Bluffton boys win on buzzer-beater. May River, Bluffton girls clinch region titles

Tyler Rice had an 18th birthday to remember Friday.

The Bluffton senior scored 22 points, including the game-winner with one second left as the Bobcats defeated region-leading Colleton County, 58-56.

Bluffton trailed 56-55 going into the final possession. Rice took the ball on the left wing and took about nine dribbles before he fired up the shot that banked in and brought the crowd to their feet at Bluffton’s gym.

Hilton Head Island 76, Beaufort 64

Hilton Head Island moved into a tie in the Region 8-4 standings with a win over Beaufort.

The Seahawks are tied with Colleton County for the region lead with 4-1 records. The two teams play Tuesday in the regular-season finale.

Gaston Moore led HHI with 23 points. Sam Summa had 16. Dean Seelbach had 11 and Alex Smith scored 10.

Hilton Head Island led by as many as 14 points before Beaufort tied it in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks closed out strong for the victory. Rush Riley led the Eagles with 21 points and five rebounds. Oliver Holmes had 12 points, Zyrin Odom had 10 points and 18 rebounds, Daniel Phares added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ridgeland-Hardeeville 61, Wade Hampton 59

The Jaguars clinched another region title Friday night.

It is R-H’s seventh straight region crown. Rashard Baker led the way with 17 points and Mauriq Singleton had 14. Brandon Howard and Shaleaf Cherry each had 12. Howard also had 10 assists. The Jags shot 57 percent from the field.

R-H trailed at halftime, 25-18 and 41-40 headed into the fourth quarter.

Girls

May River 57, Battery Creek 30

Gracyn Drury scored 15 points and May River clinched its second straight Region 8-3A title Friday night.

Olivia and Emma Peluso each scored nine for the Sharks.

Bluffton 51, Colleton County 37

Samari Mitchell scored 13 points and Bluffton wrapped up its first region title since the 2011-12 season Friday night.

Tatyana Aiken added 10 points for Bluffton, which improved to 19-3 overall and 5-0 in region play. The Bobcats used a 17-7 run in the third quarter to break open the game.

Beaufort 40, Hilton Head Island 34

Layla Warren scored 19 points as the Eagles topped region foe Hilton Head Island on Friday.

Sequoia Smalls added nine for Beaufort.

Miley Ray led HHI with 16 points and went over 1,000 points for her career.

Beaufort Academy 62, Thomas Heyward 26

Amelia had a game-high 14 points as the Eagles moved to 14-3 overall and 5-3 in region play.

Tahleea Heyward added 12 points and Mike’Ala Washington added 10 for BA.

Daisy Taylor led THA with nine.

John Paul II 45, Hilton Head Prep 30

Tkai DeVore hhad another double-double in the Warriors’ 20th win of the season.

DeVore scored 18 points and had 13 boards. Abby Quinty added 16 points and 13 boards..

This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 9:52 AM.