BHS-51, Rock Hill-31
ROCK HILL – The Blythewood Bengals used a 17-1 third quarter to break open a one-point game and hand the Rock Hill Bearcats a 51-31 loss Tuesday night at Rock Hill.
The Bearcats were 1-for-8 from the free throw line in the pivotal third period and 3-for-15 for the game. The home team got zero points from their bench. Khalil Harris got six of his team-high nine points in the third quarter for the Bengals.
Blythewood continually pounded the backboards to beat Rock Hill to rebounds. The Bearcats were able to get to the free throw line consistently by driving to the basket and taking advantage of the officials’ emphasis this season on hand-checking. However, their inability to convert that into points at the charity stripe worked against them.
The Bengals trailed 12-5 after one period as Rock Hill’s Tyler Lahr and Jordan McCraw, who led all scorers with 10 points, each had five points in the first eight minutes. Lahr would be held scoreless for the rest of the game.
Blythewood went on an 11-2 spurt to begin the second quarter and claim a 16-14 lead, which they would never relinquish. Trae Churn had eight of his nine points in the second and the Bengals led 20-19 at halftime.
After Eli Lake started the second half with a bucket for the visitors, the Bearcats would commence to going 1-for-6 from the line in their next three trips down the floor. Blythewood would score the final 15 points of the third to take the game by the throat and suck the life out of the home crowd.
Blythewood 51, Rock Hill 31
BW: 5-15-17-14 – 51
RH: 12-7-1-11 – 31
Individual scoring – Blythewood: Khalil Harris 9, Trae Churn 9, Keith Matthews 5, Keiwan Hammond 8, Joshua Bowers 3, Eli Lake 8, Cameron Womack 7, Saquan Jenkins 2. Rock Hill: Jordan McCraw 10, Lance Crayton 5, Tyler Lahr 5, Japree Perry 9, Thailand Adams 2.
