Hammond hoops back in action this week

Hammond returns to in-state action with two games this weekend. The Skyhawks travel to face C.A. Johnson on Friday, and then host White Knoll on Saturday.

Mark McClam’s highly regarded SCISA team opened the season with eight straight win against South Carolina opposition before closing December with four straight losses against out-of-state foes. The Skyhawks went 0-3 at the prestigious HSOT tournament in Raleigh, NC.

Seventh Woods leads the way. The sophomore sensation is averaging 19.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 5.3 steals per game. Woods had 26 points, eight rebounds and three steals in 65-43 win over Class 4A Ridge View, rang up 25 points, 10 steals and five assists in a blowout win over Wilson Hall and burned C.A. Johnson for 25 points, nine steals and seven assists in the first meeting with the Green Hornets.

Wood has had plenty of support along the way from junior Xavier McDaniel (13.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.1 spg), 6-foot-6 sophomore Chevez Goodwin (10.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and senior Spencer Carlson (8.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg).

Hammond’s youthful girls team (7-4) returns to action a bit earlier with a Tuesday game against York Prep.

The Skyhawks had a solid 2-1 performance at the massive Carolina Invitational Girls Holiday Tournament in Charleston, which netted a third-place, consolation title in the Battery Division at James Island High.

Eight-grader Ahlea Myers, who earned a spot on the all-tournament teams, was one of four double-digit producers in the 58-54 first-round win over Seneca. Myers tallied 15 points followed by sophomore Amelia Green (12) and fellow eight-graders Trinity Johnson (13) and Morgan Walker (10).

Hammond jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first quarter in the semifinals against North Myrtle Beach but managed only 15 points the rest of the way and fell 44-27.

The Skyhawks responded with a tough 51-45 win over Christiansburg, VA in the third-place game. Myers cemented her all-tournament berth with a 25-point performance, backed by Morgan (13) and Green (10).

This story was originally published January 6, 2014 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Hammond hoops back in action this week."