By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
WALTERBORO — After breezing through to the finals of the War Hawk Invitational last week, Beaufort Academy’s boys blitzed Hilton Head Christian Academy for the first seven points of Friday’s championship game, but BA couldn’t keep HHCA’s multitude of weapons at bay in a 57-51 loss.
Te’Shaun Heyward scored 18 points to go with six steals and seven rebounds, while Zeke Gonzalez added 11 points and Timmy Horgan had 10, but Isaiah Anderson and tournament MVP Qayden Turner used their size advantage inside to combine for 24 points and 26 rebounds and Harry Skinner went 9-for-12 at the foul line for a team-high 14 points as HHCA held on for the title.
BA blew by host Colleton Prep 56-23 on Tuesday and plowed Patrick Henry 75-49 on Wednesday to coast into the championship game, while HHCA had to win three straight to reach the final, including a hard-fought 49-44 win Thursday, when BA was resting.
The fresh legs combined with BA’s lightning-quick backcourt to spark a stunning start, as Braydon Dineen splashed a 3 from the corner before a Devin Fripp putback and a Horgan runner made it 7-0 and forced HHCA coach Jason Grunkemeyer to take a timeout.
HHCA found its rhythm after the break and surged ahead 13-9 after one quarter, and the lead grew to double digits in the second before Gonzalez hit a 3 and Heyward drove the lane to spark a rally and pull BA within 29-23 at halftime.
The lead again surged to double digits early in the third quarter, but BA had another rally at the ready, using pressure to create transition buckets and trim the margin to five. Fripp had a chance to cut into the lead further, but HHCA’s Eli White stepped in to take a charge and change the momentum.
Turner then finished at the rim and Dorian Janvier banged a 3-pointer and hit a runner in transition, and HHCA kept BA at arm’s length the rest of the way. Turner finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Anderson collected 11 points and 15 boards as BA had difficulty denying the big men on the boards or in the paint.
BA was back in action Tuesday, picking up a 51-26 win at Colleton Prep to open region play. Heyward and Eddie Gonzalez each scored 14 points.
