Spurt helps Gaffney top rival Rebels

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney's Bubba Wright launches a shot against Boiling Springs on Friday. Wright had four points before fouling out in the Indians' win over Byrnes on Monday. This is what Gaffney High basketball fans have become accustomed to.

Three days after a slowdown tactic backfired in a loss to Boiling Springs, the Indians unleashed their patented fastbreak offense and press to beat host Byrnes 54-44 on Monday.

A decisive 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter spurred by their relentless defensive pressure keyed the win. The Indians hung on to a 44-40 lead before the run.

"It was a good road win for us," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. "The kids played awfully hard."

Huff cited the defense as the momentumchanger.

"The press at the end of the first half and at the end the game caused turnovers," he said.

The Rebels jumped to a 10-4 lead and led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.

The Indians tied the game at 18. The Rebels then went cold — thanks, in part, to their turnovers created by the pesky Indians.

The Rebels scored only one point the remainder of the quarter to trail 28-19 at halftime.

Chase Smith had his best game of the season with a team-high 14 points. Jeff Brown added 13 for the 3-1 Indians.

Huff said moving high-scoring wing Josh Corry to the point helped the Indians to more efficiently attack the Byrnes' zone.

Corry also hit a big 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to give the Indians a 4- point advantage. Corry finished with a season low 5 points. Ivan Vernon also hit a 3 to finish with 7 points for the Indians.

Gaffney led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Nori Johnson had a game-high 16 points to lead Byrnes.

The up-and-down game was in sharp contrast to the slow pace of Friday's 32-28 loss at Boiling Springs. The Indians held the ball for seven minutes of the third quarter in an unsuccessful attempt to lure the Bulldogs out of their zone.

Huff now admits that strategy was a mistake.

"I apologize to the players and the fans," he said. "It was my fault and I've learned my lesson."

The Indians continue their busy week with a rematch with Boiling Springs on Friday. That precedes the first round of the annual Sub Station II Christmas Tournament on Saturday. Gaffney will face former assistant coach Mark Ireton and his Woodruff Wolverines after Chesnee and Spartanburg Christian face off.