By Thomas Grant, Jr.
The number ‘10’ was on the mind of Alex Quillen prior to Irmo’s Tuesday home game against Newberry.
This would give the Yellow Jackets double-digit wins in non-region play in his first season at the helm.
Sparked by a 3-point shooting outburst to open the game, Irmo reached that goal in the 79-52 win. It was the eighth win in the past nine games for the Yellow Jackets heading into Friday’s Region 4-5A opener at Lexington.
“I thought the guys played really, really hard which was to kind of improvise going into this,” Quillen said. “Kind of told them it was our last non-region game to get ready for Lexington and then also we had goals set to get 10 non-region wins and we got to our 10th win tonight. I think the guys found something to play for and they understand that the real season starts Friday.”
Irmo started the game hitting a season-best four consecutive 3-pointers. Guard Antwoine Pierce accounted for two of the four 3-pointers in the first quarter in finishing with 12 points.
“I don’t think we’ve ever done that all year,” Quillen said. “We usually average four 3s in a game. So it’s nice. Everything’s easier when you’re making shots.”
Kenton Caldwell’s floating jumper put Newberry on the board at the 4:12 mark. He also accounted for four 3-pointers in finishing with a game-high 18 points.
Irmo’s defensive pressure matched its offense as it led to fastbreak points for Jeremy Anderson and Matthew Hopkins. Both finished with 10 points and forward Kaleb Copeland had a couple of slam dunks off transition plays.
The Yellow Jackets led as many as 30 points to claim their third home win of the season.
The Irmo girls’ basketball team also entered region play with momentum. Led by Abby Livingston’s 37 points, the Lady Yellow Jackets defeated Newberry 77-33 to their fourth win in the past five games.
Jayla Anderson and Lailah Singletary each had 11 points for Irmo (9-4). Daizee Williams had 12 points for the Lady Bulldogs.
DUTCH FORK BASKETBALL
The Lady Silver Foxes improved to 11-1 on the season with a 67-48 win over W.J. Keenan.
They will open play Thursday at Chapin.
S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION TOP 10 POLLS
GIRLS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. Summerville
2. Dutch Fork
3. Blythewood
4. Byrnes
5. Mauldin
6. Wando
7. Rock Hill
8. Ashley Ridge
9. Lexington
10. Clover
(Division II)
1. Gaffney
2. North Myrtle Beach
3. Riverside
4. White Knoll
5. Fort Mill
6. Berkeley
7. Lucy Beckham
8. Greenwood
9. St. James
10. TL Hanna
BOYS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. Ridge View
2. Byrnes
3. Dorman
4. Summerville
5. Mauldin
6. Blythewood
7. Carolina Forest
8. Boiling Springs
9. Cane Bay
10. Dutch Fork
Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.
