There won't be a Gaffney vs. Blacksburg basketball rematch
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Earlier this month, the Gaffney High boys varsity basketball team beat Blacksburg High School 101- 31 in the first regular season matchup between the local high schools in more than two decades.

It apparently will be the last.

The schools were scheduled to close out the regular season at Gaffney on Friday, Feb. 8, but Blacksburg High Principal Jim Touchberry said the game has been canceled.

"It is not in the best interest of either school to play the second game," Touchberry said.

The decision to cancel the game was initiated by both schools' varsity basketball coaches, according to Touchberry.

The Blacksburg High principal declined to elaborate on the reason for the cancellation, but sources said some Blacksburg High officials were upset that Gaffney High basketball coach Mark Huff didn't do enough to hold down the score. Huff did call off his full-court press early in the third quarter.

Huff said he's disappointed the game won't be played.

"Last spring when we made our schedules, we made a commitment to play home and home," Huff said. "I would like to see that through. However, Blacksburg doesn't want to play us here in Gaffney and we will have to live with that."

Gaffney officials had planned to honor the team's seniors during the Blacksburg-Gaffney game. Those ceremonies will be moved to Friday, Feb. 1 when the Indians host Mauldin.

The Jan. 12 game was a mismatch after the first quarter when the Indians went on a 23- 4 run to lead 46-17 at the half.

Things went from bad to worse for the Wildcats in the third quarter when they failed to score a point.

The teams have met twice recently in the Substation II Invitational. Touchberry said no decision has been made regarding whether the Wildcats will continue to play in the holiday tournament.

The game will be counted as a no contest rather than a forfeit since it's a non-region matchup, according to Dru Nix, associate commissioner of the South Carolina High School League.

Nix said it's unusual to cancel a game because of the reason cited by Blacksburg officials.

"It hasn't happened in recent years," she said.

"Last spring when we made our schedules, we made a commitment to play home and home. I would like to see that through. However, Blacksburg doesn't want to play us here in Gaffney and we will have to live with that."

- MARK HUFF GHS head basketball coach