Battle at the Border – Day One Results
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If it feels like yesterday that we were counting down to the beginning of 2022, one may not be alone. Now, we are counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the conclusion of 2022, but not before we…
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Continue ReadingIf it feels like yesterday that we were counting down to the beginning of 2022, one may not be alone. Now, we are counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the conclusion of 2022, but not before we get one last midseason tournament before it reads 2023 on our calendars.
That last tournament is the Battle at the Border which is hosted at Landrum HS. Always a much-anticipated event on the high school sports calendar across the Carolinas, this year’s rendition features the implementation of a 35-second shot clock along with the new court the school has debuted.
Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up to the Cardinals’ nest for the festivities. Here is a look at how day one of boys matchups played out.
Blue Ridge vs. St. Joseph’s Catholic
The phrase “a lot can change from season to season” appears to be no more true than it has been with Blue Ridge’s boys basketball team.
After all, the Tigers were entering the 2022-23 season as defending 3A champions and have experienced more than their fair share of growing pains this season. Their first matchup of this year’s Battle at the Border tournament would see Blue Ridge take on 1A St. Joseph’s Catholic.
The Knights have had an impressive start to their season. The first boys team to make it to the win column this season from the Landrum-hosted tournament was Blue Ridge as they dispatched St. Joseph’s Catholic with the final being 48-39.
Records
The Knights have began the 2022-23 season with a 6-3 record. That is close to half the 14 wins St. Joseph’s Catholic posted last season. The Tigers have only won one game this season and that matchup was against Greer Middle College.
What Happened Last Time?
One does not have to go far to see the last time St. Joseph’s Catholic took to the court against Blue Ridge. The two teams met up on January 8 of last season with the Tigers defending its home court by virtue of a 59-24 win over the Knights.
How Things Progressed
The early goings of this matchup featured the perimeter shooting of Blue Ridge against the interior play of St. Joseph’s Catholic. The teams battled each other to an 8-8 stalemate midway through the first quarter with both teams going cold from the field in the latter part of the frame. The Knights had a 10-8 lead after what was an up-tempo first quarter.
Ironically, St. Joseph’s Catholic began its second quarter scoring output with a pair of 3-pointers. The Knights’ defense managed to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard, field goal-wise until the later part of the period when they connected on a couple of field goals. St. Joseph’s Catholic held on to a 18-14 lead at halftime.
Blue Ridge then put together a third quarter that would see 14 points put on the scoreboard. It was the most scored in one frame by either team up to that point and it enabled the Tigers to assume a 28-23 lead at the end of three.
The fourth quarter was defined by the Tigers showing signs of pulling away and by a multitide of fouls being called. Where it mattered was on the scoreboard and it read 48-39 in favor of Blue Ridge when all was said and done.
Primetime Performers
Nash Somero Nash Somero 5'11" | PG Blue Ridge | 2024 State SC , a 2024 point guard, led all scorers with 18 points. Among those 18 were four made 3-pointers. He had four of the six Blue Ridge made for the game.
Tucker Massey, a senior guard for the Tigers, finished with eight points. He is listed at 5-foot-10 and can play either of the backcourt guard positions.
The Knights were the beneficiaries of seven points courtesy of Josh Burns. He is a 6-foot-2 guard and one of the veteran leaders on the team.
Another one of those seniors, Hunter Coleman Hunter Coleman 6'6" | PF St Joseph's | 2023 State SC , also chimed in with seven. He stands at 6-foot-5 and primarily operates as a big.
Up Next…
Blue Ridge advanced to the winner’s bracket where they would play Shannon Forest. As for St. Joseph’s Christian, they got a matchup in the consolation bracket with Woodruff.
Woodruff vs. Shannon Forest
With matchups alternating throughout the day between two girls games and two boys games, it meant that the boys games had the third, fourth, seventh and eighth places on the schedule with girls having the first, second, fifth and sixth games.
The fourth game overall would see a meeting of two schools that compete in 3A classes. One from the SCHSL and another in the SCISA realm. Woodruff would take on First Presbyterian Academy at Shannon Forest.
Given how the records of these two teams were heading into this matchup, one would expect the Crusaders to be the favorites. Those that predicted so were proven correct as Shannon Forest came away with the win in this one over the Wolverines with the result being 73-47.
