Scoring draught plagues Saluda girls in 2A Upper State finals loss
It had been 30 years since the Saluda girls basketball team had played in the semifinals.
That lack of experience in big moments showed Saturday in the Class 2A Upper State championship game. Defending state champion Christ Church used a dominating second half to defeat the Tigers, 63-41, at the Bon Secours Wellness Center.
McCall King scored 26 and Yasmene Clark had 17 to lead Christ Church, which will play North Charleston in the state championship game Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Columbia. It will be the Cavs eighth title appearance and third in Class 2A.
“It is the first time we have ever been here (with this group) and Christ has the experience and the fourth quarter it kind of set in,” Saluda coach Jeannette Wilder said. “ We haven’t trailed in many games this year and that showed in the fourth quarter when we let it snowball. But I am proud of the girls. We had a great season and great run. ... It is a fun group to be around.”
Saluda finishes the season at 20-2. The Tigers were playing in their first state semifinal appearance since 1990 and hadn’t reached the state title game since the 1953-54 season.
The Saluda girls were looking to duplicate the feat the football team accomplished in December. Saluda football won its first state crown since 1963 hen it defeated Barnwell.
But a long scoring drought in the second half ended that hope.
The Tigers, who trailed 30-23 at halftime, got within 38-35 with 2:53 left in the third quarter after baskets by Nadya Watson and Kalisha Hill. But Saluda didn’t score again until Tiar Daniels’ free throw with 4:33 left and trailed 50-36.
“We made some mental mistakes and got inside our own heads a little bit,” Wilder said. “We got to bounce back for next year.”
The Tigers will have their entire team except for Watson, the lone senior, returning next year including 1,000-point scorer Kalisha Hill.
Hill led the Tigers with 13 points.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 12:34 PM.
