LowcoSports.com
The Bridges Prep boys basketball team entered the season ranked fifth in Class 2A by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association, the Bucs backed up their lofty preseason expectations with three wins to capture the boys title at the annual Earl Campbell Preseason Tournament in Seabrook.
Bridges rolled past Royal Live Oaks, 81-38, in the opening round and held off a scrappy Allendale-Fairfax team for a 63-51 win in the semifinals before edging host Whale Branch, 62-56, in the championship game.
It was a tight game for most of the first half, but the Bucs busted out to a 15-point lead early in the third quarter before Quincy Fields heated up from behind the arc to keep Whale Branch within striking distance. Eddie Gonzalez hit a deep three from the left wing to pull the Warriors within 47-44 in the fourth quarter, but Whale Branch couldn’t complete the comeback.
Seniors Amarion Wilson, Christian Arroyo, and QJ Young all averaged double-digit scoring for the Bucs in the three-game tournament.
JPII boys off to hot start
After taking a big step forward a year ago, John Paul II’s boys are off to an impressive start this season, including a 47-46 win at Hilton Head Prep. Garrett Heathcott hit a trio of 3-pointers en route to 19 points to lead the Golden Warriors to the win over the two-time defending SCISA 3A champions despite 31 points from Dolphins star Ty Harpring.
JPII (4-0) travels to Sea Pines for a rematch with HHP on Wednesday.
Dolphins stumble in Savannah
Battery Creek’s boys opened their season at the Savannah Hoops Showdown at Enmarket Arena, falling 50-39 to Calvary Day.
Tyrese Smith scored 16 points and fellow sophomore Michael Williams added 10 points for the Dolphins, who have three games on tap this week, including rivalry matchups with Whale Branch and Beaufort High.
