WINNSBORO – The Griffins looked to turn their tough season around Tuesday night and put their first notch in the win column, but the Rock Hill Bearcats had different plans. The Griffins battled to stay close in the first half, but Rock pulled away in the second and sprinted to a 74-62 win.
“What held us back was our bench,” Griffins’ head coach Brian Sanders said. “We got some guys just now coming along, we got injured guys coming back. I got a for sure six or seven that know what’s going on consistently. Once I get those other three guys, four guys come along we gonna be alright.”
Jalen Mazyck (12) goes airborne for the athletic finish. | Joe Seibles
Rock Hill point guard Book Steele scored the first four points of the game, and he had 15 of the Bearcats’ 17 first quarter points. Steele’s contribution led the Bearcats to a 17-8 lead after one, but the Griffins fired back in the second. Steele had a game high 22 points.
Fairfield opened up the second on a 6-0 run that was highlighted by stellar Zack Sease layup. Sease nailed a deep three-point later in the quarter. His 20 points led the Griffins in scoring. Quay McBride finished with 17.
“Zack played one of his best games tonight, and that’s what I need from him every night as a senior,” Sanders said. “Will he do it? He’ll get it done.”
After the fast second quarter start, the Griffins trailed by just three, but the Bearcats sunk three triples to protect the lead. Jacob Rinehart nailed two from behind the arc in the period, and Shawn Young also hit struck from deep.
Despite brilliant second-half performances from Sease and McBride, the Griffins never trimmed the lead back down into single digits and trailed by as much as 20.
The Griffins dive back into region play Friday with a home matchup against Chester.
RHHS – 17-19-18-20 – 74
FCHS – 8-15-14-25 – 62
RH – Antonio Barber – 22, Shawn Young – 16, Luke Bracey – 13, Jacob Rinehart – 8, Malik Logan – 5, Book Steele – 5, Luke Bracey – 3, Josh Stradford – 2.
Fairfield – Zack Sease – 20, Quay McBride – 17, Jalen Mazyck – 11, Ladeveaux Ashford – 8 Montravis White – 6.
