Clover girls basketball wins bracket at Carolina Invitational; Aylesha Wade wins MVP
Check out this week’s high school sports roundup, featuring several holiday tournament winners — including the Clover girls team, the Great Falls boys team and more.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Clover wins Cane Bay Bracket at Carolina Invitational
The Clover Blue Eagles won the Cane Bay Bracket at the Carolina Invitational Tournament in Charleston on Monday afternoon.
The Blue Eagles toppled Mauldin, 52-36, to claim the title in that eight-team bracket.
Clover led 10-7 after one quarter and used a strong second period to take a 27-17 lead at halftime. They outscored Mauldin 25-21 in the second half to claim the win.
Aylesha Wade, who was selected as the MVP for the tournament, and Mariana Ballard were the top scorers for Clover with 13 points each. Lauren Deal joined them in double figures with 11 points.
Clover opened the tournament on Friday with a 56-48 win over Lee County (GA).
The Blue Eagles trailed 16-9 after one period, but cut the deficit to 23-21 at halftime. They stepped it up in the third quarter and took a 41-33 lead to the final session The two teams played even in the last eight minutes.
Wade led Clover with 31 points and six rebounds. Janelle Carter added 16 points and hauled down a dozen stray shots.
The Blue Eagles toppled Spartanburg 51-37 in the semi-finals. Clover led 15-0 after one period and 25-13 at halftime. They moved on from there for the win.
Wade led the Blue Eagles with 15 points and six rebounds. Carter followed with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Clover is 11-1 overall.
Fort Mill is runner-up in Island Bracket in Carolina Invitational
The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets won two of three games and claimed the runner-up spot in the Island Bracket in the Carolina Invitational Tournament in Charleston.
The Yellow Jackets won their first two games before losing to Worthington (OH) 45-34 in the title contest in their bracket.
Fort Mill began the tournament with a 32-23 win over James Island on Friday.
The Yellow Jackets erased a 10-6 deficit after one period to forge a 16-16 tie at intermission. They limited James Island to two points in the third period for a 23-18 advantage, and they hung on down the stretch for the victory.
Izzy Giarizzi led Fort Mill with 11 points. Nadia Dial joined her in double digits with 10.
The Jackets earned a trip to the finals with a 40-33 win over Bishop McGuinness.
Fort Mill erased a 12-5 first quarter deficit with a solid performance in the second period. They took a 20-16 lead at halftime. A strong third period gave them a 30-18 cushion when it was over, and they weathered a Bishop McGuiness rally in the fourth quarter to get the victory.
The Yellow Jackets are 8-5 on the year.
Rock Hill wins American Division in Blue Star Showcase
The Rock Hill Bearcats claimed the American Division title in the Blue Star Showcase at the Rock Hill Indoor Athletic Facility Monday afternoon.
The ‘Cats defeated Manning 52-42 to earn the crown. Rock Hill led 12-6 after one period and was in front 25-19 at halftime. When the third period was over they led 39-30, and they moved on from there to win the championship.
Jada Jones led Rock Hill with 19 points and six rebounds. Unique Burch added 11 points and also got six rebounds. Mya Wise scored 10 points and hauled down 10 stray shots.
The Bearcats defeated Westfield (VA) 39-25 in the opening round on Saturday.
The ‘Cats took a 14-9 lead after one period, but Westfield responded in the second period and cut the deficit to 20-19 at halftime. The Bearcats won the third period 10-1 for a 30-20 cushion, and pulled away in the final eight minutes for the win.
Wise led Rock Hill with 16 points. Gracie Wilson added nine to the winning attack.
The ‘Cats are 10-4 overall.
South Pointe thrashes Kings Mountain
The South Pointe Stallions continued their winning ways by thrashing Kings Mountain 69-26 in a non-region contest at Kings Mountain Monday night.
The Stallions were led by Randi Neal, who scored 22 points. She was joined in double digits by Jamia Blake, who tossed in 21 points.
The Stallions are 10-0 on the year.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Great Falls wins Chesnee Classic
The Great Falls Red Devils put together three outstanding performances and won the Chesnee Classic, which concluded on Monday.
The Red Devils defeated Blacksburg 80-75 to earn the title.
Great Falls jumped to a 10-2 lead, but Blacksburg cut it to 19-16 after the first quarter. The Red Devils were in front 38-27 at halftime. When the third was complete they led 60-47. Blacksburg battled back and cut the deficit to 78-73 with 54 seconds remaining, but the Red Devils hung on for the win.
The Red Devils’ D. J. Adams was selected as the MVP for the tournament, and teammate Kelton Talford was chosen for the All-Tournament team.
Great Falls opened the three-day tournament with an 80-65 win over East Rutherford. The Red Devils led 44-41 at halftime and pulled away in the second half for the win.
They topped the Catawba Ridge Copperheads 80-63 in the semi-final round. The Red Devils led 15-11 after one period and 40-27 at intermission. They moved on from there the victory.
