High school basketball rewind: South Pointe scores a sweep
The South Pointe boys’ and girls’ basketball teams made the most of their Wednesday night trip to the Columbia area, scoring a sweep of their games at Richland Northeast.
The unbeaten girls’ squad crushed Richland Northeast 64-18, and the Stallions’ boys trounced the Cavaliers 69-25.
In a rather busy Wednesday night of high school basketball, the winners also included Indian Land’s boys and the Northwestern girls, who scored their first region victory of the season.
Here is a summary of Wednesday’s action:
BOYS
Indian Land 82, Northwestern 53: Mike Jones poured in 27 points, and Sequel Patterson added 16 points as the Warriors (19-2, 6-1) remained a game behind first-place Fort Mill in Region 3 5A. Northwestern (6-12, 4-4) was led by Grant Purser, who scored 26 points.
The Warriors broke this game open early, bolting to a 27-7 first-quarter lead.
South Pointe 69, Richland Northeast 25: Tre Raymon scored 20 points and added four rebounds, as the Stallions improved to 5-2 in Region 3 4A and remained in third place, two games behind Lancaster. R.J. Hill added 13 points and six rebounds, and Trinten Stevenson totaled five steals for South Pointe.
GIRLS
South Pointe 64, Richland Northeast 18: The unbeaten Stallions earned their 20th victory of the season, thanks to a strong defensive effort that resulted in 25 steals. Freshman Kaleigh Lucas had another big night, with 23 points, five rebounds, and eight of those steals. South Pointe is now 7-0 in Region 3 4A action.
Northwestern 41, Indian Land 25: The Trojans got their first Region 3 5A victory in eight tries.
1 of 1 Academy 66, Legion Collegiate 50: Miley Malcolm scored 16 points for 1 of 1 Academy, based in Indian Trail. Legion Collegiate is now 18-10.
Tuesday’s report
What rust?
Lancaster returned to action after an 11-day layoff Tuesday night, and it looked as if the Bruins never took a break.
The Rock Hill area’s No. 1-ranked boys’ high school basketball team broke to a big early lead and never looked back, trouncing visiting Richland Northeast 72-37 in a Region 3 4A game.
Last week’s winter storm disrupted the schedule of most area teams, but for coach Jerron Cauthen’s Bruins, it meant an 11-day break. Prior to Tuesday night, Lancaster’s last time on the court was a 93-57 rout of Camden on Jan. 17.
But all the usual parts of the Lancaster machine were working perfectly Tuesday night.
The Bruins built a huge early lead and answered every time Richland Northeast tried to make a run.
One example ... Lancaster led 56-19 late in the third quarter, but the visiting Cavaliers scored seven points in a row and seemed to be gaining some momentum.
The Bruins responded with a 7-0 run of their own, with Malik Tinsley scoring five of those points.
Tinley finished with 18 points, and Jordan Watford added 15 points and seven rebounds. Also in double figures were Robbie Wheeler (13) and Jacarey Ballard (10).
The Bruins improved to 15-1 overall and 6-0 in the region.
Their “reward” for the recent vacation is a string of six games in 12 days. Lancaster will travel to A.C. Flora on Friday and then host Dreher in a Saturday matinee.
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s other area games:
BOYS
Catawba Ridge 55, Northwestern 37: Mark Caslaru scored 14 points and added nine rebounds and six blocked shots as Catawba Ridge (10-12, 3-5) rolled to a Region 3 5A victory. Isaiah Thomas added 14 points and seven rebounds. Northwestern dropped to (6-11, 4-3).
Fort Mill 59, Clover 49: The Yellow Jackets, ranked No. 2 in the Rock Hill area, broke to a 30-13 halftime margin and led by 10-15 points the rest of the way. Nas Berry led Fort Mill (19-2, 8-0 Region 3 5A) with 21 points, and Logan Parker added 17.
J’Shon Watson scored 15, and Owen Galeota added 10 for Clover (14-8, 4-3).
