Chick-fil-A Classic team’s roster decimated by Southwest flight woes
The Hillcrest Prep basketball team will be playing short-handed at this week’s Chick-fil-A Classic.
The Bruins, who are based out of Phoenix, Arizona, dressed only six players for their game Wednesday against The Rock School (Fla.). The Rock School pulled away in the second half for a 73-57 win in the annual holiday tournament being played at River Bluff High School.
Hillcrest was a victim of Southwest Airlines canceling flights all across the country. According to CNN, Southwest has canceled about 15,700 flights since winter weather began disrupting travel Dec. 22. That includes almost 2,350 flights already canceled for Thursday.
Four of the team’s players and head coach Marcus Gantt were left in Arizona. The team is made up of players from across the country, so some who went home for the holidays were able to get to South Carolina in time for shoot-around on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Hillcrest said it would have cost the remainder of the team $2,000 for one-way flight to Columbia on another airline.
Instead, Austin Sherrell is acting as the team’s head coach at the Chick-fil-A Classic. Sherrell is the older brother of Hillcrest standout Aiden Sherrell. The Sherrells live in Georgia, so they were able to drive over for the tournament.
“It has been a rough couple of bumpy days,“ Austin Sherrell said. “Southwest canceled flights coming out of Phoenix. Then just trying to mesh everyone here. You just have to adjust and make the best of it.”
Hillcrest will get one more player on Thursday when Kamari Jones arrives. He was coming from Indiana. That will give the Bruins seven for their final two games.
This isn’t the first time a tournament team has been affected by weather, Chick-fil-a Classic director Gary Fulmer said.
Lexington Catholic of Kentucky missed the first day of the 2009 tournament because they were stuck in a snowstorm. Ridge View took their place for the game.
The Hillcrest players admitted that it was a little tiring to have only one bench player but said they will do the best they can.
“We are missing a couple of players, but at the end of the day we have to fight and do the best we can,” Aiden Sherrill said. “Our mindset hasn’t changed. We just got to come out and roll with the punches.”
The tournament continues this week with games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday scores
CFA Americanl Bracket
Columbus (FL) 84, Lexington (SC) 44
C – Cameron Boozer 23, Cayden Boozer 14, Benny Fragela 12, Garyn Bess 11, Brandon Ordonez 8, Kevin Noriega 6, Malik Abdukkahi 4, Michael Feenane 4, Nicholas Hueso 2. L – Jaxon Prunty 12, Cam Scott 8, Montrell Byrd 5, Coulter Bell 5, Kaleb Evans 4, Jose Figueroa 4, Will Burgess 2, Brayden Rollins 2, Caleb Campbell 2.
John Marshall (Va.) 65, Greensboro Day (NC) 53
GDS: Newkirk 5, Bachman 6, Otto 9, Jayden Young 19, Stainback 5, Reece 3, Carrier 3, Moody 3. JM: Almond 5, Damon Thompson 31, Bailey 8, Parker 9, Jason Rivera 12.
CFA National Bracket
IMG Academy 77, Providence Day 43
IMG: Rooths 5, Hastings 6, Bryson Tucker 12, Jacob Hutchinson 12, Jamie Kaiser 8, Cain 8, Jones 7, Amier Ali 15. PD: Hailey 4, Riley Allenspach 22, Thompson 8, Appling 2, Winston 2, Robinson 3, Youkim 2.
Huntington Prep 67, Oak Hill 54
HP: Jessamy 6, McCullum 8, Del Jones 20, Larry Johnson 14, Maki Johnson 14, Tingler 2, Ntambwe 3. OH: Robinson 8, Drayton Jones 14, Russo-Nance 2, Holloway 5, Pipkin 4, Magwood 5, Whitemore 4, McDonald 2, Wynard 2, Mitchell 2, Schmidt-Uili 4, Vinson 2.
Calvary Christian Academy 60, Southern California Academy 46
Ethan Lathan 10, Warren 9, Shon Abaev 10, Jaylen Crry 14, Carl Charenfant 17. SC: A. Johnson 4, Drew Felder 14, Curtis 2, Jahseem Felton 10, Dual 8, D. Johnson 2, Bodo 2.
The Rock School (Fla,) 73, Hillcrest Prep (Az) 55
HP Aiden Sherrell 17, Miller 9, Tyshawn Briidges 24, Johnson 3 Asemota 2, RH: Ryan Jones 19 D. Jones 6, Evan Sterck 16, Clarence Massamba 14, Ast Leslie 12, Okehie 5, Shindani 1
CFA Carolinas Challenge
Hartsville 53, Charlotte Christian (NC) 36
H: Kameron Forman 18, CC: John Lash 13
Cardinal Newman 83, Seaforth 55
CN: Jordan Frazer 27, Evan Carter 21. S: Jarin Stevenson 32
Charlotte Country Day 80, Augusta Christian 71
Concord Academy 52, Richland Northeast 35
This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 4:44 PM.
