GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Rock Hill 73, Northwestern 26
Rock Hill’s defense smothered Northwestern like a fog Tuesday night, helping Kenny Orr’s team to 73-26 Region 4-5A win over rival Northwestern.
Makenna Thompson led the Bearcats (15-3, 2-1 Region 4-5A) with 21 points, while Winthrop signee RiKoya Anderson had 18. Rock Hill shot 33 free throws, attacking the rim throughout, and also shut out the Trojans (4-12, 0-3) in the final quarter. Brittany Bumpers led Northwestern with nine points.
Rock Hill built a wall across half court in the first two quarters, continually hounding Trojan ball-handlers into turnovers. The Bearcats’ defense sparked strong starts in the first two quarters — 12-2 in both periods.
Northwestern cut into Rock Hill’s lead to end the first quarter trailing 20-13. But Rock Hill’s second big run of the half was fueled by steals that led to run-out layups for Makenna Thompson, Tee Ballard and RiKoya Anderson and broke the game open for good.
Rock Hill’s Makenna Thompson and Abriana Green talked about the Bearcats’ win over Northwestern:
McBee 36, Lewisville 34
McBee came from behind in the fourth period and edged Lewisville 36-34 in a Region 2A game at Lewisville Tuesday night.
Lewisville led 16-11 at halftime and took a 24-20 lead into the final eight minutes of play. McBee outscored Lewisville 16-10 in the final quarter to pick up the win.
Amber Bass led Lewisville with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots. Hannah McCallister added 10 points and seven rebounds for Lewisville.
Lewisville is 3-11 overall and 0-4 in the region.
Nation Ford 42, Fort Mill 24
Nation Ford built a 20-11 lead at halftime and went on to defeat Fort Mill 42-24 in a Region 4-5A game at Nation Ford Tuesday night.
Nation Ford is 13-4 overall and 4-0 in region play. Fort Mill is 8-8 in all games and winless in three outings in the region.
Coaches announce top 10 rankings
The South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association has released its latest poll, and Nation Ford and Rock Hill are included in the list.
Class 5A
1. Spring Valley, 2. Goose Creek, 3. Woodmont, 4. Wando, 5. Wade Hanmpton (G), 6. Nation Ford, 7. Rock Hill, 8. Ashley Ridge, 9. Greenwood, 10. Sumter.
Class 4A
1. North Augusta, 2. Westwood, 3. North Myrtle Beach, 4. Richland Northeast, 5. Myrtle Beach, 6. Richland Northeast, 7. Stall, 8. Hartsville, 9. Wilson, 10. A. C. Flora/Orangeburg-Wilkinson.
Class 3A
1. Emerald, 2. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 3. Newberry, 4. Pendleton, 5. Bishop England, 6. Swansea, 7. Battery Creek, 8. Manning, 9. Dillion,10. Loris.
Class 2A
1. Marion, 2. Mullins, 3. Barnwell, 4. Brashier Middle, 5. Blacksburg, 6. Landrum, 7. Andrew Jackson, 8. Christ Church, 9. Burke, 10. Batesburg-Leesville.
Class A
1. Green Sea Floyds, 2. East Clarendon, 3. Ridge Spring-Monetta, 4. Lamar, 5. Blackville-Hilda, 6. Charleston Math & Science, 7. Denmark-Olar, 8. Whitmire, 9. C.E. Murray, 10. Palmetto Scholars Academy.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Northwestern 66, Rock Hill 61
A mid-fourth quarter spurt helped Northwestern hold off Rock Hill 66-61 in a Region 4-5A game at Rock Hill Tuesday night.
Zay Martin led all scorers with 24 points and Chris Leach pitched in 18 for the Trojans (7-9, 1-2 Region 4-5A). Malik Logan and Antonio Barber both hit 15 points for Rock Hill (3-12, 0-3) and Saveon Williams added 14.
Martin’s 3 gave Northwestern an 11-point first half lead (27-16), but Rock Hill fought back into the contest. Barber lobbed successfully to Saveon Williams on consecutive plays, one dropped in for a layup and the other rammed home for a dunk to make it 29-26. A pair of Malik Logan 3s meant the Bearcats were well within striking distance at the half, trailing 38-35.
The Trojans opened the second half with a nearly 90-second possession that ended in Leach’s 3. Rock Hill’s Luke Bracey, an eighth-grader, knocked down a jumper, before taking a steal end to end for another deuce that cut the Trojans’ lead to 45-44.
The ever-active Barber leaked out for an easy-looking jam, but Ashton Parker ran him down and swatted the shot. Martin finished strongly at the other end while drawing a foul. His free throw made it 51-44. Jaywen Westbrook scored in the paint for the Trojans and Leach hosed another 3 and suddenly Northwestern’s lead was 10. A string of empty Rock Hill offensive trips meant the Trojans trek back across town with the rivalry win.
Check out highlights from the Trojans’ win and hear from first cousins and high-scorers Zay Martin and Chris Leach:
Nation Ford 75, Fort Mill 68
The Falcons started fast and held off Fort Mill’s charge to win the city rivalry game over the Yellow Jackets Tuesday night 75-68.
Four Nation Ford players scored in double figures, led by Shaman Alston’s 17. Malik Bryant added 16, Zeb Graham 13 and Eric Moulds 11. Ryan Heriot was high scorer for the Yellow Jackets with 15 points and Josh Amigo chipped in 12.
Jared Adamson’s Nation Ford team improved to 12-6 overall, and 4-0 in Region 4-5A.
Lewisville 61, McBee 41
Lewisville raced to a 41-18 lead at halftime and toppled McBee 61-41 in a Region 2A game at Lewisville Tuesday night.
Lewisville is 9-8 overall and 3-2 in the region.
Great Falls 64, Governor’s School 24
Great Falls routed Governor’s School 64-24 in a Region 2A game at Great Falls Tuesday night.
Great Falls is 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the region.
WRESTLING
Rock Hill 52, Northwestern 19
Rock Hill toppled Northwestern 52-19 in a Region 4-5A match at Northwestern Tuesday night.
Fort Mill 43, Nation Ford 27
Fort Mill defeated Nation Ford 43-27 in a Region 4-5A match at Fort Mill Tuesday night.
This story was originally published January 23, 2018 9:04 PM.