Gaffney blasts Bulldogs
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Ledger photo by LARRY HILLIARD Boiling Springs Chris Hargrove tries to stop Gaffney's Jeff Brown from driving to the basket on Friday. Gaffney topped the Bulldogs, 61-48, to improve to 3-1 in the region.

After a difficult loss to Spartanburg on Tuesday, the Gaffney Indians figured out how to play defense in a 61-48 victory over Boiling Springs.

The Indians held Boiling Springs to just 36 percent shooting from the field, including 3 of 14 from 3-point range.

The win snaps a 2-game losing streak for the Indians, who improve to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in region play.

"We definitely spent a lot of time (after the Spartanburg loss) on defense," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. "We had given up 78, 75 and 78 points, so we spent an hour and 45 minutes on defensive stuff. I thought our guys got after it on the defensive end because Boiling Springs can shoot the ball."

Not on Friday. The Bulldogs missed their first six shots from the floor, helping Gaffney jump to an early 9-0 lead. Boiling Springs went on a spurt to trail 13-9 heading into the second quarter.

The Bulldogs cut a six-point halftime deficit to 27-25 on a Charles Burgess basket early in the third quarter. But Josh Corry, who struggled in the loss to Spartanburg, regained his shooting form on a layup and two consecutive 3s to stretch the Indians' lead to 36-27. Corry finished with 19 points for the game.

The Indians stretched their lead to 15 on David Dewberry's hoop near the end of the third quarter.

The Bulldogs never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter.

Johnny Woods provided another spark off the bench for the Indians. Woods, who scored 11 points, showed his hustle in the second quarter by blocking a shot on one end and racing downcourt for a layup.

Gaffney, which was beaten on the boards against Spartanburg, outrebounded the Bulldogs, 29-24.

The Indians also took care of the basketball, committing only 11 turnovers.

"It's a big win," Huff said. "We didn't want to lose two in a row at home in the region."

Dylan Thompson had 17 to lead the Bulldogs, who fall to 0-4 in the region.

Gaffney travels to Mauldin on Tuesday.