LDHS girls roll as holiday hoops get into full swing
Laurens County prep basketball teams are back off their Christmas break as three schools – Clinton, Laurens and Laurens Academy – all had teams in action Thursday at their respective tournaments.
The Laurens girls played two games – one an exhibition after Ninety Six had to suddenly default its spot in the Raider Rumble – but won the game that counted as they routed Carolina, 69-27. The Raiders got 21 points from Qua Fortson and 10 from Hannah Wiles in a contest that saw the team score the first 21 points and hold Carolina without a hoop for the first 8 minutes, 26 seconds.
Laurens plays Riverside Friday night at approximately 6:10 p.m. A victory for Laurens would send the team to Saturday’s tournament final against either Hillcrest or Union County.
Laurens’ boys had a tough go of things in the opening round of the Clover Holiday Tournament, falling 65-46 against Archbishop Alter (Ohio). Christian Anderson led Laurens with 15 points, while Dee Foster had 13 points.
Laurens was to play against Newberry or Spartanburg Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Clinton: The Clinton girls’ basketball team picked up a 43-35 victory over Timberland at the Carolina Invitational in Summerville.
Terriauna Bennett had 13 points and De’Shanti Watts had 12 points as Clinton moved on to play either Stratford or Calhoun County Friday afternoon in the semifinals.
As for the boys, Clinton lost 68-48 to Mid-Carolina in the second game of the Emerald Tournament Thursday afternoon. Clinton had advanced to the second round with a 69-47 victory over Calhoun Falls the day before.
In Thursday’s loss, Clinton got 24 points from J.D. Payne and 16 from Ahmari Bates, but head coach Eddie Romines said the team had too many turnovers in the second half – which helped lead to the Red Devils’ demise.
Clinton will play Emerald in the third-place game Friday night at 6 p.m.
LA girls: The Laurens Academy girls opened the Lowe’s Roundball Classic with an impressive 43-22 victory over the hose Chesnee. LA got 17 points from Ruthie Moore, as well as 11 points and nine boards from Blair Quarles.
LA will face Fort Mill on Friday. Fort Mill routed Berea, 64-19, to advance.
