Hammond boys upset in Class 3A state semifinals
The ending many expected for Seventh Woods, Chevez Goodwin and the seven seniors on the Hammond boys basketball team will come up a game short.
The nationally ranked Skyhawks wasted a 13-point third quarter lead and couldn’t withstand a furious Northwood rally in which Caleb Loudin hit two 3-pointers in the final 50 seconds to give the Chargers a 61-57 victory Friday night in the SCISA 3A semifinals at the Sumter Civic Center.
“I’ve been coaching 25-30 years at a variety of levels, and that’s the most painful loss I’ve ever endured for the simple fact for the kids that committed to the program,” Hammond coach Mark McClam said. “I wanted them to go out with another state championship. It was tough for the seven seniors. That’s a painful loss.”
Woods was still battling swelling in his injured left knee, and Goodwin picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter that spearheaded the Northwood (20-10) rally. Hammond (22-3) led 46-35 entering the final period, but that lead was quickly gone.
The Chargers tied it at 48 on two free throws by Jamal Edmonson with 4:31 remaining. The teams exchanged the lead on the next several possessions, with Loudin hitting his first three to give Northwood a 57-55 lead with 50 seconds remaining.
Woods drove the lane and scored to tie with 27 seconds left. Loudin then got free in the corner again and hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game. Hammond had a chance to tie, but their 3-pointer was long and Edmonson sealed the win with a free throw with 3.2 seconds remaining.
“They made some big shots at the end of the game to win it,” McClam said. “Seventh had a little swelling in his knee, so we had to take him out. That changed the momentum when they started to press us a little bit.”
It was a rematch of last year’s final in which Hammond won 64-49. Four Northwood players scored in double figures, led by Cameron Roberts with 16 points and Charles Johnson with 15.
“They’re a good team, but so are we,” Northwood coach Anthony Houston said. “We denied Seventh the ball and wanted someone to prove they could start the offense. We were able to create some chaos and get some turnovers and get some easy baskets. The momentum just switched. It was like a snowflake turned into an avalanche.”
Goodwin closed out his career with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Woods finished with 16 points.
“The biggest thing I want to say is how proud I am of the season we had,” McClam said. “We got nationally ranked and the top ranking in the city and the state and almost beat every team. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the guys and what they accomplished.”
H: Chevez Goodwin 19, Seventh Woods 16, Michael Turner 10, Prickett 6, Yuchmow 2, Brown 2, Lewis 2. N: Cameron Roberts 16, Charles Johnson 15, Caleb Loudin 12, Jamal Edmonson 12, Jackson 2, Brown 2, Litmon 2.
Porter-Gaud 58, Heathwood Hall 35
Jake Lanford and Aaron Nesmith each scored 16 points to propel Porter-Gaud to a 58-35 victory Friday in the Class 3A semifinals.
The Cyclones (24-3) used a dominant third quarter to pull away. They led 26-21 at the half, but outscored the Highlanders 23-8 in the period to lead 49-29 going into the final quarter.
Heathwood Hall (16-8) got 12 points from Justice Hill, but had a tough time with the size and length of the Cyclones. Lanford is 6-foot-8, while Nesmith and Josiah James are 6-5. In the deciding third quarter, the Highlanders made four shots and had eight turnovers.
“We battled early, but I think we got a little bit tired,” Heathwood Hall coach Jeff Whalen said. “They’re big and athletic and they do everything well. I told our kids against that team, we would have to play the perfect game.”
PG: Aaron Nesmith 16, Jake Lanford 16, Eric Jackson 14, Barry 6, James 6. HH: Justice Hill 12, Caldwell 8, Lee 7, Joseph 4, Vaughn 4.
SCISA Girls
Porter-Gaud 48, Hammond 40
Porter-Gaud’s Beau Faith scored 17 points to spoil Hammond’s attempt to reach the Class 3A finals with a 48-40 victory.
A 15-5 run gave the Cyclones control early in the fourth quarter. Hammond had taken a 26-24 lead on a layup from Chapman Giles with 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter when Faith and Maggie Cochrane took over.
Faith started the run with a free throw, Cochrane scored four points before Faith added five points in the final minute of the third quarter to give Porter-Gaud a 37-31 lead at the end of the third quarter. A layup pushed the lead to 39-31.
Hammond got as close as two points at 39-37, but the Skyhawks missed five straight shots with five turnovers as the Cyclones pulled away down the stretch.
Hammond finished the season 20-3. Porter-Gaud will play Northwood for the SCISA 3A state title Saturday.
PG: Beau Faith 17, Maggie Cochrane 10, Allen 9, Freshley 4, Kemp 3, Grant 3, Rhett Allen 2. H: Trinity Johnson 10, Giles 9, Myers 8, Walker 6, Hain 3, Felder 2, Turner 2.