It wasn’t without some rather unique hiccups, but Byrnes boys basketball (21-4, 12-1 region) defeated Boiling Springs on Wednesday night, 80-65.
In a game that was played in Boiling Springs’ old gym — as girls upper state wrestling qualifiers took place in the main gym — the Rebels got out to a heavy first-half lead, taking a 43-26 advantage to the break.
But it didn’t come without drama. Halfway through the first quarter, star point guard Colt Fowler went down, grabbing his ankle after a three-point shot. He’d eventually return and play the majority of the contest. After the game, however, Fowler was still gimpy on the ankle.
Fabian McClintock shouldered the majority of the load for Byrnes in Fowler’s limited absence. The junior forward posted 25 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 10-13 shooting in the Rebels’ win.
“I thought Fabian’s versatility shone through tonight,” said Byrnes head coach Layne Fowler. “How many times did he get [a Boiling Springs defender] off his feet and then dump it off down low? That kind of stuff is big for a guy like him down low. It’s what we need the rest of the season.”
McClintock, who’s listed at 6-foot-4, spent a large portion of the game defending 6-9 Isaiah Atkins, Boiling Springs’ very talented big man. Atkins has given several top bigs in the region fits this season.
McClintock played solid, disciplined defense. After a first quarter where Atkins scored nine, McClintock helped hold Atkins to just five points for the final three frames.
“I feel like sometimes people think that just because I’m not as tall as some of the other bigs, I’m weaker,” said McClintock. “But I’m always getting in that weight room. And that’s what the team needs from me, because I’m guarding the biggest player on the floor every night.”
Big man Jack Bailey also hit several big shots for the Rebels, finishing with nine points. In a game where Colt wasn’t able to be at full strength, the Byrnes post players stepped up in a big way.
Layne says he’s impressed with his team’s ability to grind out tough wins, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
“We got it in various ways tonight,” said Layne. “That says a lot about our perseverance as a group.”
The win sets up a region championship game vs. Riverside. The Warriors beat Gaffney, 78-56, on Wednesday.
Byrnes will enter the game at 12-1 in region play. Riverside is 11-2. If the Warriors win, they’ll claim the region title, as they’ll have swept Byrnes head-to-head this season.
Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Byrnes.
“It’s a game that means a lot. Anytime you have a chance to win Region 2-5A is a big deal,” said Layne. “We’re looking forward to it. [Riverside head coach Allen] Arnold and I have done this a lot. He’s come out on the good end of some of them; we’ve come out on the right end of others.
“Hopefully, on Friday night, the Rebels come out with a big win.”
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