Lowcountry Prep wins region tournament

By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

PAWLEYS ISLAND -- Sydney Derrick scored with 9 seconds left to give Lowcountry Prep School a 55-53 win over Palmetto Christian Academy in the SCISA Region IV-A tournament final last weekend.

It was the third time this season the Fighting Marlins beat the Fighting Eagles by a basket. The first two games were decided in overtime.

"They're a really great team," Lowcountry Prep's Rachael Exum said. "But we'll always be two points better than them."

Exum and teammate Leldon McClary were named to the All-Tournament team. McClary was named tournament MVP.

"It feels great to win the region," McClary said. "The close games make you better."

Palmetto Christian led 16-10 a the end of the first quarter Saturday, but Lowcountry Prep battled back in the second quarter to take a 25-24 lead at the half.

The Fighting Marlins scored the first six points of the second half to extend the lead to 31-24, but three foul shots by the Fighting Eagles tied the score with 2:58 left in the third quarter.

A three-pointer by Exum with 3 seconds left in the third gave Lowcountry Prep the 39-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The teams traded baskets throughout the fourth, with Lowcountry Prep holding the biggest lead of the quarter at 51-47 with 3:16 left.

A minute later Palmetto Christian tied the game at 53-53.

The teams traded baskets again and then Derrick hit the winning shot.

Palmetto Christian's Corey Caulder, who was the region's regular season MVP, missed a shot as time expired that would have sent the game into overtime.

"Our team has a cool head at the end," said Lowcountry Prep coach Danny Bell, who was named region coach of the year. "We play very calmly at the end. That's the difference in these games."

Derrick and McClary had 16 points each to lead the Fighting Marlins. Exum had 13 points and Marguerite McClary added six.

"Leldon was fabulous," Bell said. "She really picked up her game in the fourth quarter." McClary scored half of her points in the final quarter.

Although thrilled to win the tournament, the coach had an eye on the big picture.

"Our attitude is, we're not going to build this [tournament] up like the Super Bowl. We have four more games to win or go home."

The defending SCISA Class A state champions began their quest for back-to-back titles on Friday.

Bell said his team is more confident this year.

"Last year it took until halftime of the championship game for them to believe they could win it. I see them believing already."

"I think we can go all the way," Exum said.

Lowcountry Prep's boys lost 53-46 to James Island Christian in the first round of the region tournament.

The Fighting Marlins took an early 9-7 lead, but the Lions scored seven straight points off turnovers.

Lowcountry Prep came back to tie the score at 19-19 in the second quarter, but James Island scored eight straight points off turnovers to take 27-19 lead at the half.

"We went in to the locker room with a great deal of confidence because if it wasn't for two big runs by them at the end of each of the first two quarters we would be up going in at halftime," Lowcountry Prep coach Jeff Bombich said. "We knew we had to come up and play with that renewed confidence to start the second half."

The Fighting Marlins kept the game close in the second half and trailed 45-43 with 1:14 left in the game. James Island hit free throws to maintain the lead and Lowcountry Prep couldn't complete the comeback.

"We finally played with passion and heart from the start of the game until the end of the game," Bombich said. "This is the passion and heart I was looking for all year. I am glad they ended the season on such a high note even though we lost the game."

Unique Gardner had 21 points and Tristan Teems had 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead Lowcountry Prep.

The Fighting Marlins were coming off a 77-52 loss to Palmetto Christian in the final game of the regular season.

The Fighting Eagles dominated the first two quarters for a 47-17 halftime lead that Lowcountry Prep could not overcome, despite outscoring Palmetto Christian 35-30 in the second half.

"We got down early like we have all year and lost confidence and could never climb out of the hole," Bombich said. "We were never truly able to make it a game."

Teems had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Gardner had 22 points and five steals, and Lydon Manning had a career-high 10 rebounds.

Gardner averaged 19 points, seven assists and five steals per game this season. Teems averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks per game.