Records
As for those records, the Wolverines entered play having earned victories over Greer, Mid-Carolina and Fountain Inn. Shannon Forest began the season with an eight-game winning streak before suffering its first defeat of the season in a close loss against Cardinal Newman.
How Things Progressed
Shannon Forest eventually opened up what became a 10-point lead towards the end of the first quarter. It was 15-5 at one point and that margin was maintained as the Crusaders and Wolverines exited the first quarter with the score at 19-9.
The second quarter saw a continuation of the offensive outburst for the Crusaders. Shannon Forest’s lead ballooned to 16 as it was 37-21 as both teams went into their respective locker rooms for halftime.
If there was ever a such thing as a perfect quarter in basketball, the Crusaders may have put one together in the third quarter. Not only did they go into full “offensive clinic” mode, but their defense held Woodruff to single digits scoring-wise that frame. The rout was on for Shannon Forest with one quarter left to play.
This became a contest where the victor was not in doubt – simply the point margin. When all was said and done, that point margin would be 26 points as Shannon Forest cruised to a 73-47 victory.
Primetime Performers
Nolan Paladugu Nolan Paladugu 6'3" | CG Shannon Forest | 2023 State SC led all point-getters with 22 points. Woodruff’s defense had little answers for the Crusaders’ star guard. He managed to score from virtually anywhere on the floor and approaches the game with an aggressive attitude, ready to attack.
Brandon Wilkins Brandon Wilkins 6'1" | CG Shannon Forest | 2023 State SC finished with 14 points. His passing ability in addition to his ability to shoot 3-pointers certainly had to impressive many an onlooker who was watching from the stands at Landrum HS.
Nick McConnell led his Wolverines in scoring with a 17-point showing. Not only did he fill up Woodruff’s stat sheet, he was particularly accurate from 3-point range and showcased his skills as a ball handler.
Hunter West, the Wolverines’ star sophomore small forward finished his afternoon with a 12-point performance. West particularly shined in the second half where on more than one occasion he managed to get out in transition and finish strong at the rim.
Up Next…
The Crusaders earned a berth in the winner’s bracket where they would take on the Tigers of 3A Blue Ridge. As for Woodruff, they were sent to the consolation bracket – and a contest with the Knights of St. Joseph’s Christian.
Broome vs. Spartanburg Christian Academy
Here are two teams that we remember vividly that were part of last season’s boys side of the Battle at the Border.
This one would also put a pair of 3A schools on centerstage. Broome is a SCHSL 3A school and Spartanburg Christian Academy was one of the schools reclassified by SCISA to 3A during the offseason.
Both teams have had underwhelming seasons in comparison to their 2021-22 renditions, but something had to give on this Wednesday evening in the foothills. This one would see Spartanburg Christian get in the win column over Broome as the Warriors earned an emphatic victory over the Centurions.
Records
As mentioned earlier, both teams have had underwhelming 2022-23’s in comparison to the previous seasons. The Warriors, who were 21-7 last season, have dropped their first 10 games to begin this season. The Centurions have began this season at 3-6 after finishing 2021-22 with a 14-15 record.
What Happened Last Time?
These two teams exchanged pleasantries last season with both games going to the Warriors by sizable margins. Spartanburg Christian won a road contest against Broome on Nov. 29 in a 77-43 result and the Warriors did so again at last season’s Battle at the Border with the final tally in that one being 66-37.
How Things Progressed
The next-to-last boys contest of Wednesday’s play would see Spartanburg Christian Academy jump out to an upper hand early. With one quarter complete, the score was 17-7 in favor of the Warriors.
Those same Warriors continued its high level of offensive success into the second half. The Centurions managed to find success in the latter part of the second half via 3-point shooting, but it was Spartanburg Christian 39 and Broome 18 at the half.
The word “mismatch” often gets thrown around when describing games that appear to be out of hand. While that may be a caustic word to use, the Warriors were making it look that way for much of the game with the Centurions.
At the start of the fourth quarter, eight minutes stood between Spartanburg Christian Academy and a berth in the winner’s bracket at this year’s Battle at the Border. They clinched that berth with a win on Wednesday.
Primetime Performers
Ben Ashby, a senior guard on the team, led the Warriors with a 20-point performance. He particularly displayed how efficient he can be from behind the 3-point line and provides veteran leadership.
