Prep tournament wrapup: Why several Rock Hill-area basketball teams are title contenders
Many high school basketball coaches say holiday tournaments give them an idea of whether their teams are legitimate conference or even state championship contenders.
Several area coaches must have liked what they say this holiday season.
Two Rock Hill-area teams expected to be state contenders this season — the South Pointe and Andrew Jackson girls — won holiday tournament titles.
But three more boys’ squads — Lancaster, Fort Mill and Indian Land — gave notice that they also are serious players in the championship picture.
As we turn the calendar to 2025 and the real start of region play, here are some things we learned from the 2024 holiday tournaments:
Lancaster is ready
The Bruins (10-1) beat a pair of strong North Carolina teams, Independence and Cannon School, in the Phenom Hoops New Year’s Bash at Marvin Ridge High.
Lancaster’s all-state guard, Queens commit, Jordan Watford was the standout. He had 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in the Bruins’ 96-82 victory Saturday over private school power Cannon School. A day earlier, he was the dominant force in Lancaster’s 70-66 victory over an Independence team that entered the game with a 9-1 record.
Watford has plenty of support, too. With Cannon School focusing on stopping Watford, Columbus Parker broke loose for 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Fort Mill holds its own
Any questions about Fort Mill (12-2) being a legitimate contender were answered by the Yellow Jackets’ performance in the Poinsettia Classic in Greenville.
In a field loaded with powerhouses, the Yellow Jackets finished second, losing in the finals 58-55 in overtime to a 10-0 North Augusta team. Logan Parker (22 points, eight rebounds) led coach Myron Lowery’s team. Fort Mill rallied twice in that game and managed to get off a desperation 3/4-court-length shot as the final buzzer sounded.
In the semifinals, four players scored in double figures, led by Wallace Campbell’s 17 points, as Fort Mill trounced Spartanburg 63-44.
Indian Land fares well
The Warriors (12-1) put on an impressive performance in the Cayce Roundball Classic, finishing second with a 58-51 loss in the finals to Cross Creek (12-1).
As you might expect, all-state guard Michael Jones stood out. He scored 21 points in the finals and earned all-tournament honors by averaging 29 points over three games. Also making the all-tournament squad was Sequel Patterson, who seems to have rounded quickly into basketball form after his big season on the football field.
South Pointe dominates
The South Pointe girls, who reached the 4A state playoff quarterfinals last season, are off to a 12-0 start. And the Stallions dominated the field in the Chesterfield Christmas Classic.
Their three-day run to the tournament title included a 68-34 rout of Georgia’s Evans High in Saturday’s championship game. Freshman Kaleigh Lucas stood out, scoring 29 points in the finals. Ja’Nyia Cunningham added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Earlier in the tournament, South Pointe won by scores of 83-47 (over a 7-1 Forest Hills team) and 73-35. The Stallions are rolling.
Andrew Jackson cruising
The defending 1A state champion Andrew Jackson girls improved to 9-2 on the season by rolling to a pair of victories in the Comporium Classic on the Volunteer’ home floor.
In the championship game, coach Steven Fair’s team crushed Lakewood 68-29. Tamia Watkins, who is averaging 23.3 points a game this season, was named the tournament’s most valuable player in the girls’ division. And teammate Ni’Yonna Asbelle (19.4 points a game) also made the all-tournament team.