Great Falls is 7-4 on the year.
Nation Ford wins Emerald Classic
The Nation Ford Falcons won the Emerald City Classic in Greenwood with some outstanding play over three days.
The Falcons defeated Strom Thurmond, 54-42, in the opening round.
They led 30-24 at halftime and pulled away in the second half for victory.
Petey Tuipulotu led the way with 15 points. Tyler Thaxton and Andrew Meacham joined him in double figures with 13 and 10 points respectively.
Nation Ford toppled Greenwood 61-58 in the semi-final round.
They trailed 34-31 at halftime, but used a strong third quarter performance to take a 41-39 lead. They held on down the stretch to pick up the win.
Tuipulotu led the charge with 17 points. Thaxton and Gage Arborn joined him in double digits with 11 each.
The Falcons won the title on Saturday night with a 56-49 decision over Belton-Honea Path.
Nation Ford took a 31-21 lead at intermission and held a 41-31 lead heading into the final period. They held off a Belton-Honea Path rally in the final few minutes to preserve the victory.
Tuipulotu led the Falcons with 25 points. Thaxton added 12 and Meacham chipped in 10.
Nation Ford is 7-8 on the year.
Clover finishes as runner-up in Bennie Bennett Tournament
The Clover Blue Eagles finished with a record of 2-1 and earned the runner-up spot in the Bennie Bennett Tournament in Clover.
The Blue Eagles opened the three-day event with a 85-40 rout of North Gaston. Donovon Fitzgerald paced Clover with 24 points.
The second round saw the Blue Eagles, who played without two starters, edge May River 69-64. They dropped a 54-52 decision to Aiken in the championship contest.
Clover is 7-4 overall.
Northwestern goes 3-0 in Bennie Bennett Tournament
The Northwestern Trojans earned three wins and finished in third place in the Bennie Bennett Tournament in Clover.
The Trojans opened the three-day event with a 106-68 rout of May River. Qua Allison and Mason Grigg led a quartet of Trojans in double figures with 26 points. A. J. Thompson followed with 15 and Graham Elkins chipped in a dozen.
The second round saw Northwestern rip North Gaston 99-50. Grigg led the scoring parade with 19 points. Jalen Burnette followed with 17, Thompson and Allison added 16 each.
Northwestern defeated Abbeville 90-70 to win third place. Thompson was the top scorer for the Trojans with 24 points. Allison added 20, Grigg tossed in 14 and Matt White chipped in 10.
The Trojans are 9-3 on the year.
Fort Mill earns third place in Claw Classic
The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets finished third in the Claw Classic at Chapin.
The Jackets opened the three-day tournament on Thursday with a 57-49 win over Columbia. Gabe Christopher led Fort Mill with 19 points.
Fort Mill dropped a 39-36 decision to Chapin in the semi-finals, but rebounded on the third day of play with a 59-54 win over Batesurg-Leesville.
Jackson Fewster paced the Jackets with 14 points. Christopher was selected to the All-Tournament team.
Fort Mill is 7-4 overall.
Catawba Ridge claims third place at Chesnee Tournament
The Catawba Ridge Copperheads won two of three games and finished third in the Chesnee Classic.
Catawba Ridge defeated High Point 55-45 on the third day of play on Monday to earn the third spot. The Copperheads took a 13-12 lead after one period, but Chesnee cut the deficit to 23-21 at halftime. Catawba Ridge was in front 40-33 after three quarters, and they moved on from there for the victory.
Carter Hendrick, who was tabbed for the All-Tournament team, led the Copperheads with 16 points.
The Copperheads began the tournament with a 53-42 win over Chesnee. They held a 16-12 lead at halftime and used a solid third period to take a 41-25 lead into the fourth period. The Copperheads held off a Chesnee rally in the final eight minutes for the win.
Tyson Bombick led the way with 16 points. Hendrick followed with 14 points, and Davante Gonzalez added 13 points.
They dropped an 80-63 decision to the Great Falls Red Devils in the semi-final round. Great Falls led 15-11 after one quarter and 40-27 at halftime. The Copperheads could not comeback in the second half.
Gonzalez led the Copperheads with a season-high 25 points. Hendrick added a dozen for Catawba Ridge, which is 5-7 on the year.
Lewisville wins two of three
The Lewisville Lions won two of three games in the Lewisville Christmas Classic in Richburg.
The Lions toppled Charlotte Elite 50-48 on the opening day of play on Thursday. They followed with a 54-43 win over Buford on the second day of competition, before losing to the Legion Collegiate Lancers 55-47 on the the third day of play on Saturday.
Lewisville is 7-4 overall.
Lancers wins three
The Legion Collegiate Lancers won three games in the Lewisville Christmas Classic in Richburg.
The Lancers routed Buford 80-46 in the opening round and followed with a 69-58 win over Union County.
They completed the three-day sweep with a 55-47 victory over the Lewisville Lions.
The Lancers are 7-4 overall.