Clover takes 2 wins at Nation Ford, plus all HS Rock Hill-area scores this week
The last minute of the third quarter — in Clover’s 52-42 Region 3-5A win over Nation Ford on the road — belonged to Dylan Rupert.
Here’s what went down: With about 44 seconds left in the third, the creative Clover senior point guard drove middle, rose up and spun a contested layup off the backboard for a bucket.
Then, after forcing a backcourt violatio, Rupert drove left again on the ensuing possession — this time finger-rolling a beautiful, high-arching layup over a few NaFo outstretched arms. Two more points.
Those shots gave Clover a 40-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter, a lead Clover wouldn’t lose command over. It also attracted some “oohs and ahhs” from the crowd and even drew a “We love you Dylan!” from someone in the Clover student section.
That said, throughout that whole minute, Clover head coach Bailey Jackson didn’t bat an eye. He knew what his 5-foot-9 leader could do.
Rupert had done it all year.
“Dylan shoots some interesting shots, but he’s a good little player,” Jackson told The Herald postgame. He smiled: “He had to earn the right to do some of that stuff. But he’s a senior. He’s played on the varsity for three years now, so he’s earned the right to do that. He’s pretty creative when he has to be.”
Friday night revealed what Clover is capable of, said Jackson, who’s led the Clover basketball program since 2012.
The Blue Eagles play a disciplined man-to-man defense. Their guards are aggressive, and their resident shot-blocker (6-foot-10 Winthrop signee center, Lawrence Bartee) denies any easy looks at the rim when pesky opposing guards slip through.
The Blue Eagles also have the talent to shoot well, and the team did that on Friday night. They hit six 3-pointers — two from Rupert, three from Jaylon Hoover (all in the first quarter) and one from Nicky Glenn.
Clover was led by a whole bunch of players Friday night. Ten ended in the scoring column: Rupert (14 points), Hoover (11), Vincent Alexander (nine), Darius Bowser (four), Glenn (three), Jackson McMullen (three), Bartee (three), Mason Vandestouwe (two) and Allen Roberts (two).
Nation Ford ended with seven scorers: JJ Rembert (13), Nas Berry (10), Shelden Joseph (eight), Devon Fletcher (four), Ryan Smith (three), Quadier Hand (two) and Gus Sharpless (two).
“I would think we’re still improving,” Jackson said. “We’ve lost some games that I don’t think we should have. We’ve also won a couple we probably shouldn’t have. But we’re not going to give up. We’re going to play good defense. And if our shots are falling, I feel like we’re pretty good sometimes.”
Pretty good sometimes?
Jackson smiled: “That’s all they’re getting (for now).”
The boys’ result delivered Clover its second win on Friday night. The first came from the Blue Eagle girls’ basketball team — a group that, by pressing Nation Ford after made baskets and working the ball inside, looked invulnerable en route to a 52-26 win.
“They’re very coachable and are doing everything we ask them to do,” said Clover head coach Sherer Hopkins, who’s been at the program’s helm for over two decades. “I feel like they’re looking for each other, sharing the basketball, and like I said, I’m just really happy with our progress.”
Hopkins knew her team had the chance to be good in 2021-22, and that might come as a surprise to some: The Blue Eagles won a state championship in 2021, yes, but they graduated their entire starting five from that team — a five that included plenty of size as well as all-time leading scorer in program history, Aylesha Wade.
“There are several though who were with that team as well and learned a lot from them,” Hopkins said. “They’ve made a name for themselves this year, and I’m proud of the way that they’ve played and worked hard.”
Eleven players notched points for Clover: Indya Massey (10 points), Tegan Bertwell (eight), Karis Alexander (seven), Samara Lucas (six), Brooke Taylor (six), Saniya Cameron (four), Clara Powell (two), Nysheria Wright (two), Tykeria Witherspoon (two), Marcia Watt (two) and Rylie Franklin (two).
Franklin, in fact, was pulled up from junior varsity to add depth on Friday night. When she scored, the Clover bench exploded in cheers.
When asked about that moment in particular, Hopkins smiled: “They work hard but they laugh and enjoy the process while they do it.”
