Region 2-A: McCormick vs. Calhoun Falls Charter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When thinking about rivalries in South Carolina high school sports, one of those that comes to mind has to be Chiefs vs. Blue Flashes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams will remain region rivals even with reclassification coming next year. As for this season, the Chiefs got the better of the exchange between the two teams. McCormick scored a 58-47 victory over the Blue Flashes on the first day of the month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Calhoun Falls, Monday's matchup with McCormick was not only a big region contest – but it was also the regular season finale for the Blue Flashes. The Chiefs ensured that Calhoun Falls Charter's 2023-24 regular season slate would conclude in the loss column as McCormick earned the 55-43 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Where Were The Fans?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately for those fans looking to attend, their best bet was the NFHS Network as Monday's game was played without outside spectators.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A source told Prep Hoops the decision was made because of an incident that happened at an earlier contest between the two archrivals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It appeared the opening minutes of this game would unfold similarly to the opening minutes of the earlier girls game that took place between the Chiefs and Blue Flashes – heavily in McCormick's favor. It was Chiefs 20 and Blue Flashes 9 with one in the books.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calhoun Falls opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run before McCormick answered by pulling away as the minutes elapsed. With halftime arriving, the Chiefs' lead was 33-23 over the Blue Flashes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It became apparent in the third quarter that whichever team would earn the victory in this contest would not do so via blowout. McCormick did have a six-point, 43-37 edge over Calhoun Falls Charter with eight minutes remaining on the clock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chiefs' girls had already defeated the Blue Flashes girls a bit earlier that evening. McCormick's efforts to make it a clean varsity sweep over Calhoun Falls were successful by virtue of the 55-43 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2342391,"width":"486px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0162-crop-2054x1349-1707210734.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0162-crop-2054x1349-1707210734.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2342391" style="width:486px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Flashes defense had very few answers for junior guard <strong>Darius Houston</strong>. He, by far, led all point-getters on Monday evening as he tallied 27 points to aid McCormick's cause. Fourteen of his 27 came in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2342393,"width":"490px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0183-crop-1833x1204-1707211205.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0183-crop-1833x1204-1707211205.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2342393" style="width:490px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In many ways, senior power forward <strong>Demetric Anderson</strong> proved to be the closer for the Chiefs. He added 13 points to McCormick's total. Nine of those 13 were placed on the scoreboard in the second half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2342395,"width":"491px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0168-crop-3164x2077-1707211357.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0168-crop-3164x2077-1707211357.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2342395" style="width:491px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Calhoun Falls Charter program continues to get a glimpse of its future every time <strong>Braylon Patterson</strong>'s sneakers make contact with the hardwood. The eighth grader led all Blue Flashes scorers with 16 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2342397,"width":"498px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0197-crop-2236x1469-1707211472.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0197-crop-2236x1469-1707211472.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2342397" style="width:498px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>DaQuean Lewis</strong> contributed 12 points to Calhoun Falls Charter's cause. In addition to basketball, Lewis has also shined on the gridiron throughout his time with the Blue Flashes. Six of his 12 came in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Up Next…</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Calhoun Falls will await where it will go in the playoffs, McCormick still has one game left – on Wednesday as it hosts Ware Shoals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->