rss
mobile
Feeds
The Dolphins needed less than two seconds to break free once they did.
Two big plays to end the third quarter helped propel Prep, and it defeated Thomas Heyward Academy 48-25 on the first day of the RET Thomas Memorial Holiday Tournament. The host Dolphins advance to play rival Hilton Head Christian Academy today at 5:30 p.m. in the championship game.
After a lackluster second quarter, Dolphins coach Bob Sulek told his team it was settling for too many jump shots. Prep pulled the ball out during the second half and ran its motion offense, scoring off the dribble from the top of the key or finding cutters for easy layups.
"Coach just said we lost all our tempo, we weren't playing the offense we knew how to play," said Dolphins guard Charlie Wilmot, who led Prep with 14 points. "He told us 'Run the motion, set screens,' just do what we know how to do. We waited; we were more patient; we didn't rush the shots."
Wilmot said the Dolphins knew to look for the double-team on the ball-handler at the top of the arc, that when defensive help came over, Prep's guards immediately looked for the cutter.
"We just found layups all day," Wilmot said. "It was a great team game. We played very well together."
The patience helped force the Rebels into foul trouble. Leading scorer J.D. Tuten fouled out for the Rebels with more than six minutes remaining. Guard Ryan Day picked up his fourth foul less than a minute later.
Thomas Heyward trailed the entire game, but pulled within a point, 22-21, with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.
The cushion for Prep came at the end of the quarter. The Dolphins scored five points during the final 1.3 seconds of the period, on two free throws following a technical foul and a 3-pointer on the ensuing inbounds play.
The Rebels, who trailed only 29-25 with 3:49 left in the third, were held scoreless the rest of the way.
Sulek said the Dolphins did a better job during the second half of denying the middle of the floor and positioning themselves better.
"Our defense came to life," he said.
THOMAS HEYWARD -- J.D. Tuten 9, Bryan Lee Wade 4, Zack Newton 4, Ryan Day 4, Joe Laycock 2, Taylor Cowart 2
HILTON HEAD PREP (2-5) Charlie Wilmot 14, John Sheehan 12, Randy Young 7, Shaun Topper 7, J.T. Marbut 4, Logan Clark 2
Hilton Head Christian 58, Bible Baptist 51
Taylor MacDonald scored 23 points and Brad Meccariello had 17 to push the Eagles into today's championship game against Hilton Head Prep.
Jamario Williams and C.J. Evanofski added six points apiece for Hilton Head Christian (4-3).
Bible Baptist was led by Keynnard Campbell's 16 points.
GIRLS
Thomas Heyward 62, Hilton Head Prep 27
Gary Mazzanna figured his Rebels had the upper hand going into Friday's first-round game.
And so the Thomas Heyward coach pressed early, spurring a 15-0 Rebels run to start the game. Undefeated Thomas Heyward never looked back.
The Rebels advance to today's girls championship game of the RET Thomas Memorial Holiday Tournament against Hilton Head Christian Academy.
"We knew we could apply a lot of pressure, get off to a lead and basically get a lot of people in the ball game and work on some different things," Mazzanna said.
Caitlyn Cooler led Thomas Heyward with 18 points.
Brooke Churchich scored eight to lead Prep. Gracie Anderson added six points and 10 rebounds for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins were held without a basket until 36 seconds remained in the first quarter. Prep found some success in the halfcourt with Anderson and Allie Jaccard scoring in the post. But Thomas Heyward rarely allowed the home team the chance to feel comfortable.
Mazzanna said the Rebels wanted to work on trapping Prep's ball-handlers and running the secondary break. He noted that the Dolphins are down from a season ago, but praised their effort.
"They played hard," he said. "They don't quit."
THOMAS HEYWARD (7-0) Caitlyn Cooler 18, Kayla Canavan 16, Jamie Malphrus 9, Brielle Jungblut 8, Andrea Daring 5, Chandler Cook 4, Taylor Ernestine 3
HILTON HEAD PREP (1-7) Brooke Churchich 8, Allie Jaccard 6, Gracie Anderson 6, Maggie Gasser 5, Taylor Kent 2
Hilton Head Christian 42, Bible Baptist 33
Kenny Conroy saw some familiar faces in Friday's first-round game, as the first-year Eagles coach took on Bible Baptist, which he coached last season. He also saw his new squad improve to 3-6 and advanced to today's title game against Thomas Heyward.
"It was a different game for me, seeing my old girls out there playing against my new girls," Conroy said.
Behind some strong defense, the Eagles jumped out to a 26-10 lead at halftime. They held on from there, matching their win total from a season ago, when the Christian Academy girls finished 3-22.
"They're playing well," Conroy said. "I knew they had it in them, it was just a matter of pulling it out of them."
Lauren Davis led the Eagles with 15 points, and Andy Anderson added 12. Addison Bensch scored seven points and Becky Woods had five.
Lindsey Conley led Bible Baptist with 15 points.
