Indians lose focus, but not contest

Photo by LARRY HILLIARD Gaffney's Emison Hughes drives the baseline against Byrnes on Friday. Hughes and the Indians held off the Rebels to sweep the season series. Gaffney returns to action Tuesday at Spartanburg. In a strong statement leading to the start of their region schedule on Friday, the Gaffney Indians proved Friday they could win despite playing poorly for a long stretch of the game.

Leading by a much as 14 points in the second half, the Indians lost their focus but never the lead in holding off the visiting Byrnes Rebels, 50-46, before an enthusiastic home crowd.

The Rebels went on a 13-2 spurt midway through the third quarter to get back into the game. They had a chance to win the game but Nori Johnson missed an open 3- pointer in the game's final seconds. Josh Corry made a couple of free throws to seal the win.

"I don't know if we lost our concentration," Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. "We got up by 14 and you think we are playing well, but then we made a couple of turnovers. We can't lose our concentration just because we have a big lead."

Huff pointed to the team's competition at the Cumberland Invitational last week as a possible reason for his team's uninspired play.

"We were lucky to win this game," he said. "I don't know if it was the layoff or if it was a hangover from the Kentucky tournament. The last two teams we played there weren't very good and I don't know if we thought we could just show up tonight and win."

Ivan Vernon and Jeff Brown hit consecutive baskets to give the Indians a 41-34 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Vernon's tip-in made it 45-36 early in the fourth quarter, but Byrnes rallied within 46- 44 on Torian Richardson's two free throws. The Rebels had a chance to tie on their next possession but missed a couple of free throws. Brown put the Indians up 48-44 with a layup off an assist from Bubba Wright with 1:49 to play.

Byrnes closed within two points again on a pair of free throws. With :32.8 left in the game, Gaffney's Emison Hughes missed a free throw, giving the Rebels the chance to tie or take the lead with a 3. But Johnson's long jumper bounced off the rim before Corry was fouled and made two free throws for the game's final margin.

Gaffney travels to Spartanburg on Tuesday before returning home Friday for its region opener with York.

"We will have to play a whole lot better or they will take it to us," Huff said.