CAMDEN – The Fairfield Central Griffins took their second dip into region play on Tuesday night in Camden against the Bulldogs. Camden picked apart the Griffins for four quarters, and when the final buzzer sounded, the Bulldogs were on top, 68-42. The Griffins lost their first Region 3-4A contest in a 54-49 heartbreaker to Columbia High.
“We kind of hurting in depth right now,” Griffins’ head coach Brian Sanders said. “Lost a couple of guys for disciplinary reasons. We’ve been going through a lot of tragedy right now. One of my guy’s mom passed away, so we’re going through a little storm right, but we’re going to fight through it. We’ve just got to continue working.”
Will Barber (4) does his best to slow down Camden’s Cam Jefferson (10). | DeAnna Robinson
Camden’s senior guard Cam Jefferson opened up the scoring with a precise shot from behind the arc. Jefferson had a game-high 15, and eight of those came in the first quarter. His dynamic start spurred the Bulldogs to a 9-0 game-opening run.
The Griffin’s first bucket came at the 3:39 mark courtesy of a Jalen Mazyck three-pointer. They struggled to follow up on the three, only putting together seven points in the first quarter.
Camden kept their offensive onslaught coming full-pace in the second quarter. Jefferson nailed another shot from three-point land in the second, and Kasean Crews followed with a triple of his own. The Bulldogs led handily, 30-14, at the half.
Fairfield had their two best offensive quarters in the second half, but they could not slow down Camden’s offense. Jefferson was one of nine different Bulldogs to put up points in the third quarter, and at one-point Camden led by 30.
“We knew what they were going to do,” Sanders said. “We had the scouting report, we drew everything up, but they just came out and they were hot. We got to come back to the drawing board and continue to get better for next week.”
Zack Sease came off the bench for the Griffins and scored five points in the fourth quarter, which was their best offensive quarter. Mazyck also scored five in the final period.
“My guys are scrappy man,” Sanders said. “These guys work. I believe in these guys to the end. It ain’t how you start it’s how you finish, and my guys have been working hard, so I’m proud of them.”
The Griffins get another shot at a win, next Tuesday against Rock Hill.
Camden – 68, Fairfield Central – 42
CHS – 17-13-21-17 – 68
FCHS – 7-7-13-15 – 42
CHS – Cam Jefferson – 15, Jericho Murphy – 12, Jalyn Dubose – 7, Trajon Pate – 7, Bryce Jeffcoat – 6, Donovan Belton – 6, Devin Martin – 5, Kasean Crews – 3, Chris Butler – 3, Malik Green – 2, Nyciere Greene – 2.
FCHS – Jalen Mazyck – 12, Montravis White – 10, Zack Sease – 8, Quay McBride – 4, William Barber – 3, Jordan Boyd – 3, Ladeveaux Ashford – 2.