Indian Land 71, Rock Hill 52: The third-ranked Warriors (18-2, 5-1 Region 3 5A) stayed a game behind Fort Mill in the standings, as Mike Jones scored a game-high 23 points. Sequel Patterson added 16, and Brent Michael Terrell had eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Weddington 85, Nation Ford 64: The Falcons (9-12) upset Weddington earlier this month, but the Warriors (14-5) evened the score Tuesday night. K.J. Younger scored 27 points, and Tyler Cain added a career-high 18 for Weddington. Cain scored 12 points in the second quarter, when Weddington opened a big lead.
Chase Walters led Nation Ford with 19 points, and Garren Brookover added 16.
A.C. Flora 74, York 34: Christian Smith scored 12 points, but the Cougars (3-17, 2-5 Region 3 4A) couldn’t keep pace with A.C. Flora. York trailed 16-10 after the first quarter, but the Falcons outscored the Cougars 21-6 in the second period.
Westminster Catawba 69, Metrolina Christian 37: Westminster Catawba got 14 points apiece from M.J. Littlejohn and Brycen Redmon in this Metrolina Athletic Conference victory in Indian Trail. Gannon Parker added 11 points for the victors. It was his third straight game in double figures. It was also the third straight victory for Westminster Catawba.
Gaston Day 76, Legion Collegiate 68: Braylen Todd scored 21 points and Dylan Bradley added 19 for Gaston Day in this nonconference game.
Eau Claire 69, Chester 24: The Cyclones dropped this road contest, falling to 4-9 overall and 1-4 in Region 3 2A.
Andrew Jackson 71, Chesterfield 38: The volunteers (12-5, 7-0 Region 4 2A) remained unbeaten in region play, behind 22 points from Bryce Peterson. Damias Seegars added 21.
Cheraw 77, Buford 45: Cold shooting doomed the Yellow Jackets, who fell to 4-12 overall and 1-7 in Region 4 2A.
Great Falls 78, Midlands STEM 9: The Red Devils improved to 10-0 in Region 2 1A play, overwhelming Midlands.
Lee Central 77, Riverwalk Academy 29: Austin Thurman’s free throw gave Riverwalk Academy a 1-0 lead in this Region 2 1A contest, but Lee Central scored the next 10 points and pulled away.
Lewisville 58, Lamar 35: Lewisville (7-4, 7-3) trailed 20-16 at halftime in this Region 2 1A game but outscored Lamar 42-15 over the final two quarters.
Lake Pointe Academy 78, Westgate Christian 25: James Jacobs poured in 24 points, and nine of his teammates got into the scoring column for the Mariners (14-3).
GIRLS
Clover 53, Fort Mill 34: The Blue Eagles, ranked No. 1 among the Rock Hill area’s girls’ teams, ran their Region 3 5A mark to 8-0 with this victory in a first-place showdown. Clover led 19-4 after one quarter, but Fort Mill (6-2) got within eight points in the second half. Zoe Williams scored 15 points for the Yellow Jackets.
Rock Hill 70, Indian Land 31: Emine Hollis scored 31 points, and the Bearcats improved to 5-3 in Region 3 5A action. They are third in the region, a game behind Fort Mill.
Weddington 59, Nation Ford 53: The Falcons (10-11) ventured north of the border and came up short against the Warriors (12-6), who have won five of their last six games.
A.C. Flora 62, York 29: A.C. Flora remained third in Region 3 4A (5-2), as they outscored York (0-7) 41-13 in the second and third quarters.
Lancaster 46, Richland Northeast 35: The Bruins pulled away in the second half for their second victory in five Region 3 4A outings.
Metrolina Christian 68, Westminster Catawba 58: Bella Shearer scored 14 points, and Leah Ross added 11, but it wasn’t enough for Westminster Catawba in this road Metrolina Athletic Conference game. Metrolina Christian opened a huge 37-6 first-quarter lead and hung on. Westminster Catawba outscored the Warriors 26-8 in the fourth quarter.
Ross is now 67 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Cheraw 52, Buford 23: The Yellow Jackets fell behind early and couldn’t keep pace with Cheraw, the second-place team in Region 4 2A. Buford surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Braves 15-4, but it wasn’t enough.
