Jackets grab playoff berth with win over NaFo

Needing a win to get in the playoffs, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets hosted rivals Nation Ford in the regular season finale. It wasn't easy, but they were able hold on for the critical 35-25 win.

Neither team scored in the first couple minutes of the game until Sami Tuipulotu broke the seal when she hit a free-throw for Nation Ford. The Falcons' Courtney Wells then scored on a reverse lay-up after the second free throw before Fort Mill got on the board when Meredith Christopher drained a 3-pointer to tie the game.

The offense slowed considerably for both squads. Fort Mill struggled to get open looks at the basket while trying to get the ball to the low post, but traveling turnovers led to more opportunities for Nation Ford. The Falcons got to the line several times in the opening quarter giving them an easy opportunity for points.

Fort Mill's Ericca Chappell and Christopher pushed the Jackets into the lead with back-to-back 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the opening quarter.

The Jackets were led by freshman Amiah Lindsay in the second quarter. Lindsay was strong on the defensive end, coming up with rebounds and going coast-to-coast for a traditional three point play.

Nation Ford hit just one field goal in the second quarter and only went to the line three times for four points.

A hot start by the Falcons in the third quarter made a game of it as constant pressure on Lindsay and Fort Mill's low post presence made a difference. Fort Mill struggled shooting and didn't score until Kimber Haley's free-throw with 1:40 left in the quarter.

The Jackets’ shooting woes abated in the fourth quarter with another 3-pointer by Chappell. That started a 5-0 run by Fort Mill topped off by a steal and lay-up from Lindsay to put the Jackets up 32-19 with 5:19 left.

Nation Ford did cut the lead to under 10 points with 1:47 left in the game, but Fort Mill was able to ice the game down the stretch.

Turning point

The Jackets opened the second quarter with Chappell hitting her second 3-pointer of the game. Lindsay followed it up on the next possession with a basket of her own, giving Fort Mill a 16-6 lead. Nation Ford missed its first eight shots and turned the ball over five times in four minutes.

Critical

In the third quarter, Nation Ford's Haley Fulton cut into the Jackets’ 24-12 halftime lead with a 3-pointer. That basket opened the Falcons’ 5-0 run to make a game of it. Fort Mill also didn't help the process by turning the ball over three times in the first 3:30 of the third quarter.

Star contributions

Fort Mill was led by Chappell, who scored 12 points and Lindsay, who scored nine. Nation Ford was led by Tuipulotu, who scored nine points.

Box score

On deck

Both teams have locked a spot in the playoffs, which start next week and both will play road games to open things up in the first round.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Jackets grab playoff berth with win over NaFo."