Battery Creek boys handle rival Beaufort High, remain perfect at 7-0
Eric Freeman struggled Thursday with what he thinks is the flu.
The Battery Creek High School senior decided against sitting out what would have been his final rivalry game at Beaufort High School. To add to what could have been a miserable night, the Dolphins 6-foot-6 center became the favorite target of the Beaufort High student section.
He didn't mind,
"I like the attention," Freeman said.
An inspired Freeman helped Battery Creek win 61-54 and sweep its rival for the first time under coach Antoine Youmans, who is in his fifth season. Freeman scored 16 points after being held to a quiet night at home during the first meeting.
The Dolphins improved to 7-0 entering the holiday break.
A high-pressure third quarter helped Battery Creek come back from a double-digit first half deficit. The Dolphins' "Havoc" press, inspired by Virginia Commonwealth, spurred a 12-0 run and allowed Battery Creek to grab control.
The Dolphins' exposed Beaufort High's lack of depth at guard. Beaufort High is still without Adonis Grant because of a foot injury and was without Ryle Owens on Thursday.
"When you're down two of your top three guards, pressure bothers you," Beaufort High coach Nathan Livesay said. "We had a stretch in the third and a stretch in the fourth when we couldn't handle their pressure."
The intriguing matchup Thursday was in the post.
Beaufort High big man Otis McClain pounded his way to 20 points. On the other end, Freeman worked the baseline and offensive glass to produce his points.
He sat some during the first half as he struggled with his stamina. But he wasn't going to be held down the final two quarters, with the Dolphins' offense working the same end as the Beaufort High students.
Freeman had spent much of his time in the high post during the first game against Beaufort High, and he finished with only 6 points. He dropped down Thursday and had more success.
"He was attacking," McClain said. "He wasn't really attacking the first game."
Battery Creek boys 61, Beaufort High 54
Battery Creek (7-0) -- Eric Freeman 16, Christian Brown 11, Markell Smalls 9, DeQuan Robinson 8, Adonis Williams 8, Devonte Wilson 4, Chris Burton 4.
Beaufort High (3-3) -- Otis McClain 20, Jawan Mack 15, Devin Stedman 6, Matt Garay 4, Flint Wright 4, Monty White 3, Henry Jones 2.
BEAUFORT HIGH GIRLS 50, BATTERY CREEK 43
Mattie Hibbs stopped Beaufort High girls coach Reggie Jones before the game with a simple message: "Coach, we've got this."
The Eagles were tired of losing. The upperclassmen addressed the team about playing with pride and intensity.
Jones asked his players to pick up full-court man-to-man defense to force the issue.
Beaufort High survived a 9-0 run by the Dolphins to start the second half. The victory was the Eagles' first in the rivalry since their two seniors were freshmen.
"The third quarter's always been sloppy for us, so we just made sure we kept up the intensity and didn't let them get back on us," said Hibbs, a junior guard.
Hibbs , a junior guard, scored 13 of her 17 points during the second half. Her mid-range shots fell and she made all four of her free throws in the final 1:14 to help seal the victory.
Battery Creek -- Taquasia Lampkin 15, Elizabeth Ford 9, Ericka Alston 9, Brianna Tolbert 3, Cierra Cohen 3, Shakeila Brown 2.M
Beaufort High (3-5) -- Mattie Hibbs 17, BreAnna Heyward-White 15, Imari Smalls 8, Naijua Moyd 7, Monique Jones 2, B Whitmire 2.
Follow assistant sports editor Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.
This story was originally published December 18, 2014 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Battery Creek boys handle rival Beaufort High, remain perfect at 7-0."