Preps roundup from Dec. 24: Rock Hill boys basketball wins Y.C. Winborn Tournament

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bluffton tops Rock Hill to win Y.C. Winborn Tournament

Bluffton defeated the Rock Hill Bearcats, 58-46, to win the Y.C. Winborn Tournament Saturday night at Rock Hill.

Rock Hill led 14-3 after one quarter and 25-10 at halftime. Bluffton started its comeback in the third period by outscoring the ‘Cats 27-10 to take a 37-35 advantage when it was completed.

Bluffton continued the impressive play on both ends of the floor in the final session. The team gradually increased its lead to 46-37 with 3:40 remaining in the contest. The ‘Cats fought back and cut the deficit to 46-43 with 2:08 to play.

Bluffton sealed the game at the free throw line from there. The team made 12-of-15 from the charity stripe down the stretch to earn the come-from-behind win.

Tacoya Heyward, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led Bluffton with 34 points. Tatyanna Aiken, who was selected as the MVP for the tournament, scored 16.

Rock Hill was led by Mya Wise with 20 points. She was joined in double figures by Gracie Wilson who had 12 and All-Tournament selection Jada Jones, who also scored 12.

The Bearcats opened the tournament on Thursday with a 72-36 win over C. A. Johnson.

Rock Hill led 37-17 lead at halftime and coasted from there for the one-sided win. Wise led Rock Hill with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jones added 14 points and handed out seven assists.

The ‘Cats moved to the finals with a 57-28 win over Hunter Huss on Friday night.

Rock Hill led 24-10 at halftime and cruised from there for the victory. Dynasty Pichardo led the ‘Cats with 16 points. Jones added 12, and JuJu Stringfellow chipped in 10.

The ‘Cats are 8-4 overall on the year.

South Pointe tops Victory Christian

The South Pointe Stallions topped Victory Christian, 53-40, in the Millenium Classic in Charlotte on Saturday.

South Pointe took an 18-9 lead after one period and improved it to 29-15 at halftime. They coasted from there for the one-sided victory.

The Stallions were led by Trinity Adams and Jamia Blake, both of whom scored 16 points. Adams added eight steals and Blake handed out nine assists.

South Pointe is 9-0 on the year.

Fort Mill wins Founders Federal Tournament

The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets won the Founders Federal Tournament in Gaffney on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets topped Gaffney in the title contest after defeating East Rutherford in the opening round.

The Jackets’ Izzy Giarizzi was named as the MVP for the two-day event, and teammate Cali Wells was selected to the All-Tournament team.

The Yellow Jackets are 6-4 on the year.

Nation Ford routs Catawba Ridge

The Nation Ford Falcons routed the Catawba Ridge Copperheads, 67-33, in a non-region game at Nation Ford Friday night.

The Falcons raced to a 25-11 lead after one period and never slowed down. They were in front 37-20 at intermission and cruised from there for the one-sided win.

The Falcons are 8-4, while the Copperheads are 7-4.

Chester tops Columbia

The Chester Cyclones topped Columbia, 54-43, in a non-region game at Columbia Friday night.

The Cyclones are 6-1 on the year.

Central Pageland edges Lewisville

Central Pageland used a fourth period rally to earn a 38-36 come-from-behind win over the Lewisville Lions in a Region 4-2A game at Pageland Friday night.

Pageland led 22-19 at halftime, but Lewisville used a solid third period to take a 31-26 lead when it was completed. Pageland outscored the Lions 12-5 in the final eight minutes to claim the victory.

Allie Keels led Lewisville with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Indy Tobias added 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Lions are 1-7 overall and 0-1 in region play.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Rock Hill edges South Pointe to win the Y.C. Winborn Tournament

The Rock Hill Bearcats edged the South Pointe Stallions 39-38 to win the Y. C. Winborn Tournament Saturday night at Rock Hill.

Donaven Brown banked in a three-point shot from the left wing at the buzzer to give the ‘Cats the come-from-behind victory and hand them their first title in the tournament since 2013.

The score was tied at 11-11 after one period, but the Stallions took a 20-12 lead to the dressing room at halftime.

The ‘Cats used a strong third quarter where they outscored the Stallions 18-9 to take a 30-29 lead when it was completed. Rock Hill used a three-point goal by Shane Blakeney at the buzzer to gain the one point advantage.

The Stallions held a 33-32 advantage with 4:03 left in the title contest. It stayed close the rest of the way. Rock Hill took a 36-35 lead on a pair of free throws by Brown with 56 seconds to play. South Pointe tied it at 36, and took a 38-36 lead on a pair of free throws with 41 ticks left.

South Pointe missed a chance to put the game away when they missed a pair of free throws with seven seconds left. Rock Hill had the ball out of bounds in the back court with four seconds remaining. They got it down the floor, and Brown nailed the three-point goal for the dramatic win.

