Fort Mill boys one game away from region title
Fort Mill clamped down on Rock Hill Tuesday night to move within a win of the Region 3-4A boys’ basketball championship.
The Yellow Jackets led the host Bearcats 27-25 at halftime, but limited them to just 10 points in the second half to take control.
“I thought we played well,” said Fort Mill coach Dwayne Hartsoe. “Moved the ball well, had a lot of people contribute. Defensively, we followed the game-plan we wanted. I’m real pleased with the way they played tonight.”
The Yellow Jackets face crosstown rivals Nation Ford Friday night needing only a win to clinch the championship. Fort Mill (19-3, 10-1 Region 3-4A) has a one-game lead over the Falcons (11-11, 9-2), but Nation Ford won the two teams’ first meeting several weeks ago after hitting 14-of-28 3-pointers.
“It sets up a big game on Friday. It’s always a big game when we play them, but it’ll be really, really big this Friday,” said Hartsoe. “It’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere.”
Turning point
Leading by two at the start of the third quarter, Fort Mill quickly puffed its advantage to 10. Brandon Joseph’s 3 forced a Rock Hill timeout, but the Bearcats never recovered.
“Fort Mill’s very efficient as a basketball team and they’ve always been efficient,” said Rock Hill coach Eric Rollings. “We weren’t at times and that’s why they were able to get out on that run at the start of the second half. To me, that first three or four minutes was the difference.”
Critical
Rock Hill’s 3-pointers dried up in the second half. The Bearcats hit five in the first half, but couldn’t get in an offensive rhythm in the second and third quarters.
Star contributors
Rock Hill’s Andrew Barber led all scorers with 13. Fort Mill’s offensive effort was well-rounded, with Brandon Joseph and A.J. Foti leading the way with 10 and Rogan Wells and Keaton Griffin adding eight each.
Box score
Fort Mill 53, Rock Hill 35
Fort Mill;16;11;12;14- 53
Rock Hill;12;13;6;4- 35
Fort Mill: Austin Grainger 4, Keaton Griffin 8, Malik Hayman 4, Tanner Mitchell 7, Brandon Joseph 10, A.J. Foti 10, Rogan Wells 8, Braxton Stirsman 2. Rock Hill: Lance Crayton 11, Thailand Adams 2, Bryson Shipp 5, Andrew Barber 13, Savion Lytle 2, Darion Maby 2.
Team fouls: Fort Mill 15; Rock Hill 15
Foul-shooting: Fort Mill 8-9; Rock Hill 4-7
3-point shooting: Fort Mill 3 (Joseph 2, Foti 1); Rock Hill 5 (Barber 3, Shipp 1, Crayton 1)
Records: Fort Mill 19-3, 10-1; Rock Hill 9-12, 3-8
This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "Fort Mill boys one game away from region title."