Gaffney's Willie Smith and his teammates will be looking to avenge an earlier defeat when they travel to Fort Mill today. Photo by LARRY HILLIARD The Gaffney Indians will have a chance to avenge their poorest performance of the season when they visit region rival Fort Mill today.

Two and a half weeks ago, Fort Mill used a strong shooting effort to stun the Indians at home, 66-62.

In the game, Gaffney had no answer for the Yellow Jackets’ Mark Blackmon, who lit up the Indians for 27 points on the night. His hot shooting - particularly from long range - helped put Fort Mill up early in the first quarter, a lead it would not relinquish.

“They shot 62 percent for the game and shot 75 percent from 3-point range,” Gaffney coach Mark Huff said. “We have to defend better.”

That may be easier said than done with the Yellow Jackets’ screen and cut offense that frees up open shooters from the wings and cutters to the basket.

Huff said his team’s first priority will be to stick closely to the Yellow Jackets’ shooters.

“We have to stay tighter on their shooters,” Huff said. “We just have to play hard and play better.”

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets play a match-up zone. They also switch all screens, which could provide the Indians with some quickness mismatches.

Gaffney could all but cement a region championship with a win today. The Indians are 5-1 - a half game up on the second place Yellow Jackets, who are 5-2 after road losses to York and Clover.

Gaffney is coming off one of its better efforts on the season in a 90-52 rout of visiting Nation Ford.

Leading scorer Josh Corry had the hot hand with 36 points, including 26 in the second half.

“I thought we played well,” Huff said. “But we have to put that behind us and play well (tonight).”

Gaffney big man Bo Wray, who injured himself in pregame warmups and missed Tuesday’s game, is expected back in the lineup today.