Seventh Woods leads Hammond to big win over Spring Valley at Chick-fil-A Classic
Seventh Woods isn’t one to rest on his laurels. The Hammond senior and North Carolina commit has spent so much time in the gym during the past 48 hours, there’s a good chance he’s put up over 2,000 shots.
It seems to be carrying over to games. He scored 33 points to lead the Skyhawks to an impressive 71-54 victory over Spring Valley on Monday night in the Chick-fil-A Classic. The win puts Hammond in the championship game of the American bracket, where it will face Greenforest Academy on Tuesday.
“I always feel comfortable. I don’t feel like I take a shot that isn’t going in,” Woods said. “Last night I was in the gym just putting up shots. It showed today by going 5-for-7 on the three ball.”
Woods finished 10-for-14 from the field that included a 5-for-7 performance from beyond the 3-point arc. He added five assists, four rebounds, three steals and no turnovers in 32 minutes.
Coach Mark McClam came away impressed by what his star guard is doing behind the scenes.
“He’s been in the gym four or five different occasions in the last 48 hours,” McClam said. “He’s trying to tone it and tonight the release and shot was beautiful. It was off the charts.”
Chevez Goodwin added 18 points and 11 rebounds. But McClam was impressed with the effort of the role players. Jonathan Yuchmow, Jack Theodore and Gressette Felder provided quality minutes.
They were instrumental in a 9-2 run that turned a four-point lead into a 48-37 advantage in the middle of the second half.
“I have to give credit to a lot of role players that are stepping in and helping,” McClam said. “We had guys that played great. I’m thrilled to go 10 deep when a couple of guys might not be playing well.”
Hammond already had beaten Brookland-Cayce, Dreher, A.C. Flora and Mullins. So playing on this stage in front of a packed gym is becoming the norm for the Skyhawks (8-0).
“It’s an honor to be in the Chick-fil-A and be in the match-up game at 8:30 that everybody wants to see,” McClam said. “This is our second or third year of being the premiere game everywhere we go. Our guys have gotten used to the hype and they just go play. I think that gives us an advantage.”
Woods said he likes to play on these big stages.
“I know for a fact that the public schools hate to lose the private schools.” Woods said. “We’re undefeated and we’ve mostly played public school teams so far. It’s a big accomplishment.”
Jordan Bruner led the Vikings with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Oak Hill 95, Blythewood 52
Devontae Shuler scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures as the nationally-ranked Warriors set a Chick-fil-A Classic record for points scored in a victory over Blythewood.
Shuler, the former Irmo star, shot 9-for-11 from the field. Shuler, a junior, has averaged 20.5 points so far in his return to the Midlands. Braxton Key and Mario Kegler added 16 apiece.
Oak Hill will face Huntington Prep in the championship game of the National Division bracket on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
Hammond 71, Spring Valley 54
H: Seventh Woods 33, Chevez Goodwin 18, Jonathan Yuchmow 10, Brown 4, Turner 2, Prickett 2, Lewis 2. SV: Jordan Bruner 12, Noah Harper 11, Myers 8, Ward 7, Wall 6, Grant 5, T.Bruner 2, Smith 2, Alicea 1. Rec: H 8-0, SV 5-3
Gray Collegiate 79, Southwest Atlanta Christian 73
GC: Xavier Miller 25, Juwan Gary 21, Ty’Shawn Bethea 17, Ian Kinard 11, Robinson 2, Anderson 2, Mack 1. SWAC: De’Andre Ballard 32, John King 14, Davis 9, Cotton 8, Elloie 4, Evans 2, Kinsley 2, Thompkins 2.
Greenforest Christian Academy 82, Lower Richland 62
GC: Justin Forrest 20, John Ogwuuche 18, Michael Evans 10, Moham Abdulsalem 10, Iyiola 9, Ayah 8, Enoh 7. LR: Clyde Trapp 21, Ja’Cor Nelson 17, Nuttry 9, Townsend 7, Washington 4, Tisdale 2, Thompson 2. Rec: GC 11-0, LR 3-8.
Roman Catholic 54, Greensboro Day 37
RC: Lamar Stevens 18, Tony Carr 15, Bostick 8, Davis 5, Jones 4, Vilmar 2, Newman 2. GD: Smith 9, Moorman 8, Mayo 6, Perkins 6, Dillard 4, Mewman 2, Thompson 2. Rec: RC: 5-1, GD: 13-3
Huntington Prep (WV) 65, Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) 64
HP: Curtis Jones 19, Miles Bridges 18, Onurapl Bitim 12, Trace young 12, Petrovic 2, Kabongo 2. OC: Troy Baxter 26, Elijah Weaver 11, JL Figueroa 11, Bassett 8, Merritt 6, Hester 2. Rec: HP 13-2, OC9-3.
Arlington Country Day 77, Keenan 58
ACD: Ty Gadsden 12, Alston Davis 12, Justin Route 12, Bar 9, Hadzic 8, Dort 8, Kingsby 5, Dougherty 3, Verge 2, Malelis 2, Vent 2, Mouliom 2. K: Tariq Simmons 22, Majerle Poole 19, Kenyan Williams 10, Haney 3, Marshall 2, Johnson 2. Rec: ACD 9-4, K 3-5.
Oak Hill 95, Blythewood 52
OH: Devontae Shuler 21, Braxton Key 16, Mario Kegler 16, Lindell Wigginton 13, Matt Coleman 10, Alexander 8, Miller 5, Sy 2, Mathis 2, Mwuba 2. B: Charles Jackson 13, Robert Braswell 13, Shakir-Harris 7, Churn 6, Riley 4, Matthews 4, Wormack 2, Johnson 2, Lake 1.
Cardinal Newman 59, Indian Land 49
CN: Christian Jones 21, Daniel Dunlap 12, Chico Carter 11, Martin 7, Williams 4, Reedy 4. IL: Quantra Taylor 14, Mark Morton 12, Shamon Alston 11, Boatwright 4, Johnson 4, Palmer 2, McCloud 2. Rec: CN 4-4, IL 2-6
Monday
Pace Academy 67, Mullins 59
Gray Collegiate 79, Southwest Christian (Ga.) 73
Providence Day 83, Richland Northeast 57
Greenforest Academy (Ga.) 82, Lower Richland 62
Roman Catholic (Pa.) 54, Greensboro Day (NC) 37
Huntington Prep (WV) 65, Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) 64
Arlington Day (Fla.) 77, Keenan 58
Oak Hill 95, Blythewood 52
Cardinal Newman 59, Indian Land 49
Hammond 71, Spring Valley 54
Tuesday
Game 24: x-Richland Northeast vs Mullins, 12:30 p.m.
Game 25: Greensboro Day vs Keenan , 12:30 p.m.
Game 26: x-Providence Day vs Pace Academy, 2 p.m.
Game 27: Roman Catholic vs Arlington Country Day, 2 p.m.
Game 28: Oldsmar Christian vs Blythewood, 3:40 p.m.
Game 29: Lower Richland vs Spring Valley, 5:10 p.m.
Game 30: Huntington Prep vs Oak Hill, 6:45 p.m.
Game 31: Greenforest Academy vs Hammond, 8:30 p.m.
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 11:16 PM with the headline "Seventh Woods leads Hammond to big win over Spring Valley at Chick-fil-A Classic."