B-C boys rebounds ahead of rematch with GCA

By Thomas Grant Jr.

Feature photo by Thomas Grant Jr. : Brookland-Cayce guard A.J. Edwards goes up for the jumper against Airport.

After two straight losses, the Brookland-Cayce boys basketball team has rebounded in historic fashion.

Saturday’s 107-40 rout of rival Airport established a new school record for margin of victory. It broke the previous mark of 62 set last year in a 102-40 victory over Newberry.

This was also the second straight win for the Bearcats (14-6, 7-1). On Friday, they rolled past South Aiken 74-32 on the road.

“When you look at our non-region schedule, I’m going to give you four teams,” Brookland-Cayce head coach Robert Wells said. “River Bluff, Dutch Fork, two teams competing for a region championship over in their region. Then you’ve got Conway. You’ve got J.F. Byrnes. You’ve got Ridge View. I believe our guys can compete against anybody.

“So you look at those two losses (to North Augusta and Ridge View) and to me, that’s got us better. That made us a better team to prepare for those last seven games down the stretch.”

Against the Eagles, the Bearcats scored the first eight points and had a 14-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. They erupted for 35 points in the second quarter, sparked by the 3-point shooting of Carter Jackson and full court pressure which led to transition layups by Avery Richardson.

Jackson hit four of his five 3-pointers in the second quarter to finish with 15 points. Richardson scored 11 points in the same quarter and finished with 18 points.

Up 49-23 at halftime, the Bearcats maintained the pressure on Airport. Edwards scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the quarter in which Brookland-Cayce outscored the Eagles 26-9.

The fourth quarter was much the same as the Bearcats reached the century mark on a free throw by Nick Matthews with 1:36 left in the game.

Brookland-Cayce’s next two games are rematches. It travels to Midland Valley Tuesday and returns home for what Wells calls the program’s “Super Bowl number II” against Gray Collegiate.

 Airport’s Ja’sia Booth, photo by Thomas Grant Jr.

The girls contest saw Airport defeat Brookland-Cayce for the 12th straight time. Ja’sia Booth and Angel Maves each had 11 points and Nae Jackson had 10 in the 48-41 victory.

Kamryn Etheridge had 12 points and Maci Cobb finished with 10 for the Lady Bearcats, who are still seeking their first region win.

S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION TOP 10 POLLS

(BOYS)

CLASS 5A

Division I

1. Ridge View

2. Byrnes

3. Dorman

4. Blythewood

5. Dutch Fork

6. Cane Bay

7. Summerville

8. Mauldin

9. River Bluff

10. West Ashley

Division II
1. Fort Mill

2. Indian Land

3. Goose Creek

4. Greenville

5. Conway

6. Westwood

7. Berkeley

8. Greenwood

9. Riverside

10. James Island

CLASS 4A

1. North Augusta

2. Lancaster

3. Wren

4. Crestwood

5. Brookland Cayce

6. Gray Collegiate

7. Wilson

8. Westside

9. Bluffton

10. Greer

(GIRLS)

CLASS 5A

Division I

1. Ashley Ridge 

2. Blythewood 

3. Summerville

4. Clover

5. Dutch Fork

6. Carolina Forest

7. Wando

8. Dorman

9. Rock Hill

10. Lexington    

Division II        

1. Gaffney

2. North Myrtle Beach

3. Berkeley

4. White Knoll

5. Riverside

6. Fort Mill

7. St. James

8. Socoastee

9. Irmo

10. Greenwood