BOILING SPRINGS, SC - With a spot in the championship game of the Steve Sanders Tournament on the line, the Boiling Springs baseball team got a strong pitching performance from two players to get a 2-0 win over Hillcrest.
With the victory over the Rams, a game that had been delayed for a few days by rain, the Bulldogs advanced to the championship game of the Steve Sanders Tournament at Duncan Park on Wednesday night against Blue Ridge. "We're tickled to be in this championship game with so many good teams and against a Blue Ridge team that is well coached," said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lipscomb. "We're off to a good start but we remember it's still just preseason and keeping our eyes on the big prize at the end of the season. Hopefully we can keep our confidence throughout the season and we have a great group of kids from the top to the bottom and like we always say, why not us." After throwing pitchers Jackson Cole and Corbin Childers in the first two games of the tournament, the Bulldogs turned the ball over to youngster Aaron Sewell in his first varsity start and were not disappointed as he gave the Bulldogs four and a third innings while striking out seven batters and not allowing a run. "In his first varsity start to come out and pitch like that I have to take my hat off to him," said Lipscomb. "For him to step up in this big game to put us into the championship, it's great to see from a young kid like that. It's great seeing him out there competing, doing big things for us and just having success for himself in this game. Every year we have that one or two kids step up and take on a big role for us and Sewell did just that tonight." In relief of Sewell, the Bulldogs also got two and two thirds of relief pitching from second baseman Jackson Reel who got the save after not allowing a runner to get past first base and striking out two batters. "That's the role we're expecting from Jackson all year, if we're late in games and need outs, he's getting the ball," said Lipscomb. "He throws from so low and always throws strikes, he's such a weapon for us coming out of the bullpen late in games." On the offensive side of the game, the Bulldogs picked up their first run when first baseman Jackson Cole reached on a single and advanced to second base on a balk before scoring on a double to left centerfield by Justin Dawkins to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the third inning when Luke Compton reached base on an infield single before advancing to third base and scoring on a double play to push the lead to 2-0. Boiling Springs had another opportunity in the fourth inning with bases loaded and no outs but a strikeout, a flyout, and a strong throw home by Rams outfielder RJ Groomster kept the Bulldogs from adding to their lead. Lipscomb said while his team had some opportunities to add to their lead, that you have to give credit to the Hillcrest pitchers on doing their jobs and not allowing the Bulldogs to score. "It helps our pitchers to get runs early and we just left too many men on base but that's baseball," said Lipscomb. "I do tip my hat to those Hillcrest pitchers though because they pitched us backwards and done a good job of it." With the Bulldogs advancing to the championship game, the Bulldogs will face Blue Ridge in Duncan Park at 8:00 PM while Spartanburg and Gaffney will compete in the third-place game at 6:00 PM. INMAN, S.C. – Two neighboring schools met on the baseball diamond Saturday night, capping off day one for both teams in the Bill Metcalf bracket of the Steve Sanders Tournament.
It was a tightly contested affair from start to finish, as the Boiling Springs Bulldogs went wire-to-wire and held off a late Chapman rally for a 4-2 victory. The Bulldogs drew first blood in the second inning as Jackson Cole and Landon Steven each tallied a base hit and later scored on a balk and a Chapman error, respectively. Justin Dawkins singled in the fourth inning and also scored on an error, which staked Boiling Springs to a 3-0 lead. Cole also helped his own cause on the mound, as the southpaw struck out nine of the 12 Panther batters he faced in four innings of work, which also featured an immaculate inning. “(Jackson) has that bulldog mentality,” said Boiling Springs head coach Jeff Lipscomb. “His body language (tonight) was ‘I’m going to get after you’. That’s why he is where is, because of his work ethic. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail until the end.” Trailing by three, the Panthers struck for two runs in their half of the fourth as Kole Brown, Johann Rodriguez, and Coleman Gray each reached on a walk, Bulldog error, and single to load the bases with one out. Cason Owens plated a run on a fielder’s choice. On the same play, a Bulldog error allowed a second Panther run to score, which made it a 3-2 game. “Coach Lipscomb does an unbelievable job,” Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro stated. “His teams are always so disciplined, and they just compete their tails off. We pride ourselves on the same thing. When you get two teams that love to compete, neither team is going to let the other one run away with it. I’m super proud of the way our guys competed and we’re going to be better because of this game tonight.” In the sixth inning, Stevens drew a leadoff walk and later scored from third on a Dawkins base knock, giving the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead entering the final frame. Owens and Devin Roe, the first two Chapman batters in the seventh, reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch. Jack Settle moved both runners over into scoring position with a well-placed sacrifice bunt along the first base side. However, the rally for the host Panthers came up a bit short, as the Bulldogs tallied a strikeout and a groundout to third to pick up the win. Right-hander Corben Childers threw three scoreless innings for the Bulldogs in relief of Cole. “Chapman’s a great baseball team,” Lipscomb remarked. “I give Coach Fusaro and his staff all the credit in the world. Those guys are going to go a long way this year. There’s no doubt about it. They’re a talented team and we were very fortunate to win tonight.” On Monday evening, Chapman will play host to St. Joseph’s, while Hillcrest will travel over to Boiling Springs. Both games are scheduled to start at 6 PM. Saturday scores from Bill Metcalf Bracket · Chapman 11, Hillcrest 4 · Boiling Springs 8, St. Joseph’s 3 · Hillcrest 12, St. Joseph’s 3 FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA - The Boiling Springs boys lacrosse team competed in their second straight game out-of-state on Saturday and came back with a 13-0 shutout victory over Grayson High School (GA).