Scores, schedule
(Unless otherwise listed, all matchups are girls-boys doubleheaders, with girls’ games starting around 6:15 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY
BOYS
Region 3 5A
Indian Land 82, Northwestern 53
Region 3 4A
South Pointe 69, Richland Northeast 25
Nonconference
Richard Winn Academy 52, Buford 36
GIRLS
Region 3 5A
Northwestern 41, Indian Land 25
Region 3 4A
South Pointe 64, Richland Northeast 18
Region 2 1A
Great Falls def. Governor’s School, forfeit
Nonconference
1 of 1 Academy 66, Legion Collegiate 50
TUESDAY
BOYS
Region 3 5A
Catawba Ridge 55, Northwestern 37
Fort Mill 59, Clover 49
Indian Land 71, Rock Hill 52
Region 3 4A
A.C. Flora 74, York 34
Dreher at Camden
Lancaster 72, Richland Northeast 37
Region 3 2A
Eau Claire 69, Chester 24
Mid-Carolina 51, Columbia 50
Fairfield Central at Clinton
Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson 71, Chesterfield 38
Cheraw 77, Buford 45
Region 2 1A
Great Falls 78, Midlands STEM 9
Lee Central 77, Riverwalk Academy 29
Lewisville 58, Lamar 35
McBee 85, Governor’s School 17
Metrolina Athletic
Concord Academy 76, SouthLake Christian 37
Hickory Grove Christian at Gaston Christian
Westminster Catawba 69, Metrolina Christian 37
Nonconference
Gaston Day 76, Legion Collegiate 68
Lake Pointe Academy 78, Westgate Christian 25
Weddington 85, Nation Ford 64
GIRLS
Region 3 5A
Catawba Ridge 47, Northwestern 38
Clover 53, Fort Mill 34
Rock Hill 70, Indian Land 31
Region 3 4A
A.C. Flora 62, York 29
Camden 75, Dreher 40
Lancaster 46, Richland Northeast 35
Region 3 2A
Chester at Eau Claire
Clinton 40, Fairfield Central 23
Mid-Carolina 72, Columbia 36
Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson 103, Chesterfield 25
Cheraw 52, Buford 23
Region 2 1A
Governor’s School at McBee
Lewisville 44, Lamar 18
Metrolina Athletic
Concord Academy 85, SouthLake Christian 13
Gaston Christian 67, Hickory Grove Christian 44
Metrolina Christian 68, Westminster Catawba 58
Nonconference
Weddington 59, Nation Ford 53
THURSDAY
Region 3 2A
Eau Claire at Fairfield Central
Nonconference
Riverwalk Academy at Providence Classical (boys), 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY
Region 3 5A
Fort Mill at Rock Hill
Nation Ford at Indian Land
Northwestern at Clover
Region 3 4A
Dreher at Richland Northeast
Lancaster at A.C. Flora
South Pointe at Camden
Region 3 2A
Mid-Carolina at Chester
Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson at York Prep
Chesterfield at Pageland Central
North Central at Cheraw
Region 2 1A
Great Falls at C.A. Johnson
Lamar at Governor’s School, 5:30 p.m.
Lewisville at Lee Central
McBee at Midlands STEM (boys), 7 p.m.
Metrolina Athletic
Gaston Day at Westminster Catawba, 5:30 p.m.
Hickory Grove Christian at Concord Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Metrolina Christian at SouthLake Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Nonconference
Lake Pointe Academy at Bob Jones Academy
Legion Collegiate at Rabun Gap School (GA), 5 p.m.
SATURDAY
Region 3 4A
Dreher at Lancaster, 1 p.m.
Queen’s Court Showcase (girls)
at South Pointe High)
West Mecklenburg vs. Spartanburg, 2 p.m.
Military Magnet vs. Westside, 3:30 p.m.
Clover vs. Greenwood, 5 p.m.
South Pointe vs. River Bluff, 6:30 p.m.
Nonconference
Legion Collegiate at Asheville School (boys), 3:30 p.m.
This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.