Westwood’s Richie Finch (35) gropes for the handle against Camden Tuesday. (Photo/DeAnna Robinson)
BLYTHEWOOD – The Westwood boys’ basketball team faced off against a streaky Camden Bulldog team Tuesday night. Failing to convert on open looks at the basket, the Redhawks fell 47-34 to the Bulldogs.
Westwood looked poised for victory to begin the game, as they scored on a quick pass play after the opening tip. The Bulldogs sputtered on their first few possessions, struggling to adjust to Westwood’s lengthy 3-2 zone defense.
But once the Camden shooters found their touch, they did not lose it. The Bulldog guards began burying deep three-pointers, choosing to shoot over the defense rather than driving into it. After back-to-back three-pointers from Camden, the Redhawks looked to be on the ropes, but recovered quickly and closed the gap to 12-8 at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, the Westwood shooting went frigid. It would be three minutes into the second period before the Redhawks tallied a bucket with a strong two-handed dunk from Richie Finch. The next time down the floor, fellow big man, Adonus Lee slammed home another dunk and the Redhawks looked to be in business.
But for all of the things the Redhawks could do, the Bulldogs did better.
They continued to sink three-pointers in the face of the Westwood defense, stretching the lead back out to 22-15 at the halftime break.
Both teams flirted with their man-to-man defenses in the third quarter, and Westwood even extended their 3-2 zone to half court in an attempt to quell the deadeye shooting of Camden.
Demonte Jacobs from Westwood drilled a three ball to cut the lead back to single digits at 29-22 with 2:39 remaining in the third period. Westwood had come to life once again, but by that time, the damage was done. The third quarter ended with the Bulldogs up 37-22 with Camden looking to bring the victory back to down Highway 1 to Camden.
Westwood cut the lead to 10, but Camden would not relent, matching the Redhawks basket for basket until the only hope left for Westwood was the foul game.
The Bulldogs remained focused at the free throw line, sealing the 31-40 victory.
Lee led the Redhawks with eight points, followed by Whitney McCloud with six points.
The loss sets the Redhawks back to 5-4 in region matchups, setting the stage for an intense conference showdown with Lower Richland, their next slated opponent. The Redhawks will fight for the final playoff position at Lower Richland on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
