Prep Roundup, Dec. 11

Augusta Christian 51, Hilton Head Christian 50: Matt Herzwurm's bank shot in the lane with 3.6 seconds left lifted Augusta Christian to a 51-50 victory on Saturday afternoon at Hilton Head Christian Academy.

The Eagles held a 50-49 lead with under a minute to go, but missed a few opportunities to add to their lead, committing a couple of turnovers and missing the front end of a one-and-one. Augusta Christian got the ball back with 13 seconds left and let the clock wind down before finding Herzwurm inside for the winning basket. The Eagles had an inbounds play under the basket with six-tenths of a second left, but their alley-oop attempt missed the mark.

"We played hard, and that's what we were looking for," Eagles coach Kenny Conroy said.

Herzwurm and Nick Fortenberry finished with nine points apiece to pace a balanced scoring effort for Augusta Christian.

Taylor MacDonald led the Eagles with 19 points, and Conner Millen added 10. Brad Meccariello finished with nine points and Zach Reynolds had eight for the Hilton Head Christian (3-3), which plays Bible Baptist at home on Friday in the first round of Hilton Head Prep's annual RET Thomas Memorial Holiday Tournament.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Ridgeland 50, Bluffton 47: April Jenkins scored 13 points and Tiara Nelson added 12 as the Jaguars held off the Bobcats on the night Ridgeland raised the banner for last season's Class 1-A state championship.

NyJae Boozer chipped in with eight points and Matesha Stevenson had seven for Ridgeland.

Jennifer Giles led all scorers with 20 points for Bluffton (1-1), and Shakeria Kitty finished with 13. Tibra Wheeler and Alex Bailey scored five each, and Monique Bryant had four points and seven rebounds for the Bobcats, who play at Hardeeville on Monday.

Augusta Christian 32, Hilton Head Christian 27: Augusta Christian made free throws down the stretch to fight off the Eagles in a tight, defensive battle at Hilton Head Christian.

"It was a close game the whole game," Eagles coach Kenny Conroy said. "The girls played real well, played very good defense."

Lauren Davis led the Eagles (2-6) with 10 points. Audrey Bensch finished with five points, and Francesca Guidobono and Becky Woods scored four each.

WRESTLING

Silver Fox Invitational at Dutch Fork: Beaufort High returned home with the first-place trophy for the third year in a row.

The Eagles had seven weight division champions: Jake Scott at 106 pounds, Forrest Kimbrel at 145, Clayton Wynn at 152, Trey Arant at 160, Thyrik Legree at 182, Codrian Smalls at 220 and Tyler Wilson at heavyweight.

Also, Clint Wright was second for the Eagles at 195. Tommy Collins (120), William Vallentin (126) and Michael Holmes (145) had third-place finishes.

"We went up there hoping to three-peat," Beaufort High coach Bill DaMude said of his team's approach. "We predicted we could medal in 10 weight classes, and we did it."

The Eagles return to action Tuesday at James Island.

Also on Saturday, the Beaufort High JV wrestlers took first place at James Island's Christmas Invitational.

Rebel Invitational at Effingham County (Ga.): Bluffton saw its first action since football players joined the team following the Bobcats' run to the Class 3-A state title game.

Mike Meyerink was the lone Bluffton wrestler to earn a spot in the finals, finishing second at 160 pounds. Bluffton's Levi Joly placed third at 120, Harry Chirinos finished third at 152 and Austin Farmer finished fourth at 132.

Also, the Bobcats' Lloyd Williams (113) and Kyle Waddell (182) each had 4-2 records with four pins.

Bluffton hosts Colleton County on Monday.

Ram Invitational at Hillcrest: Chris Ordonez went 5-0 to claim the 132-pound championship for Hilton Head High, which finished sixth out of 14 teams. The host team from Hillcrest won the tournament, followed by Rock Hill.

Ordonez, a junior, capped off his championship run by scoring a technical fall in the finals in only two periods of work.

The Seahawks had three third-place finishers: senior David Waddell (106), Nick Tennison (113) and Nick Bautista (182) all went 4-1. Matt Johns was fourth at 138 pounds, and 160-pounder Aaron Facenda took fifth. J.C. Graham was 2-1 at 195 pounds, but exited the tournament early because of injury.

The Seahawks wrestle Tuesday in a dual at Bamberg-Ehrhardt.

Red Raider Invitational at Bamberg-Ehrhardt: Battery Creek took fifth place out of 15 teams, crowning two individual champions in the process.

Dolphins heavyweight David Ratliff went 3-0 with three pins to win the title, and was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler in the upper weight classes. Chris Bockelman at 106 pounds also went 3-0 to claim an individual championship for Battery Creek.

Josh Green (128) went 3-1 for second place, and Jimmy Sanchez (120) and Josh Knight (220) were 4-1 and finished third for the Dolphins. Brian LaBean (138) was fourth, and Joey Galtellie (160) and Deandre Johnson (152) took fifth.

The Dolphins wrestle at Whale Branch on Tuesday.