Region 3-AAAAA: Clover vs. Spring Valley

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wednesday, Jan. 12 was the original date for this clash of 5A region foes, but the high school basketball schedule across the Carolinas was massively altered because of weather trouble spots.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The visiting Blue Eagles appear to have been playing their best ball as of late. Clover has been victorious in six of its last eight contests while, so far, going 1-1 (win at Nation Ford, loss vs. Blythewood) against regional adversaries.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for the Vikings, they are also a team that has been in the win column on six of its last eight tries. Region play began surprisingly inauspicious for Spring Valley with a loss at Rock Hill before bouncing back by beating Fort Mill.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which team would claim its 10^th&nbsp;victory of the season and up its region mark to 2-1? That would be the Blue Eagles as they defeated the Vikings with the final score being 63-47.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Remember What Happened Last Time? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clover and Spring Valley split last season's regional contests with both getting victories on the road. The Blue Eagles picked up a 69-55 win over the Vikings last January before Spring Valley got sweet revenge in a 65-62 decision at Clover in early February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first quarter between these two teams would be advantage Clover as they built up a double-digit lead on Spring Valley with a balanced scoring effort. With one quarter having elapsed, the Blue Eagles' lead on the Vikings was 22-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A low-scoring frame then ensued for both teams. But it was more low-scoring for the Vikings than it was for the Blue Eagles. As both teams would go over a second half game plan, it was Clover 31 and Spring Valley 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings managed to inch a bit closer to the Blue Eagles in the third quarter prior to late Clover 3-pointer that made it a 15-point game. With three in the books, Clover's lead over Spring Valley was 52-37.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Valley trailed by the sort of deficit where things could get interesting if they could embark on a run. Unfortunately for the Vikings, that run did not come and the Blue Eagles would ensure 2023-24 would be a double-digit win season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2324752,"width":"454px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_8591.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_8591.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2324752" style="width:454px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clover greatly benefitted from the 17 points that were put on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318289' first='Jaylon' last='Hoover']</strong>. His name is also known in football circles for being a Blue Eagles quarterback as well as a wide receiver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2324760,"width":"461px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_8588-crop-2236x1469-1705555074.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/IMG_8588-crop-2236x1469-1705555074.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2324760" style="width:461px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Spring Valley, senior and team captain <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1341452' first='Joshua' last='Nelson']</strong> had himself another noteworthy evening. He would lead all point-getters for either assembling with 20. Nelson primarily plays at the four and ran with [program_tooltip program_id='2078724' first='Carolina' last='Pressure'] during AAU season last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Up Next…</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, the roles will reverse as Clover will be at home and Spring Valley will be on the road. The Blue Eagles will await Fort Mill while the Vikings will travel to Nation Ford.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->