BOYS HOOPS ROUNDUP

Mohawks shake up Region 7-1A outlook

LowcoSports.com

After earning high rankings in Class 1A early in the season, the boys basketball teams from Whale Branch and Bridges Prep planned to be among the frontrunners in Region 7-1A, but both ran into trouble in the first week of region play in the form of the Bethune-Bowman Mohawks.

The Mohawks spoiled Bridges Prep’s region opener Tuesday, flustering the Bucs with their full-court press in the fourth quarter to rally from a nine-point deficit and stun the Bucs in a 54-52 road win. Bowman also knocked off visiting Whale Branch, 54-42, on Thursday to jump out to the early lead in the region race.

The Warriors opened region play with a 49-26 win over Allendale-Fairfax, and the Bucs bounced back with a 59-44 win over Bamberg-Ehrhardt, so both sit at 1-1. The first meeting between the crosstown rivals is Jan. 22 at Bridges, and the rematch at Whale Branch is slated for Feb. 6.

Wins hard to come by in 8-3A

Beaufort and Battery Creek earned some wins against strong opponents in the non-region season, but both opened Region 8-3A play with tough losses Friday.

The Dolphins were plagued by turnovers early against North Charleston and couldn’t dig out of the hole in a 62-46 loss, while the Eagles fell, 64-59, at Philip Simmons.

The crosstown rivals were slated to go at it on Tuesday at Beaufort, but the game was postponed to Wednesday due to severe weather.

HS BOYS HOOPS SCORES

Ashley Ridge 50, Beaufort 32

BFT (6-6)

Bethune-Bowman 54, Bridges Prep 52

BP (8-2)

Whale Branch 49, Allendale-Fairfax 26

WB (7-5, 1-0): Greggory Gilbert 13p/7r/3b, Bradford Thompson 11p/8r, KJ Chisholm 10p/8r/4a

Bethune-Bowman 54, Whale Branch 42

WB (7-6): Greggory Gilbert 15p/7r/5b, Kevin Jenkins 8p/5r, Bradford Thompson 6p/11r

Beaufort Academy 65, Holy Trinity 26

BA: Zeke Gonzalez 11p, Matt Moukanda 11p, Devin Fripp 10p