Blue Ridge won two of three games in the tournament, losing the opener to Belton-Honea Path, the tournament champion.
Sullivan Skinner led Blue Ridge in scoring, 10 points, for the second straight game.
Blue Ridge bookended 14-point quarters around seven-point second and third periods to hold off Pickens. Blue Ridge held Pickens to seven first-half points.
"It was a defensive struggle. Fortunately our defense was solid most of the game to allow us to overcome a very poor shooting performance," said coach Glenn Reese. "I was disappointed that we did not pull away in the second half due to missing some very easy shots. However, I reminded the team afterwards that our defense has to be solid every night so we still have a chance to win games on nights when we do not shoot particularly well. "
Reese said the tournament served as a tuneup for the regular season games.
"I’m glad we participated in this tournament. It gave us an early opportunity to get some game experience before beginning the regular season. I believed going into the season that we would have a lot more depth this season, and we saw that to be true during the tournament.
Reese said the time off before Monday's home opener versus Clinton will give some players time to heal minor aches and pains. " We have a few nagging injuries with a few players that we hope will heal up over the Thanksgiving break," Reese said.
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|
Pickens |
2 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
28 |
|
Blue Ridge |
14 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
42 |
Pickens: Jordan Stewart 11, Baker 2, Anderson 1, Chavis 3, Grant 7, Hayes 2, Tinsley 2.
Blue Ridge: Susie 2, Sullivan Skinner 10, Jenkins 3, Mitchell 4, Plumley 9, Arnold 7, Hatchette 2, Bowen 5.
3-Pointers: Pickens 1 (Stewart). Blue Ridge 5 (Skinner 2, Jenkins, Arnold, Bowen).
Records: Pickens (1-2). Blue Ridge (2-1).
Next games: Monday vs. Clinton. Tuesday at Riverside. Game times 7:30 p.m.
Skinner on target, Blue Ridge routs Greer Charter
Sullivan Skinner, a sophomore, almost single-handedly outscored Greer Charter as Blue Ridge won its first game of the season, 61-31, Tuesday night at the Patriot Invitational at Powdersville.
Skinner scored 30 points, making 8 of 13 3-point shots. Ten Blue Ridge players scored. The Tigers built a 20-12 first quarter lead and kept building on that while holding to Greer Charter to single digits in the final three quarters.
"I was pleased for the most part with our defensive intensity and in our ability to significantly win the rebounding battle," said Blue Ridge coach Glenn Reese.
"Sullivan Skinner had a terrific night shooting the ball. I’m not sure what the record at Blue Ridge is for most threes in a game but I would think this could be the record. One disappointing stat was that the rest of our team combined to go 0-20 on three-pointers, so it was a good thing Sullivan was shooting it well," said Reese.
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|
Greer Charter |
12 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
31 |
|
Blue Ridge |
20 |
16 |
15 |
10 |
61 |
Greer Charter: Williams 5, Joyce 5, Stiles 7, Papstein 2, Kendrick 1, Simmons 5, Styles 2, McAdems 2, Lamb 2.
Blue Ridge: Sullivan Skinner 30, Jenkins 2, Brandon Bowen 7, Plumley 6, Susie 2, Mitchell 2, Johnson 4, Arnold 2, Hatchette 4, Williams 2.
3-Pointers: Greer Charter 3 (Joyce, Stiles, Simmons). Blue Ridge 8 (Skinner 8).
Records: Greer Charter (0-2). Blue Ridge (1-1).
Blue Ridge can't hold early lead, lose opener
Blue Ridge blistered Belton-Honea with a 23-point first quarter but managed only 20 the rest of the game as the Tigers lost their first game of the season, 52-43, Monday night. Blue Ridge is playing in a three-game Patriot Invitational at Powdersville through Wednesday night.
It took BHP until the fourth quarter to make up the deficit. It outscored Blue Ridge 14-3 in the final period.
Brandon Bowen led Blue Ridge with 12 points.
"We competed hard but when shots weren’t falling we got a little tight and didn’t play well in the fourth quarter," said head coach Glenn Reese. "BHP is a quality team that is very quick. and they have a couple of good scorers that came through for them in the second half. "
BHP kept building its lead by making its free throws in the final quarter. Blue Ridge, in the meantime, didn't connect on any of its last 10 3-pointers.
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|
BHP |
13 |
15 |
10 |
14 |
52 |
|
Blue Ridge |
23 |
9 |
8 |
3 |
43 |
Belton-Honea Path: Lewis 14, Agnew 4, Taylor 8, M. Williams 3, Ma. Williams 6, William 5, Scharlgen 10, Thompson 2.
Blue Ridge: Skinner 6, Jenkins 2, Brandon Bowen 12, Plumley 8, Susie 5, Johnson 1, Arnold 7, Hatchette 2.
3-Pointers: BHP 0. Blue Ridge 4 (Skinner 2, Arnold, Bowen).
Records: BHP (1-0). Blue Ridge (0-1).