Gaffney blasts Vikings

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney's Chase Smith looks to drive on Spartanburg's Michael Harpe during first-quarter action on Tuesday. The Indians improved to 2-0 with a 77-59 win over the visiting Vikings. No Emison Hughes. No problem for the Gaffney Indians.

Hughes, Gaffney's starting point guard, was in Mrytle Beach practicing for the North-South All-Star game on Saturday. But Paris Funderburke and Dershawn Dawkins turned in solid performances to help the Indians to a surprisingly easy 77-59 victory over the rival Spartanburg Vikings.

"Paris and Dershawn did a good job of running the offense," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said.

The Indians also got another big game from Josh Corry, who scored a game-high 24 points after a 36- point effort in the season-opener against Union on Friday.

"Josh is shooting the ball well," Huff said. "He works hard and he's very deserving."

Huff also said his depth played a role in the win.

"We played 10 players in the first half and that's what we want to do," he said. "It gives everybody a chance to play. We keep running fresh bodies in there. It just kind of wears the other team down."

Jeff Brown was the only other Indian in double figures with 20 points. Michael Harpe led the Vikings with 20 points.

The Indians broke open the game in the third quarter, extending a seven-point halftime lead to a 58-43 advantage on a Brown basket. Gaffney's lead grew to as many as 22 points midway in the fourthquarter on a DeEdward Burris basket.

The first quarter was the only tight stretch of the game. Gaffney clung to a 1-point lead after the first quarter, but opened up a double digit lead in the second quarter. on Burris' short jumper.