Split decision in Hartsville, N. Myrtle Beach game
By Don Gearhart
The basketball contests between the host Hartsville Red Foxes and visiting North Myrtle Beach Chiefs ended up in a split decision. The Lady Red Foxes used a decisive fourth quarter to defeat the Lady Chiefs. The nightcap went the other way with the Chiefs prevailing the Red Foxes boys.
Girls:
In a low-scoring first period, Hartsville got four points from Erianna Scott, a score from Jazzy Frierson, and a three-point shot from Blakney Dawson to take a 9-5 lead.
The Lady Chiefs, behind Jaden Berger’s six points, outscored the hosts in the second period. Faith Farmer’s basket with 1:04 left in the half gave the Lady their first lead of the game at 15-14. Frierson then connected on two free throws with 0:17 seconds left that enabled Hartsville to take a 16-14 lead at the intermission.
The third period turned out to be the highest scoring output for both teams. Hartsville etched out a 4-point lead, but that disappeared with 2:31 left in the period when Farmer hit a trifecta and was fouled. She calmly made the free throw for a 4-point play that drew the teams even at 24-24. Hartsville then gained the lead on a 3-point shot from Brooke Mitchell with 30 seconds left in the period. The Lady Chiefs responded with a basket from Nevaeh Washington and another from Ra’Naija Livingston with just 9 seconds left to knot the score at 28-28 heading into the final period.
Hartsville limited the Lady Chiefs to just four 4th quarter points on baskets from Farmer and Ty’wreanna Livingston. In the meantime, the period belonged to Frierson. She scored all 12 of her teams points, ten of which came from the free throw line. The final score was 40-32 in favor of Hartsville. Frierson led the Lady Red Foxes with 21 points. They now lead the Region with a 3-0 record.
Boys:
An extremely low scoring boys game started with the teams even at 7-7 after one period. Tyriq Fisher led the Red Foxes with four points.
The second period did not feature much of a difference. Hartsville doubled their score at 14, but North Myrtle Beach responded with 11 second quarter points to take an 18-14 lead into the locker room.
The Chiefs methodically built on their lead in the third period against a struggling Red Foxes quintet. When the horn sounded, the Chiefs had built a 34-23 lead.
Although Hartsville outscored the visitors in the fourth period, even Kameron Foban’s 12-point quarter wasn’t enough to overcome the Chiefs with the final score of 48-41.
Hartsville was missing one of their big guns and primary inside target with Deandre Huggins in street clothes due to a knee injury. Foman led Hartsville with 13 points while Xavion Robinson contributed nine points. Conner Henley led the Chiefs with 11 points. Wells Hill and RJ Oxidine supported that effort with nine points each.
Without Huggins in the middle, North Myrtle Beach controlled both the offensive and defensive boards.
