Published: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 / Updated: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 05:38 PM
Lady Jackets bounce back, take 3rd at ‘Tipoff’
YORK --
Lady Jackets defeat York, take 3rd at Palmetto Tipoff
At the Palmetto Rehab Tipoff, Fort Mill fell to Spring Valley but regrouped against host York and won 49-32 and finished 3rd.
After a poor showing in their season opener against Spring Valley, the Fort Mill Lady Jackets bounced back to finish third in the Palmetto Rehab Tipoff Tournament at York Comprehensive High School.
Fort Mill fell to Spring Valley, ranked sixth in the pre-season, 63-35, but regrouped against host York and won 49-32.
“It’s early,” said Lady Jackets head coach Christene Benyak. “We still have a lot to work on.”
Fort Mill was led by junior Arianna Grevious, who scored 18 points, and senior Rae Lynch, who dropped in 11 points, including three three-pointers to lead the Lady Jackets over the Lady Cougars in the consolation final.
Both teams started off fairly even, but Fort Mill used a 23-5 second quarter to pull away from York and go up 33-13 at the half.
The Lady Jackets got consistent play from freshman point guard Madison Hendrix, who scored seven points against York, and added eight against Spring Valley.
“We needed a ball handler like her,” Benyak said, of her young point guard. “We got a few players this year, who were playing middle school basketball last year.”
One of the biggest differences in Fort Mill between its first and second games was the amount of turnovers.
In the Spring Valley game, the Lady Jackets had over 40 turnovers, while cutting that in half against York.
Against York, Fort Mill was the one forcing the turnovers as the Lady Jackets shot 59 percent in the second quarter to pull away.
In the third quarter, Fort Mill kept the pressure on York early and forced them into six turnovers, as Grevious added six of her 18 in each of the second, third and fourth quarters.
York didn’t score until three minutes into the third quarter as the Lady Jackets finished the period up by 23 at 43-20.
Against Spring Valley, Fort Mill stayed within striking distance for part of the first and despite being down by a dozen at the half, was still in the game.
That was until they third quarter when Spring Valley used a 21-9 run to pull away and go up by 24 after the period. Fort Mill helped Spring Valley along in the period by having at least a dozen turnovers.
Sophomore Chelsea Redd led the Lady Jackets with nine points and both Hendrix and senior Lauren Wood had eight points.
Fort Mill will have its home opener this week against the Indian Land Lady Warriors starting at 6 p.m. Friday night.