Irmo boys dominate Region 4-5A leader Spring Valley

Knowing that every game counts in a five-team region, Irmo didn’t make Friday night’s game against Region 4-5A leader Spring Valley close.

The Yellow Jackets used flawless free-throw shooting and a stifling defense to build a 20-point halftime lead over the Vikings, then closed out a 53-36 victory at Irmo.

“We got a big enough lead to where we could make some mistakes down the stretch that in a closer game could have really made it tough for us,” Irmo coach Tim Whipple said. “We made enough good decisions to get by tonight.”

Irmo (13-8, 3-2) finished the first quarter on a 12-0 run, which included back-to-back 3-pointers from Cameron Readus to close the period.

The Yellow Jackets kept the pressure on Spring Valley (12-8, 4-1) in the second quarter, mainly from the free-throw line. Irmo took a 32-12 lead into the locker room, going 14-for-14 at the foul line. The Vikings made just 6 of 13 shots and had just three field goals in the first half.

“That really helped us get the lead and maintain the lead as the game went along,” Whipple said about his team’s 16-for-19 free-throw performance on the night. “A lot of fouls were called in the first half, and then we shot the ball better than we shot the ball any time this year, especially from 3-point range.”

Irmo’s Travez Caldwell led the way with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Readus had 10 points.

“Travez had a huge game for us and I was really happy for that,” Whipple said. “He’s been struggling lately so I was pleased with that.”

The Vikings, who made six 3-pointers in a 74-64 victory over Blythewood Tuesday night, went 0-for-5 behind the 3-point arc in the first half. Brandon Tolbert ended that slump with a 3 in the third quarter and Joshua Felder sank a 3 at the final buzzer.

A few good shots didn’t make up for 20 turnovers and 12-for-40 shooting.

“We didn’t play well,” Spring Valley coach Perry Dozier said. “You can’t come in here and give anything up. I’m going to have nightmares tonight, just thinking about some of this stuff out there today. It was pretty brutal.”

On Tuesday, Spring Valley plays host to Lugoff-Elgin and Irmo plays host to Blythewood.

SV – Joshua Felder 10, A. Moore 8, Doctor 6, Tolbert 6, L. Moore 5, Roberson 1.

I – Travez Caldwell 16, Cameron Readus 10, Bing 8, Rivers 7, Williams 4, Washington 4, Forest 2, Felder 2.

Girls

Spring Valley 64, Irmo 42

SV – Taylor Lewis 24, Lauryn Taylor 13, Wiliamson 7, Coleman 7, Britt 7, Wiley 6.

I – Madison Dopico 18, Wagstaff 8, Mason 8, Lovett 2, Taylor 2, Thomas 2, Suber 2.