Here are the rest of the scores and up-to-date region standings as of Friday night.
Girls basketball scores this week
Tuesday
Rock Hill 81, Spring Valley 35
Northwestern 53, Ridge View 32
Nation Ford 47, Boiling Springs 32
Clover 40, Gaffney 39
Catawba Ridge 70, South Pointe 51
York 36, Indian Land 28
Andrew Jackson 59, Buford 44
Lewisville 40, CA Johnson 9
Wednesday
Northwestern 40, Fort Mill 35
Thursday
Andrew Jackson 52, Chesterfield 34
Friday
Clover 52, Nation Ford 26
Northwestern 47, Blythewood 20
Boiling Springs 38, Fort Mill 35
South Pointe 46, Lancaster 19
Catawba Ridge 44, York 29
Boys basketball scores this week
Tuesday
Clover 46, Gaffney 42
Nation Ford 54, Boiling Springs 40
Spring Valley 74, Rock Hill 72 (OT)
South Pointe 40, Catawba Ridge 37
York Prep 107, North Central 57
Great Falls 78, Governor’s School 37
CA Johnson 57, Lewisville 16
Thursday
Ridge View 52, Northwestern 40
Friday
Clover 52, Nation Ford 42
Fort Mill 60, Boiling Springs 41
Blythewood 64, Northwestern 63
Great Falls 71, McBee 30
Girls region standings
Region 4-5A: Northwestern 2-0, 11-4; Rock Hill 1-0, 13-3; Spring Valley 1-1, 9-7; Blythewood 0-1, 0-12; Ridge View 0-2, 4-11.
Region 3-5A: Clover 2-0, 11-5; Boiling Springs 1-1, 6-10; Nation Ford 1-1, 5-12; Gaffney 0-1, 11-5; Fort Mill 0-1, 6-12.
Region 3-4A: Catawba Ridge 2-0, 15-1; South Pointe 1-1, 9-7; York 1-1, 4-11; Lancaster 0-1, 8-5; Indian Land 0-1, 4-7.
Region 4-3A: Keenan 2-0, 13-1; Lower Richland 1-0, 14-1; Chester 0-0, 1-9; Mid-Carolina 0-1, 9-4; Fairfield Central 0-2, 8-3.
Region 4-2A: Andrew Jackson 4-0, 9-3; Chesterfield 3-1, 10-2; Buford 2-1, 3-5; Cheraw 2-3, 4-8; York Prep 1-2, 3-6; North Central 0-2, 4-6; Pageland Central 0-3, 1-8.
Region 2-1A: Lewisville 1-0, 2-8; McBee 0-0, 5-4; Governor’s School 0-0, 0-2; Great Falls 0-0, 0-6; CA Johnson 0-1, 0-6.
Boys region standings
Region 4-5A: Ridge View 2-0, 9-9; Blythewood 1-0, 7-8; Spring Valley 1-1, 8-9; Rock Hill 0-1, 9-6; Northwestern 0-2, 10-6..
Region 3-5A: Clover 2-0, 13-6; Fort Mill 1-0, 13-4; Nation Ford 1-1, 6-10; Gaffney 0-1, 6-10; Boiling Springs 0-2, 11-9.
Region 3-4A: South Pointe 1-0, 6-5; Lancaster 0-0, 14-2; Indian Land 0-0, 4-7; York 0-0, 3-10; Catawba Ridge 0-1, 15-3.
Region 4-3A: Lower Richland 1-0, 2-8; Keenan 1-0, 8-9; Chester 0-0, 3-7; Fairfield Central 0-1, 2-8; Mid-Carolina 0-1, 2-14.
Region 4-2A: York Prep 4-0, 14-0; North Central 2-1, 9-2; Andrew Jackson 2-1, 11-4; Pageland Central 2-1, 6-5; Buford 1-2, 5-8; Chesterfield 1-4, 6-7; Cheraw 1-4, 4-15.
Region 2-1A: CA Johnson 1-0, 6-5; Great Falls 1-0, 6-7; Governor’s School 0-0, 3-1; Lewisville 0-1, 1-8; McBee -0-1, 0-9.
Sam Copeland contributed to this report.
