Rebels shock Gaffney

Gaffney’s Donald Sims drives past a Byrnes player for a layup on Tuesday. Despite Sims’ 21 points, the Rebels shocked the Indians, snapping their 23-game win streak.

Ledger Sports Editor

This time, it was the Gaffney Indians’ opponents who were celebrating when the final horn sounded.

Kedric Casey scored 20 points and JoJo Foster and Jarvis King both added 13 Tuesday as Byrnes held off a late rally to upset the 2-time defending state champions, 66-61, and snap the Indians’ 23-game win streak.

It’s also the first home loss since Spartanburg beat the Indians three years ago.

The Rebels led by 13 points with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, but then struggled as the Indians pulled within 59-56 with three minutes to play. After a Rebels’ turnover, Gaffney had a chance to pull closer but committed a turnover.

Casey hit a short jumper in the lane and Josh Clowney added a basket to push the lead to eight with just :45 left in the game.

Gaffney’s Blake Foster trimmed the lead to six and after Casey missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw, Julius Wilkerson made a three-point play to cut the margin to 64-61 with :24.5 remaining.

Casey made the most of his second chance at the line in the game’s final moments by sinking one of two free throws.

With the clock ticking down, Gaffney misfired on two three-point attempts before King sealed the improbable win with a free throw for the final margin of victory.

The Indians had sloppy play throughout that resulted in 22 turnovers.

“We had nine turnovers in the first quarter and our goal is 12 (turnovers) for the game,” Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. “You aren’t going to beat a bad team with 22 turnovers much less a good one like Byrnes.”

After a hot-shooting night against Union last Friday, the Indians struggled offensively against Byrnes, making just 2 of their 18 three-pointers.

Donald Sims paced the Indians with 21 points. Julius Wilkerson was the only other Indian in double figures with 11 points.

Gaffney struggled early, falling behind 22-13 at the end of the first quarter. Gaffney went on a spurt to pull within 32-29 on Sims’ three-pointer. But the key part of the game came in the final minute of the first hal when Blake Foster was whistled for a technical while the teams were lined up at the foul line.

Casey hit three free throws and sank a foul line jumper as the Rebels scored five points on the possession to increase their advantage to 37-29. King scored on a stickback as the Rebels took a 9-point bulge into halftime.

The Indians went on a spurt to open the third quarter to draw within 39-38, but Byrnes responded to lead by 11 to start the fourth quarter.

Gaffney, 2-1, travels to Dorman (5-0) on Friday.

“I hope this is a wake-up call,” Huff said.