SPORTS REPORT
The Sand Sharks hit the ground running this weekend in Hardeeville, and Friday was a day the USCB baseball team has looked forward to all offseason. After ending the 2023 campaign on a 16-game skid, the Sand Sharks rallied for a 10-7 win over Anderson University on Friday, then split a doubleheader with the Trojans on Saturday to claim a series victory. A couple of local products contributed to the winning weekend, as former May River standout Josh Patterson earned the opening day start and threw six strong innings in a no-decision, and former Bluffton Bobcat Anthony Storzieri came up with a couple of big hits for the Sand Sharks.
After sweeping a pair from Anderson University to open the campaign Thursday, the USCB softball team took three of four in a weekend round-robin with Erskine and Tusculum to emerge from a busy opening weekend with a 5-1 record. The bats were ringing for Codee Yeske’s Sand Sharks, who earned four of their five wins in run-rule fashion and are averaging 10 runs per game.
The Sand Shark basketball teams were back in The Cove on Saturday, as well, hosting Clayton State for a Peach Belt Conference clash. The USCB women battled through foul trouble and kept pace with the Lakers all afternoon before falling 62-55, and the men came up short in a back-and-forth battle, losing 88-84. Two road trips for the Sand Sharks this week with trips to Lander and Georgia Southwestern.
We also took a deep dive into Friday’s high school basketball results on the Lowco Hoops Report, setting the stage for a wild week that will determine playoff seeding.
Among the highlights, Bluffton’s girls wrapped up the region crown with a 73-25 rout of Colleton County behind 26 points from Tacoya Heyward and 22 from Amirah Brown, while Hilton Head finished the sweep of May River to clinch a playoff spot. Keeping it with the girls, Beaufort got 16 points and 15 rebounds from Carson Crosby in a 52-34 win over North Charleston to clinch the No. 3 seed in Region 8-3A, while Ridgeland-Hardeeville and Bridges Prep earned region wins.
On the SCISA side, John Paul the 2nd held off a tough challenge from Courtney Campbell and Hilton Head Prep before hanging on 62-53 after Brady Mahoney took over late, while Hilton Head Christian Academy topped Savannah Country Day and former coach Kenny Conroy, Patrick Henry routed Thomas Heyward, and Cross Schools held off a scrappy Colleton Prep squad.
Turning to the boys, Bluffton gave Colleton County a scare before the Cougars escaped The Den with a 56-47 win to keep pace atop the standings, but the Cougars lost a heartbreaker Saturday, falling 57-55 to James Island to slide to second place. Also in Region 7-4A, Hilton Head High kept its playoff hopes afloat with a 40-32 win over May River in The Nest.
Hampton County’s boys wrapped up a region crown with a 76-70 win at Woodland. Another 21 points and 11 rebounds from Kavon Chisolm. Region rival Ridgeland-Hardeeville also earned a big win over Barnwell to lock up the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
Beaufort’s boys are also locked into the 3 seed after a tough 69-60 loss to North Charleston, which finished a perfect run through Region 8-3A, and Bridges Prep junior Amarion Wilson topped 1,000 career points in an 86-15 blowout against Royal Live Oaks.
Hilton Head Prep pulled away for a 39-22 win over John Paul the 2nd in SCISA action, as Jason Britschge and Ben Frey again led the way, though the Dolphins dropped a tough non-region matchup to Benedictine on Saturday.
Savannah Country Day won at Hilton Head Christian Academy, while Patrick Henry topped Thomas Heyward, Beaufort Academy blew out Holy Trinity, and Colleton Prep took down Cross.
The SCISA wrestling finals were also this weekend, and the Lowco was well-represented. John Paul the 2nd made its first appearance in the championship match after punching its ticket with a thrilling 39-37 win over Hammond School on Friday. Chris Orta, Jonathan Dominguez, Bailey Homer and Brian Orta all picked up big pins for JPII, and Jack Hannagan earned a key decision to set up a winner-take-all final bout in which Brandyn Horton came through with a first-period pin to send the Golden Warriors to the finals and earn the reward of shaving coach Greg Lonz’s head.
Justin Jarrett, Lowco Sports
Last Night in the LowCo
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February 2024
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