By Thomas Grant Jr.
Bearcat Gymnasium was the site Tuesday for a Top 10 matchup and first-place matchup in Region 4-4A.
Sixth-ranked Brookland-Cayce had homecourt advantage and were riding an 8-game winning streak. They looked to upend a top-ranked Gray Collegiate team coming off a successful holiday break which included a tournament title.
The War Eagles stayed in the “holiday spirit”, overwhelming Brookland-Cayce 75-49 to take sole command of first-place in the region.
“What we took from this game tonight was we got a chance to see what high level basketball looks like,” Bearcats head coach Larry Davis said. “We played some good teams this year, but that’s a pretty good team we played today and we just have to go back to the drawing board.”
Levi Ball scored a game-high 19 points to lead Gray Collegiate. The preseason Elite senior’s status was questionable by head coach Dion Bethea after he tweaked his ankle during practice.
“Winning games always feel good,” Ball said. “We have a great team, great coaching staff. We preach winning the entire year so our hard work is really paying off and it feels really good when the hard work that we do really shows.”
After trailing 4-2, a 3-pointer by Luis Echevarria started a 15-2 run that put the War Eagles ahead the rest of the way.
Echevarria finished with 16 points to go with 13 points from backcourt mate Jayden Rowe.
Following a timeout, Brookland-Cayce responded with a 10-3 run sparked by eight points by Avery Richardson. He finished with 13 points.
The Bearcats got no closer than four points. Over the final six minutes of the first half, Gray Collegiate outscored Brookland-Cayce 16-2 to take a 40-22 halftime lead.
The War Eagles (10-2, 3-0) maintained the fast pace in the second half. With Ball controlling the defensive boards and guards Echevarria, Rowe and Rickey Littlejohn consistently driving to the basket, Gray Collegiate led as many as 25 points.
“Guards win championships and if you’ve got great guards, it makes your job that much easier,” Bethea said. “So, we’ve got to continue to get better.”
A team-high 14 points from Isaiah Daniels and 12 points each from Isaiah Oree and Kaden Walker was not enough to keep pace for Brookland-Cayce (11-3, 2-1). It now looks to keep up with Gray Collegiate with road games Friday against Aiken and Tuesday at Gilbert.
Despite an 8-game winning streak and playing at home Tuesday, Brookland-Cayce head coach Larry Davis had concerns entering the Region 4-4A showdown with top-ranked Gray Collegiate.
In girls action, 10th-ranked Gray Collegiate routed Brookland-Cayce 75-22. The Lady War Eagles improved to 9-4 overall, 2-1 in the region.
S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS
BOYS
(Class 4A)
1. Gray Collegiate Academy, 2. North Augusta, 3. May River, 4. Wilson, 5. Crestwood, 6. Brookland Cayce, 7. Hartsville, 8. Seneca, 9. Camden, 10. Bluffton
GIRLS
1. Camden, 2. Westside, 3. North Augusta, 4. South Pointe, 5. Daniel, 6. South Florence, 7. Blue Ridge, 8. Lower Richland, 9. South Aiken, 10. Gray Collegiate Academy
