High school basketball rewind: Rock Hill area’s top-ranked teams have big nights
Lancaster won a region high school basketball championship Friday night, but the Bruins had to work for it.
Meanwhile, South Pointe moved ever closer to completing a perfect regular season in girls basketball.
Lancaster clinched the Region 3 4A title, rallying to down visiting South Pointe 61-58.
The Bruins are now 10-0 in region play (20-1 overall), with two games to play. They have a three-game lead over second-place South Pointe.
The Stallions pushed Lancaster. They led for much of the game and were in front 46-39 after three quarters.
But coach Jerron Cauthen’s team has proved several times this season that it is capable of comebacks. And that’s what happened Friday night.
Fueled by the play of senior Jordan Watford, the Bruins outscored South Pointe 22-12 in the final eight minutes for the victory.
Watford finished with 25 points, and Columbus Parker added 13. South Pointe did a good job of rebounding, with Tre Raymon grabbing 12 boards and R.J. Hill adding 10. Hill led the Stallions in scoring, with 23 points, and Raymon added 18.
The opener of the South Pointe-Lancaster girls-boys doubleheader featured another strong performance from South Pointe.
The Stallions ripped the Bruins 66-22. JaNyia Cunningham had 21 points and eight rebounds, Kaleigh Lucas added 15, and Serenity Woods scored 14.
South Pointe is now 24-0 overall and 10-0 in Region 3 4A. The Stallions lead A.C. Flora and Camden by two games, with two games to play.
BOYS
Indian Land 48, Clover 41: The host Warriors struggled at times, but they won this Region 3 5A contest and set up a showdown Tuesday night with Fort Mill for first place. Indian Land, which outscored Clover 34-17 in the second half, is 9-1 in region play. Fort Mill is 10-0. Indian Land and the Yellow Jackets meet Tuesday night at Fort Mill.
Rock Hill 55, Northwestern 52: The Bearcats outscored Northwestern 15-12 in the fourth quarter, earning their second Region 3 5A victory in 11 games this season. Northwestern fell to 4-7.
Camden 61, York 48: York looked ready to spring a surprise in this Region 3 4A game, taking a 33-23 halftime lead. But Camden exploded in the second half and won by a comfortable margin. Jacob Meadows (14 points), Alex McIlwain (11 points) and James Love (13 rebounds) led the way for York.
Andrew Jackson 88, North Central 50: Bryce Peterson made 10 of 10 from the foul line and scored 31 points as the Volunteers improved to 10-0 in Region 4 2A action. Damias Seegars added 18 points for Andrew Jackson, which leads second-place Pageland Central by one game. The teams square off Monday.
Pageland Central 69, Buford 41: Pageland Central had four players in double figures and trounced Buford in a Region 4 2A game. Buford slipped to 1-9 in region play.
Westminster Catawba 71, Hickory Grove Christian 47: Bruce Redmon scored 14 points, leading four players in double figures, as Westminster Catawba closed its regular season with a Metrolina Athletic Conference victory. The team is expected to begin play Tuesday in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s playoffs.
Legion Collegiate 54, South Charlotte Thunder 28: The Lancers outscored the Thunder 33-9 in the first half.
Hampton Park Christian 69, Lake Pointe Academy 42: James Jacobs scored 15 for the Mariners in the loss.
GIRLS
South Pointe 66, Lancaster 22: JaNyia Cunningham’s 21 points and 18 rebounds lifted the Stallions to a one-sided Region 3 4A victory. Kaleigh Lucas added 15 points, and Serenity Woods scored 14.
Clover 71, Indian Land 21: The Blue Eagles erased Indian Land’s hopes in the second quarter, outscoring the Warriors 23-8 for a 37-14 halftime lead. With the victory, Clover improved to 10-0 in Region 3 5A and clinched the region championship.
Rock Hill 74, Northwestern 23: Aubrey Stevenson scored 21 points and added 11 assists, as the Bearcats improved to 8-3 in Region 3 5A. Chloe Hudson had a big game, totaling 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Camden 80, York 15: A’merianna Ingram’s eight points led York in this Region 3 4A game. Camden’s leader was Morgan Champion with 18 points.
Andrew Jackson 90, North Central 11: The Volunteers clinched the Region 4 2A championship, racing to a 37-4 first-quarter lead. Tamila Watkins hit 16 of 20 shots from the floor and totaled 34 points. Ni’Yonna Asbelle added 25 points.
Buford 51, Pageland Central 39: The Yellow Jackets picked up a Region 4 2A victory by outscoring the Eagles 15-6 in the fourth quarter.
Friday’s scores, schedule
BOYS
Region 3 5A
Indian Land 48, Clover 41
Nation Ford 66, Catawba Ridge 61
Rock Hill 55, Northwestern 52
Region 3 4A
A.C. Flora 54, Dreher 33
Camden 61, York 48
Lancaster 61, South Pointe 58
Region 3 2A
Clinton 53, Eau Claire 48
Columbia at Chester
Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson 88, North Central 50
Cheraw at Chesterfield
Pageland Central 69, Buford 41
Region 2 1A
C.A. Johnson at Lamar
Great Falls at McBee
Lee Central at Governor’s School
Metrolina Athletic
Gaston Christian at SouthLake Christian
Metrolina Christian 63, Gaston Day 51
Westminster Catawba 71, Hickory Grove Christian 47
Nonconference
Hampton Park Christian 69, Lake Pointe Academy 42
Legion Collegiate 73, South Charlotte Thunder 28
GIRLS
Region 3 5A
Clover 71, Indian Land 21
Nation Ford 56, Catawba Ridge 21
Rock Hill 74, Northwestern 23
Region 3 4A
A.C. Flora 54, Dreher 38
Camden 80, York 16
South Pointe 66, Lancaster 22
Region 3 2A
Clinton 34, Eau Claire 3
Region 4 2A
Andrew Jackson 90, North Central 11
Buford 51, Pageland Central 39
Chesterfield 46, Cheraw 39
Region 2 1A
C.A. Johnson 58, Lamar 9
Lee Central 86, Governor’s School 6
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Westminster Catawba 57, Hickory Grove Christian 38
Nonconference
Legion Collegiate 88, South Charlotte Thunder 11
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 5:30 AM.