SECOND HALF JANUARY BASKETBALL UPDATE (2012)

The Gaffney Indians went 5 and 0 during the second half of January. They have now won ten games in a row and have an overall record of 16 and 4 and they are on top of the Region 3 4A standings at 7 and 0. They had to go on the road in 4 of their previous 5 games. Let's look at the games.

Gaffney @ Clover..... The Tribe went into Clover, which is always a tough place to play and won an ugly ball game. It's always better to win ugly than to loose pretty. The Tribe beat the home team 59 to 51. This was the first region road game of the season after two emotional region wins over ranked teams Rock Hill and Lancaster. Their record improved to 12 and 4 overall and 3 and 0 in Region 3.

Spartanburg @ Gaffney..... The games between the Vikings and Indians are always tough emotional ball games and this one was no different. The Spartanburg Vikings controlled the tempo for most of the game and had the game tied at 44, late in the 4th quarter, when they got called for a technical foul for delaying the game. The Indians Kerry Williams hit a technical free throw to put the Indians up for good and they finished off the Vikings 53 to 46. Gaffney won their 7th game in a row and stood 4 and 0 in the region and 13 and 4 overall.

Gaffney @ Northwestern..... The Indians made the first of back to back trips down highway 5 to face the Northwestern Trojans. After a close 1st half the Tribe raced out to a 56 to 38 lead late in the 3rd quarter only to see the Trojans storm back to get within 3 late in the game. The Tribe hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for a 74 to 69 victory. Gaffney won their 8th in a row and stood 5 and 0 halfway through the Region 3 schedule. Their overall record improved to 14 and 4.

Gaffney @ Rock Hill..... The second of the back to backs down highway 5 was to face the Rock Hill Bearcats a team the Tribe had beaten 81 to 63 to open region play. It was a much tougher game this go around, as the Tribe just couldn't put the Bearcats away. They also lost star sophomore L.J. Peak to fouls early in the 4th quarter. The Tribe over came the adversity and missed free throws to pull out another tough road region game. Gaffney won the game 64 to 58 to win their 9th straight and go to 6 and 0 in Region 3 play and 15 and 4 overall.

Gaffney @ Lancaster..... The Tribe made the long 1 hour and 1/2 trip to Lancaster last night to face the 4th ranked Bruins. The Lancaster gym is a small and hostile place to play for a road team to come in and win. This game was a match-up for 1st place in Region 3 between 2nd ranked Gaffney and 4th ranked Lancaster. You had a standing room only crowd and a playoff atmosphere. Could the game actually live up to the hype? YES IT DID! It started off like Gaffney was going to blow the Bruins out of their own building racing to a 20 to 8 lead after the 1st quarter. Late in the 1st half the Tribe pushed their lead to 29 to 12 after two consecutive dunks by L.J. Peak. The Bruins scored the final two baskets of the half and Gaffney led 29 to 16 at the half. The 3rd quarter started with the Lancaster Bruins finishing a 22 to 2 run to take a 34 to 31 lead. The Bruins continued to lead 38 to 36 after the 3rd quarter. It looked as though the Indians were out of gas but, they were able to get a free throw from L.J. Peak with 1.7 seconds left in the game to tie the game at 51 to 51 after regulation. Lancaster star Sindarius Thornwell scored 29 points but, he fouled out to put Peak on the line to tie the game. It was all Gaffney in overtime, as they made their free throws and their defense put the clamps on the Bruins with Thornwell on the bench. The Tribe outscored the Bruins 15 to 6 to win the game 66 to 57. The Tribe's record goes to 16 and 4 overall and 7 and 0 in Region 3 4A. They have also won 10 in a row.

My View From The Stands.....(1) The Tribe is playing very good basketball and finding ways to win ball games even when they have things go against them. The game against Spartanburg they were o for 15 from behind the 3 point arc and missed 15 free throws but, they found a way to win the ball game. The Northwestern game, they let an 18 point lead almost completely disappear but, they won the ball game. The 2nd Rock Hill game, their best player fouled out early in the 4th quarter, in a close game but, they won the ball game. The Lancaster game, they overcame a late technical foul and blowing a 17 point lead but, they were able to win the game in overtime. They are doing what they need to do by overcoming adversity and finding a way to win tough ball games. That should bode well for the upcoming playoffs. (2) The Tribe is 7 and 0 in Region 3 and have a two game lead plus the tiebreaker over Lancaster who is 5 and 2. All Gaffney has to do to win the Region 3 4A Championship is win one of their last three games.

Upcoming Schedule..... Clover @ Home on 2/3, Northwestern @ Home on 2/7 and @ Spartanburg on 2/10.

Gaffney's Football Signings..... WR Quinshad Davis to North Carolina, QB Joey Copeland to South Carolina State, DL Edward Bigby and DB Snoop Byars to Presbyterian, LB Savon Dukes to Lenoir-Rhyne and DL Robert Grandy to Mars Hill.

You can catch the next Tribe Blitz on Monday February 13th to recap the final three regular season games for the Tribe and preview the playoffs.

Until Next Time.