four straight region games while Fort Mill was on a three-game skid of its own.
Both teams came out a little out of control making mental errors and turning the ball over at alarming rates. From stepping out of bounds to making passes to no one, each team was trying to get out of its own way. Finally, baskets were made and both teams settled in. Jada and Julie Chambliss each hit a first period 3-pointer, while Brooke Taylor hit one of her own for Clover as the first period ended tied at eight. That’s where the game turned.
Fort Mill began to struggle again getting off clean looks at the basket and committing turnovers while the Blue Eagles found their shooting stroke. It was a Senior Night to remember for Clover’s Ny’Sheria Wright as she poured in six points in the second period while getting help from teammates Marcia Watt and Brooke Taylor as the Blue Eagles outscored the Yellow Jackets 13-0 in the second quarter to take a demanding 21-8 halftime lead.
However, the Jackets wouldn’t go down without a fight as the came out swarming the third period outscoring Clover 20-11 to cut the Blue Eagle lead to four headed to the 4th quarter.
Unfortunately, that would be the closest the Jackets would get as Clover would ramp up their defensive pressure while Wright crucial free throws down the stretch to lead Clover to 46-36 victory over Fort Mill. Although the Jackets are in last place, their playoff heart still has a pulse as teams finish their regular season in order to see who will get the At-Large bid for the Upper State playoffs.
Ella Marker and Clare Moore each had nine points for Fort Mill, while Reagan Reyes added seven points for the Jackets.
