It was a tale of two very different games when the York Cougars traveled to meet the Indian Land Warriors last week.
The York Comprehensive High School girls ground out a 38-18 win over the Lady Warriors, while in the boys game, Indian Land turned its defense into offense, leading to a 96-56 win Friday, Jan. 27.
Indian Land High’s boys started out slowly, shooting just 1-11 early from the three-point arch before finding their stride late in the first quarter. Jake Recker scored six points, but his energy and offensive rebounding spurred the Warriors to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter. Indian Land’s Sincere Rasul and Mike Jones helped break the game open in the second quarter. The Warriors’ ball pressure and trapping helped quicken the pace, which is how they want to play. They outscored the Cougars, 32-18, to lead 49-26 at halftime. The lead continued to grow as Indian Land found its rhythm from the three-point range. Tyler Callahan hit four from long range in the third quarter, helping stretch the lead to 30 at 72-42.
The Warriors hit 14 3-pointers and had four players in double figures for the night.
Indian Land’s leading scorer was Jones, who had a game-high 23 points, while Rasul added 20 points. Callahan put in 15 points and Sequel Patterson contributed 10 points.
Warriors’ boys head coach L.J. Johnson was proud of the way his team played.
“We came out and saw shots that we normally make bounce off the rim,” he said. “We did a great job of speeding them up and making them take some shots they really didn’t want to take.
“We love how dual-sport athletes bring a sense of urgency, a tenacity, to the game. Our guys did a good job sharing the ball allowing him (Recker) to win in space,” Johnson said. “It allowed us to see some shots go in.” The Indian Land boys are now 17-5 overall and 3-3 in region play.
Girls game
The York girls held the Lady Warriors to just six field goals for the game.
Indian Land found it hard to even get off a shot against York.
The Lady Cougars led by 10 points, 18-8, at the half, and extended it to 14 before the Indian Land girls had their best stretch of the game.
The Lady Warriors cut the lead to 24-16 at the end of three, but they could not get any closer.
York outscored them 14-2 in the final quarter, making four of their five 3-pointers for the game.
York’s Jada Anderson led all scorers with 15 points, while Skylar Young led Indian Land with seven points.
After the game, Indian Land girls head coach David Johnson was very disappointed in his team’s effort.
“We have to get tougher, plain and simple,” he said. “They out-toughed us, played harder, outfought us for rebounds and loose balls.”
The Indian Land girls fell to 4-16 overall on the season in the loss and 0-6 in region play.
