Airport game moved to Saturday
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Over a week ago, the Brookland-Cayce boys’ basketball team was riding high with an undefeated record in Region 4-4A.
After back-to-back losses first in region play to North Augusta and Class 5A Division I top-ranked Ridge View three days later, the Bearcats are learning what more is needed to compete against elite teams.
“I just thought overall the last two games have been very tough,” Wells said. “We have to minimize mistakes. I still think we’re a really good team. A really good team. We’ve played two high level teams that I think will make us better to finishing the season out.
“With eight games left in the season, the last two teams will make us a better team going forward. So, we’ve got to go back, watch the film. Understand some strengths and weaknesses, try to put some things together, try to make this run these last eight games of the season.”
Against the Yellow Jackets, Brookland-Cayce found itself playing from behind the entire game. After trailing 36-28 at halftime, the Bearcats got five straight points from R.J. Weeks and a 3-pointer by Nate Hughes to tie the game.
North Augusta answered back with 12 straight points. It closed the third quarter with an 18-4 run and increased their lead as many as 23 points for the 69-57 win.
The Bearcats looked to rebound at the MLK Bash at Eau Claire High School. They faced a Blazers’ team which has hit its stride after going 6-7 in competitive non-region play.
Brookland-Cayce trailed 3-2 which was the closest it came against Ridge View. It had a 30-17 halftime lead as guard Yale Davis outscored the entire Bearcats’ roster in the first half with 18 points.
Davis had five 3-pointers in finishing with 23 points to earn Player of the Game honors. All-State forward Korie Corbett had nine of his 11 points in the second half and R.J. Davis added nine points as the Blazers led as many as 30 points.
Brookland-Cayce made eight 3-pointers, three by Isaiah Oree who finished with a team-high 10 points. R.J. Davis had 10 points, but the Bearcats still lost 78-49 to Ridge View.
The Bearcats were expected to turn around for a rivalry region matchup Tuesday with Airport. Instead, the game was moved to Saturday.
Wells expects his team to be mentally prepared to get back into region play.
The Brookland-Cayce girls took part Saturday in the MLK Showcase at J.L. Mann High School. The Lady Bearcats fell short 30-28 to Liberty for their fifth consecutive loss.
Gray Collegiate Academy
Both the girls and boys’ teams competed in the MLK Classic.
The War Eagles faced last Saturday a Dutch Fork team coming off a last-second loss to Lexington. They had a 26-21 lead in the third quarter before the Yellow Jackets scored 13 unanswered points to take an 8-point lead.
After getting within four points going into the fourth quarter, Gray Collegiate was held to just two field goals the rest of the way in the 41-34 loss.
A couple of days later, the War Eagles faced Hammond in a public vs. private school matchup. The two teams traded leads throughout the first half that ended with a Tyquan McDuffie steal and layup at the buzzer to put Gray Collegiate up 30-27.
The War Eagles would not relinquish the lead, winning 60-48. Player of the Game L.J. Britt scored 15 points and Quan McDuffie and Levi Ball each had 13 for Gray Collegiate.
It was scheduled to travel to Gilbert as it looked to move up from third place in the region.
Feature photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – Brookland-Cayce guard Carter Jackson is defended by Ridge View’s Talan Staley.
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