The Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County

Bengals go 3-0 to end year

Blythewood beat Spartanburg, Marvin Ridge and Ivanhoe Australia in the 3-day tournament. | Photo: @bwoodwbball

ROCK HILL – Blythewood’s girls basketball team made a clean sweep of their three-game stretch in the Y.C. Winborn Showcase at Rock Hill High School on Dec. 21, 22 and 23.

The Bengals blew out Spartanburg in Thursday’s action to open the tournament. Chase Thomas, Hayley Hightower, Kaila Spain and India Williams combined for 64 points in their 77-46 win over the Vikings.

Thomas led scorers with 24 points, shooting 60% from behind the arc. She pulled in 10 rebounds and had four assists on the night. Hightower had a team-high nine steals and five assists. Aniya Fluker had seven rebounds. The Bengals combined for 14 steals and 17 assists.

Blythewood faced a more formidable opponent in Marvin Ridge for day two of the tournament but still claimed a 62-56 win. Thomas led scorers again with 30 points, hitting six of eight three-pointers attempted. Hightower added 12. Thomas and senior Madison Brown led with five rebounds apiece. Williams had seven assists and Hightower had six.

The Bengals blasted Ivanhoe Australia with a 75-41 final to close out tournament play.

Hightower was named Winborn Showcase Player of the Game against Spartanburg; Thomas received the award against Marvin Ridge; and Williams was Play of the Game against Ivanhoe Australia.

Blythewood ends the 2023 portion of their season with a 6-4 record. They jump back into action on Jan. 5 in Blythewood against White Knoll before starting region play on Jan. 9 at Fort Mill.

BLYTHEWOOD – 77

SPARTANBURG – 46

BHS: Thomas 24. Hightower 18. Spain 11. Williams 11. Brown 4. Fluker 4. Cross 3. Thomas 2.

BLYTHEWOOD – 62

MARVIN RIDGE – 56

BHS: Thomas 30. Hightower 12. Williams 7. Fluker 5. Brown 4. Spain 4.