North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By JOHN SMITHSON
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs almost pulled off another home upset last Tuesday as they went to overtime with the Hartsville Red Foxes before losing 48-47. Then the Chiefs traveled to South Florence on Friday and were beaten 67-48.
The Chiefs came into the Hartsville game having beaten the Red Foxes on January 18 by a 48-41 score at Hartsville. They were hoping to make it two wins and improve their region record, but Hartsville got their revenge with the overtime victory.
The Chiefs got off to a great start as Jamie Brooks started the scoring with a jumper a minute into the game. Cash Brown followed with a jumper of his own. After Connor Henley was fouled driving for a basket, and made two free throws, a layup by Brooks made the score 8-0 Chiefs with 5:10 on the clock.
Hartsville called a timeout. They responded with a three-point play and another basket for an 8-5 Chiefs lead. Wells Hill hit a three-pointer from the left side for an 11-5 lead, but two quick baskets by the Red Foxes made it 11-9. Zach McHugo’s layup with 1:45 left gave the Chiefs their last points of the period. Three trips down the court for the Chiefs after that were missed shots, while Hartsville had a three and two baskets to lead 16-13 after one period.
The Chiefs went ahead 17-16 to open the second period with two free throws by TJ Stanley and a McHugo jumper. Hartsville responded with a layup and a rebound basket for a 20-17 lead. Brooks drove the lane, scored and made the free throw for a 20-20 tie with 4:22 left in the half. About one minute later, Noah Louder hit a three-pointer for a Chiefs 23-20 lead. Brooks scored on a drive with 1:32 left, but Hartsville scored the last ten points of the half, the last three on a basket with 0.9 seconds on the clock that gave the Red Foxes a 30-25 halftime lead.
The third period was not a good offensive performance by either team. A Brooks dunk and a Hill jumper trimmed the Hartsville lead to 32-29, but Chiefs turnovers and missed shots plagued them. Hartsville built their lead to 37-29, until Ty Hopkins’ offensive rebound made the score 37-31 at the end of the third period.
In the first two and a half minutes of the fourth period, the Chiefs managed only a driving basket by Brooks. Hartsville made a free throw and basket for a 40-33 score. Then things really got interesting. Brooks was fouled on a three-point attempt but hit only one free throw.
Hartsville had three trips downcourt end in turnovers. The Chiefs got a basket from Hopkins as he picked up a loose ball in the lane and put it in. TJ Stanley then stole the ball on Hartsville’s return down the court and Stanley took it all the way for a layup. The Hartsville lead was 40-38 with less than three minutes left in the game.
Following a timeout, Hopkins scored again to tie it at 40-40. Brooks scored with 1:20 left to put the Chiefs up 42-40, but the Red Foxes were fouled and made two free throws to tie it again at 42-42.
The Chiefs had the ball for most of the remainder of regulation, but missed shots, had two timeouts after holding on while Hartsville pressed. The Chiefs final shot missed and the buzzer sounded before the Red Foxes could score.
In overtime the Red Foxes scored first to lead 44-42. Brooks tied it with a basket but Hartsville went ahead 46-44 with less than one minute left. The Chiefs missed their chance to score and Hartsville took it downcourt for a layup and 48-44 lead. The Chiefs quickly came downcourt trying to score, and Hill made a three-pointer with seconds left, but time ran out before they could challenge for the ball and Hartsville went home with a 48-47 win.
The Chiefs ended the week with a trip to South Florence. The Bruins had played the Chiefs on January 18 in North Myrtle Beach and had escaped with a 51-49 victory, as a furious Chiefs comeback fell short. Last Friday the Bruins didn’t let the Chiefs have the same type of game.
They beat the Chiefs by a 67-48 score and finished last week with a 13-11 overall record, 6-3 and in third place in the region.
The Chiefs entered this week with a game at Myrtle Beach on Tuesday, their last regular season game. They are currently 2-7 in the region and 8-14 overall.