Rock Hill was led by Shane Blakeney with 19 points. Chase Gibson added seven to the winning effort. The Stallions were led by M. J. Johnson, who scored ten. Waymond Jenerette added nine for the Stallions.

Rock Hill’s Luke Bracey was named as the MVP and Blakeney made the All-Tournament team. South Pointe’s Johnson was also tabbed for the All-Tournament team.

Rock Hill ripped C. A. Johnson 76-39 in the opening round. The ‘Cats led 17-11 after one period and 28-24 at the half. A solid third period gave them a 57-28 lead, and they moved on from there for the victory.

Bracey and Devin Crayton led the ‘Cats with 16 points each.

The Bearcats made their way to the finals with a 49-48 win over Marlboro County. Bracey provided the winning margin with a layup off a perfectly executed in bounds play in the last second.

Rock Hill erased a 26-16 deficit at halftime to take a 36-35 lead heading to the final quarter. The ‘Cats trailed 47-46 when they had the ball out under their own goal in the final seconds. Bracey, who led the ‘Cats with 24 points, cut to the goal, took the in bounds pass, and hit the game winner.

South Pointe opened the tournament with a 67-54 win over Spring Valley.

The Stallions took a 16-13 lead after one period and improved it to 38-22 at halftime. When the third period was in the books they led 57-37, and they cruised from there for the victory.

Johnson led the Stallions with 17 points. Jerijah Burris added 12, and Jacari Bryson chipped in 10.

South Pointe earned a spot in the finals with a 48-36 decision over River Bluff on Friday.

River Bluff took a 10-6 lead after one quarter, and they were in front 20-17 at intermission. The Stallions rallied in the third quarter and had a 28-27 lead heading to the final eight minutes. They turned it up another notch down the stretch and pulled away to claim the come-from-behind win.

Omari Bryson led the way with 11 points. Burris scored 10, and Omega Blake tossed in eight.

The Bearcats are 7-5, while the Stallions are 4-4.

Clover earns fifth place at Y.C. Winborn Tournament

The Clover Blue Eagles finished 2-1 in the Y. C. Winborn Tournament at Rock Hill and earned fifth place in the event.

The Blue Eagles opened the three-day tournament with a 65-64 loss to River Bluff.

River Bluff led 36-33 at halftime and padded the advantage to 53-45 at the end of the third period. The Blue Eagles battled back to gain a 64-all tie before River Bluff won it with a free throw with three seconds remaining.

Markus Nastase led Clover with 17 points. Donovan Fitzgerald added 14 and Noah Caulder chipped in 12.

Clover defeated Spring Valley 70-58 in the second round on Friday.

The Blue Eagles raced to a 20-9 lead after one period and increased it to 31-15 at halftime. They cruised from there for the win.

Nastase led the way with 24 points and Fitzgerald followed with 17.

Clover routed Elevation Prep 72-40 on the final day of play on Saturday.

The Blue Eagles led 25-14 after one period and 40-22 at halftime. They used a strong third quarter to take a 58-24 advantage when it was over, and then coasted from there for the win.

Nastase, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led the scoring parade with 17 points. Vince Popejoy added 16 and Caulder tossed in 10.

Clover is 5-3 on the year.

Northwestern wins Founders Federal Tournament

The Northwestern Trojans defeated the York Cougars 75-50 to win the Founders Federal Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Gaffney.

The Trojans placed four players in double figures to record the impressive victory. Mason Grigg, who was tabbed as the MVP for the tournament, led the way with 18 points. A. J. Thompson added 17, Qua Allison, who was named to the All-Tournament team, scored 13, and Jalen Burnett tossed in 11.

Northwestern earned its spot in the finals with a 59-57 win over Laurens on Friday night.

Allison led the charge with 21 points. Grigg added 15 and Thompson scored a dozen.

The Trojans are 6-3 on the year.

Nation Ford topples Catawba Ridge

The Nation Ford Falcons toppled the Catawba Ridge Copperheads 58-41 in a non-region game at Nation Ford Friday night.

The Falcons led 14-7 after one period and 30-14 at halftime. They moved on from there for the victory.

Petey Tuipulotu and Andrew Meacham led the Falcons with 12 points each. Ty Strawhorn chipped in 10 to the winning effort.

The Falcons are 4-8, while the Copperheads are 3-6.

Columbia gets by Chester

Columbia defeated the Chester Cyclones 84-76 in a non-region game at Columbia Friday night.

The Cyclones are 5-2 on the year.

Lewisville defeats Central Pageland

The Lewisville Lions defeated Central Pageland 56-38 in a Region 4-2A game at Pageland Friday night.

The Lions are 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the region.