Rock Hill girls roll past Nation Ford
Rock Hill girls’ basketball celebrated its first state ranking of the season with a 57-32 win over Nation Ford Tuesday night.
Coach Kenny Orr didn’t even know about the ranking, released Tuesday by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.
“I’ve been hearing people talking and everything,” Orr said. “I’m just trying to keep the girls level-headed, keep them playing good basketball, and more and more things will be reaped upon them. We’re doing some good things.”
Against Nation Ford, the Bearcats showed why they’re garnering statewide recognition. Rock Hill’s hectic offensive pace and mosquito-like defense prevented the visitors from ever finding a game rhythm. That led to a flood of fouls, steals and turnovers, and yes, layups for the deep-benched Bearcats.
“We want to make people play our style. Speed with chaos,” said Orr. “We try to make good decisions and get some run-outs, layups and some open jump shots.”
Turning point
Rock Hill took control early and never really struggled after a pair of 7-2 runs in the first quarter. Anderson blew past a defender for two before drilling a left corner 3 to make it 7-2, Rock Hill. Bailey’s floater and a layup off a Jasona Ballard steal made it 11-4 Bearcats and forced a Nation Ford timeout with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left first quarter. Out of the timeout, guard Monique Stevenson scored to make it 13-4 and the hosts’ lead was never less than eight points from there on.
Critical
Bailey hit a pair of 3-pointers, which takes the sophomore’s game – and her team’s – up a notch.
Defenders “start coming out so I’m able to get the ball to my other teammates and let them knock down shots,” said Bailey. When she does that, the Rock Hill offense becomes much more than just a bunch of run-out layups.
Star contributions
Anderson and Bailey combined to score 28 of the Bearcats’ 57 points. The sophomore duo had 21 of the team’s 29 in the first half.
“Rikoya gives a good inside-outside punch,” said Orr, and “Brooklyn, she’s probably one of the best ball-handlers in the state.”
“It’s my first time ever seeing her play,” Nation Ford coach Tamara Washington said about Anderson. “But she’s definitely the real deal. She’s a versatile post.”
Overheard
“I think we’re doing good so far,” said Bailey. “We’ve just got to stay humble and play together as a team and continue trying to win.”
On deck
Nation Ford doesn’t play again until Jan. 12, against Northwestern; Rock Hill hosts Gaffney Thursday.
Box score
Rock Hill 57, Nation Ford 32
Nation Ford | 6 | 7 | 6 | 13 | - | 32 |
Rock Hill | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | - | 57 |
Nation Ford: Ellona Moulds 3, Emma Starkey 8, MaKayla Blackwell 3, Lauren Johnson 5, Courtney Wells 3, Sydney Adams 5, Sami Tuipulotu 5. Rock Hill: Brooklyn Bailey 15, Kendall Lahr 4, Monique Stevenson 12, Jasona Ballard 4, Rikoya Anderson 13, Abriana Green 6, Modesty Fobbs 2.
Team fouls: Nation Ford 22; Rock Hill 20. Foul-shooting: Nation Ford 7-17; Rock Hill 19-30. 3-pointers: Nation Ford 0; Rock Hill 3 (Bailey 2, Anderson). Records: Nation Ford 4-7, 1-1 Region 3-4A; Rock Hill 12-2, 2-0
Nation Ford boys knock off Rock Hill
Nation Ford’s boys (4-8) improved to 2-0 in Region 3-4A play with a 51-38 win at Rock Hill (6-5) Tuesday night.
Cameron Holmes led the Falcons with 12 points and Terry Galloway added 10. Nation Ford led 31-24 at the half, the seven-point lead partially stemming from a Zeb Graham 3 that beat the buzzer. Michael Tew’s Falcons then held Rock Hill - missing two key players due to suspension - to just five points in the third quarter to take a 44-29 lead headed into the fourth.
Nation Ford held on from there, to the relief of Tew, whose team didn’t hit on all cylinders but was good enough for the road victory.
“It was kind of like eight cylinders, but only six were firing,” he said afterward. “It’s still got enough juice to get you down the road.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Rock Hill girls roll past Nation Ford."