Indians outlast Hillcrest

Ledger photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney forward Rodney Love had a team-high 18 points in the Indians' big region win Tuesday over Hillcrest. The Gaffney Indians saved their best for the fourth quarter on Tuesday.

Rodney Love had 18 points and Jazz Palmer added 15 as the Indians erased a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the homestanding Hillcrest Rams, 73-67.

Gaffney played catch-up for most of the game, trailing by as much as 14 points in the third quarter.

Down 57-50 heading into the fourth quarter, the Indians turned up the defensive pressure to turn steals into points.

Robert Butler had a couple of steals and reserve big man Kammeron Bradley added a key three-point play and took a charge during the stretch.

"Our guys just did a great job in the fourth quarter," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. "The bench did a great job and the starters did a great job."

In particular, Huff praised former jayvee point guard Emison Hughes for his work off the bench. The Indians are 2-0 since Hughes' promotion from the jayvees.

"It was just a good team effort," the Gaffney coach said. "The guys off the bench and the starters did a good job down the stretch."

Gaffney finishes the first half of the region schedule at 4-2, including five road games. The Indians have a favorable remaining schedule with five region home games.

"It was a good region win," Huff said. "They are all good wins. Hillcrest is a good team. They had a 12-5 record and this is a quality win."

Led by big man Stedman Short and Jarrod Jackson, the Rams built a 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians went on a spurt to cut the deficit to 39-37 at the half.

Jackson had 22 points and Short had 20 to pace the Rams.

The Indians host Byrnes on Friday.