By Thomas Grant Jr.
Both Dutch Fork basketball teams took second place honors in separate tournaments.
Prior to the holiday break, the Lady Silver Foxes took part in the Christmas Classic at Lexington High School where it defeated Hammond (60-26) before losing to defending Class 4A champion North Augusta (46-32) on Dec. 22.
The boys team took an undefeated record into the Lexington Roundball Classic. Like the girls team, it opened the tournament with a victory over Hammond School 60-17.
Up next was a matchup with highly-ranked Class A opponent C.A. Johnson. Samajee Govan scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half to give the Silver Foxes a 41-23 halftime advantage.
The Silver Foxes went on to defeat the Hornets 71-54, getting 17 points from Justus Bell. This set up a matchup with North Augusta in the American Bracket final.
Despite 18 points from Govan and 16 from K.J. Dupree, Dutch Fork also came up on the losing end against North Augusta. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Silver Foxes 69-63 for the trophy.
Both Govan and Bell were named to the All-Tournament team.
Before turning full attention to Region 4-5A play, Dutch Fork participated in the Panther Classic at Carolina Forest High School. They opened with a 57-40 win over Christian Academy as Bell scored a game-high 26 points.
The Silver Foxes used a dominant second half to defeat Conway 69-39 in the semifinal. In the finals, Bell had a team-high 29 points in a 52-49 loss to repeat tournament champion Christ Church.
Dutch Fork (13-2) opens Region 4-5A play Friday at home against Chapin.
(Featured Photo courtesy of WLTX) – Dutch Fork receives the runner-up trophy at the Lexington Roundball Classic
