Red Foxes stay undefeated in conference play

FLORENCE - There was little doubt by halftime about who would emerge victorious in either Hartsville varsity basketball game Friday night at South Florence, as both teams sailed to stay undefeated in conference play.

The Foxes’ teams next hosted Carolina Forest at home Tuesday night on senior night, and then will finish conference play Friday on the road at Sumter, with both games at 6 p.m.

Girls start slow, turn it on for 78-42 edge
The girls have come out of the blocks a bit slow in recent matchups, and this night played a softer defense early, falling behind 17-14 by the end of the first period. But with 5 minutes to go in the second period, Shebria Jett ripped away a steal and dribbled the distance for a lay-up and a 25-21 lead. Fox Jasmine Phillips got into the act with another steal, dishing to Emily Jackson for another two, which Jackson followed with another two off a jumper. It was 31-21 following a one-touch pass from Phillips to Kiasiah Ham with 3:18 before the half.

The big plays kept coming, as Chuquetta Toney off a steal threw the ball behind her back before she went out of bounds to Ham who got it to Brandi Jones who then got it back to Toney for another two. On the other end, Ham recorded another steal and fed it to Jones who was fouled, hitting both free throws for a 37-21 lead. Phillips would keep the steals coming, hitting a jumper, and soon Courtney Kelly hit Phillips for another easy shot. Jackson then drained a jumper off yet another takeaway. South Florence made a small dent in the scoreboard to finish the half, but the Foxes now led 47-26 after a dominating 33-9 run in the second period. Jackson led with 12 points, while Phillips had 10 and Ham 9.

The third period featured more of the same from the Foxes, as Phillips opened things up with a steal and two-pointer, and Ham forced a turnover that led to more points. Phillips would take over, hitting off a Ham pass to make it 57-32 with 4:22 left in the third. The period ended with a no-look one-touch pass from Phillips to Brittany Wheeler for a 65-38 lead. It was more of the same in the fourth, as the girls cruised to the 78-42 victory. Phillips led with 24 points, Jackson 14, Ham 13 and Jones 12.

Afterward, Coach Pat Hewitt said once she moved to a full-court press her 16-6, 8-0 in conference play, team took over. The team went undefeated in conference play two years ago.

“I’m excited about going into the playoffs because we’re a team,” Hewitt said. “You can’t concentrate on one player and stop us. We proved that against Conway when they teamed up against [Phillips].”

Boys wear down South Florence, 72-53
The boys Foxes were the faster team from the opening whistle but started a little cold from the floor. Having the bench to substitute the entire team a few minutes in kept the team fresh though. With 5:30 left in the first, Jeffrey Hardwick made a steal and took it the length for 4-2 lead. The starters went back in with the Foxes down 7-4, and Gavin Thomas restored momentum with a long three-pointer. After a jumper by Errion James, Chris Ketter tied things at 13 off an offensive rebound, which was followed by a James steal and assist to Thomas for another two. James hit another long jumper for a 17-15 lead to end the first period.

Thomas continued the hot hand with another three-pointer, as Eric Joe got into the action with a running lob to make 22-17. Brandon Avant would dish it to Joseph Peterson for two and a 30-19 lead, and Avant would hit all-net for a three. James would get fouled and draw a technical, getting three free throws for a 36-21 halftime lead. James led Fox scorers with 11, while Thomas had 8 and Peterson 6.

In the third frame, Eric Joe would start things off with a steal and shot, and Gavin Thomas would dribble the floor to hit a floater for a 40-21 lead. A Ketter three was followed by Joe basically throwing the ball into the basket as everything went for the Foxes. Jeffrey Hardwick fed it inside to Demarcus Cook, who powered inside for two points. Hardwick would drain a three, and Ketter would finish with a flourish for a 56-35 lead at the end of the third period.

The fourth would start off with Ketter hitting James for an acrobatic lay-up, and the domination would continue from there, as the Foxes went on to win 72-53. Joe led with 16 points, while James had 15, Ketter 11, and Thomas 10.

Afterward, Coach Aric Samuel said that his 15-7 team, which was 8-0 in conference play, needed to beat Carolina Forest for a sole conference championship, but had to at least a tie.

He was happy with the full-team effort against South Florence.

“I’m proud of the guys because at the beginning of the year a lot of people counted us out,” Samuel said.