Indians show promise at FCA camp

By LARRY HILLIARDLedger Sports Editorlarry@gaffneyledger.com

A Gaffney player shoots a jumper during a game Tuesday against Clover at the FCA camp. Scoreboard aside, the Gaffney Indians basketball team is getting where it wants at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Basketball Camp.

The Gaffney No. 1 varsity team split two games on Monday, including a 19-point loss to powerful Clover, before rebounding with three straight wins on Tuesday.

Gaffney beat Chesnee, 41-34, Berea, 78-50, and Union, 73-46, on Tuesday.

“We didn’t play the first game very well today,” Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. “But we are seeing some good things. The kids are playing hard and that’s the main thing.”

Huff did express concern about his team’s defensive fundamentals.

“We are leaving our feet too much, but that is something that we can correct,” he said. “If they play hard, we can handle everything else.”

Rising senior Julius Wilkerson and rising junior Rodney Love were particularly impressive on Tuesday, Huff said.

Love punctuated the team’s victory over Union with a rim-rattling dunk.

The Indians conclude Session I of the camp with three games today. The Indians play Travelers Rest at 8:30 a.m. at Limestone College, before an 11:30 a.m. tip off against Byrnes at the Gaffney High gym.

Gaffney wraps up play with a 3 p.m. intrasquad scrimmage at the high school.

The Gaffney No. 2 varsity team also is having an impressive showing at the camp. The team, coached by assistant Mark Ireton, is 4-1 with wins over Union, Travelers Rest, Chesnee and McBee. Byrnes topped the Indians by nine points.

“I’ve been encouraged with what I’ve seen,” Ireton said. “Nobody has stood out and everybody is playing well at times.