JV girls win 2nd place
The Lady Mariners junior varsity captured runner-up in the SCACS JV tournament this weekend. The girls were on a run, with fierce defense shutting down opponents in the quarter finals and semi-finals, leading to high expectations in the championships.
Strong defense continued in the final contest, but the Mariners also ran into a top quality defense. Unable to get their own offense going, LPA fell to an excellent Maranatha Bulldogs squad.
With head coach Chris Miller sidelined with an illness, coaches Robinson and Spratley directed the Mariner success.
JV boys face nailbiters
When the junior varsity boys team traveled to Greenville for the SCACS JV tournament, they knew they would be facing the state's top competition. But such tight games?
When the fans could sit down, it was only on the edge of their seats. In the quarter finals, the lead changed between the teams constantly. From a 6-point gap at halftime, the Mariners battled back Friday to win at the buzzer.
In Saturday's semi-finals, the territory was strangely familiar. Down by six points again at half time, the Green came roaring back with the lead swapping again and again. Down by a bucket with seconds left, the LPA defense stole the ball and raced down the court. The shot just at the buzzer was right on target, but bounced away, and Oakwood Christian of Anderson clinched a victory.
While the victory slipped away, the strong play suggests that next year's season will have strong talent on both the JV team and -- with the 10th graders rising -- a powerful varsity.
Mariners in JV tourney
Basketball practices continue through next week to prepare the JV teams for their SCACS state tournament at Tabernacle Christian in Greenville, Sc. That tournament for players through tenth grade begins on Friday, Feb. 24.