That veteran leadership also comes in the form of Dawson Ward, another of the team’s senior guards. He tallied 18 points in a winning effort for Spartanburg Christian and complimented his scoring output with free throw shooting.
Lake Wagner is an up-and-comer for Spartanburg Christian Academy. The veteran guard also chimed in with 18 points. He stands at 5-foot-9 and primarily plays at the two. Wagner as well can be lethal from behind the 3-point arc.
Brady Poole Brady Poole 6'1" | SG Chesnee | 2024 State SC had 20 points – 20 of the 40 points that the Centurions had for the game, to be exact. He stands at 6-foot-1 and is a veteran shooting guard. The “shooting” part of that was particularly on display as he was plenty accurate from behind the arc.
Up Next…
The Warriors got themselves into the winner’s bracket of this year’s tournament where they would await Landrum. As for Broome, they would face off against Chapman in the consolation bracket.
Chapman vs. Landrum
The Cardinals’ girls team matched up against Carolina Forest in the final girls game of Wednesday’s schedule. The result of that one was a Landrum defeat at the hands of the Panthers with the final being 58-49. How would the Landrum boys fare?
That question was answered as the Cardinals’ boys competed against 3A Chapman. Outside of the host school, Chapman, Blue Ridge and Woodruff were the other three teams in this year’s Battle at the Border whose girls and boys teams converged on the home of the 2A Cardinals for this year’s version.
The Cardinals’ boys fared better than the Cardinals girls as it was a 68-64 win for Landrum over Chapman.
Records
This year’s fortunes have been better for the Cardinals than they have been for the Panthers. Landrum entered play on Wednesday having only dropped two games and those two defeats coming by way of Westside and Estill County out of Kentucky. As for Chapman, they stood at 4-6 entering play with two of those victories coming in December in a home-and-home with Chesnee.
What Happened Last Time?
Landrum and Chapman did battle in the final game of the second day of last season’s Battle at the Border tournament as well. The end result was an emphatic 81-50 victory for the Cardinals over the Panthers.
How Things Progressed
In the first quarter, it appeared that Landrum’s boys team would indeed defend its home court against Chapman once again as was the case a year ago. The Cardinals jumped out to an early 22-12 lead with one quarter in the books.
That lead would increase to 13 as halftime commenced. It did not appear as if the result would would achieve a victory as lopsided as the one from last season’s rendition, but it was a 36-23 lead for Landrum.
In the third quarter, the Panthers began to show strong signs of clawing back into the game and as the frame wore on, both teams displayed offensive efficiency. Ultimately enough, Chapman stormed all the way back to tie it up with Landrum at 50 with three in the books.
Chapman-Landrum was another matchup where the difference turned out to be free throw shooting and timely offense. The Cardinals got a bit more of it than the Panthers and sealed the deal on a 68-64 win to put smiles on the faces of its home fans.
Primetime Performers
For the Cardinals, sophomore guard Benett Edwards Benett Edwards 6'2" | SG Landrum | 2025 State SC , who stands at 6-foot-2, finished with 18 points. Rebounding, passing and the ability to collect steals are among the strengths to his game.
One of Landrum’s veteran guards – Franklin Davis Franklin Davis 6'3" | SG Landrum | 2024 State SC – contributed 16 points to the Cardinals’ efforts. Among what he got accomplished was a made 3-pointer and drawing contact which earned him opportunities at the free throw line.
Marco Gonzalez continued what has been a noteworthy senior season for him as he put 13 on the board for Landrum. He excels as a defender and has played multiple sports throughout his career – including baseball, track and field and football.
For the Panthers, Rashaun Cunningham put forth a 25-point showing. His production was particularly key in the Panthers’ comeback effort that was nearly successful. He placed the ball through the basket from virtually everywhere on the floor.
Daniel Johnson aided the Panthers’ cause with 14 points. Among those 14 were plenty of 3-pointers. Chapman had seven successful 3-point attempts and four of those departed from Johnson’s hands.
Colby Moon, another guard on what is a guard-heavy 2022-23 Panthers rendition, had 11 points. He too can display how accurate he can be when delivering from behind the arc. Moon also plays baseball.
Up Next
Landrum advanced to the winner’s bracket where they took on Spartanburg Christian Academy the following day. That same day, Chapman earned a consolation bracket contest with Broome.