After traveling to Charlotte for a game on Thursday, the Bulldogs traveled to play Grayson on the campus of Emanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. "The boys played hard and realized that our practices are more competitive than a game," said Bulldogs head coach Tanner Mills. "Even though we will play a tough schedule this season, the practices are more competitive. We now have to consistently play the way we practice. Grayson is a good team and will very well this season in Georgia's 7A division, today's game was truly a team effort with a lot of players playing our style of Boiling Springs lacrosse." The shutout victory is the first one in the history of the Bulldogs program as the Boiling Springs defense didn’t allow the Rams to get a quality look and goalie Parker Lamb didn't allow any shots to get past him. "Our goalie Parker Lamb is playing amazing lacrosse these past two games and is now the first goalie in the program's history to have a shutout, which is incredible," said Mills. "The shutout is a testament to his value on this team. Our defense also played hard and fast not allowing Grayson to get a powerful offense going." Boiling Springs’ offense was led on offense by Elijah Smith who had six goals and two assists. "Elijah played well for us today," said Mills. "The best part about our offense today was we let the game come to us and didn't force it." Javen Chhim, Chase Miller, and Dawson Martini each had two goals apiece while Miller added two assists. Lincoln Huskey also added a goal along with two assists on Saturday. "I couldn't be prouder of the team we have this season," said Mills. "Our numbers are small, but they play like a forty-man roster." The Bulldogs will return to action on Tuesday in their first home matchup of the season as they host Hillcrest. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM. CHARLOTTE, NC - The Boiling Springs boys lacrosse team went on the road across state lines to begin the 2023 season and came back with a tough 5-4 loss to Charlotte Christian on Thursday night.
A one goal loss for the Bulldogs after a two hour drive against a traditionally nationally ranked team is a strong performance for Boiling Springs in their opening match. Boiling Springs played tough throughout the match and was led by Elijah Smith who had two goals for the Bulldogs. Javen Chhim and Lincoln Huskey each added a goal each in the match while Huskey also added an assist to boot. The game is the first of two back-to-back out of state games for the Bulldogs as they will also travel to Emmanuel College in Georgia on Saturday for a match against Grayson High School from Georgia. The Bulldogs first home match of the regular season will be on Tuesday against Hillcrest. Boiling Springs BaseballWhile the Boiling Springs baseball team lost some key seniors last season, the expectations for the Bulldogs remain high from inside the program and outside of it as well. In the preseason South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association poll, the Bulldogs enter this year ranked in the top-10 at #9 in the 5A poll, which is a familiar area for the Bulldogs baseball team. With the loss of key players to graduation last year, the Bulldogs will be looking to some of the returners to take on leadership roles from a team that won their district playoffs before falling in the Upper State playoffs while they'll also look for some of the younger players to step in and contribute early. "This season we must have some young players rise to the challenge," said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lipscomb. "We have a good nucleus of returners but on the mound we will have inexperience." The Bulldogs will return five starters from last season that include All-Region players Jackson Cole, Hudson Wilson, and Luke Compton as well as second baseman Jackson Reel and shortstop Chancen Cole. Jackson Cole, a Clemson commit, will lead the Boiling Springs pitching staff on the mound that will also include Corbin Childers, Chancen Cole, and Jackson Reel in relief. "Jackson Cole should have a solid year on the mound," said Lipscomb. "Corbin Childers is making leaps and bounds on the mound while Chancen Cole is looking like he will be a starter also. We think Jackson Reel will also pitch a lot for us in relief throughout the year." Boiling Springs will count on some strong defense this year to help that young pitching staff and that will start with Hudson Wilson, an Anderson University commit, behind the plate at catcher. Wilson's move to the catcher position last year helped his pitching staff as they didn't have to worry so much about any base runners. In the outfield, the Bulldogs will look to Luke Compton, a Newberry baseball commit, to lead that group and help patrol the outfield this year. They will also look to get big contributions from Justin Dawkins this season. "I think we will play solid defense and hopefully will swing the bats," said Lipscomb. "We are excited for the challenge." Boiling Springs will also be returning to a familiar region this season as they return to Region II-5A to compete against fellow local schools Byrnes, Dorman, Spartanburg, and Gaffney after two years of competing against teams in the Fort Mill area. The Bulldogs will kick off their regular season in a game at St. Joseph's on March 7th at 6:00 PM. Prior to that though the Bulldogs will compete in the Steve Sanders Tournament from February 25th - 27th at Chapman High School. They will face Chapman, Hillcrest, and St, Joseph's on Friday and Saturday before playing against a team to be determined on the 27th. Boiling Springs SoftballAfter coming off an unusual season that saw the Boiling Springs softball team fall short of the playoffs, the Bulldogs have a new voice leading the program as they look to return to a place they're used to being, the 5A playoffs. Former Chesnee and USC Upstate player Hannah (Hogue) McDowell took over as the leader of the Bulldogs program this summer after the retirement of longtime coach Randy Piazza. McDowell said that the biggest change has been building a new mindset in the team, building a championship mentality that the team has bought into this year. "Our program has been hard at work with developing a state champion mindset since the onset of a new coaching staff in the summer," said McDowell. "As coaches our main focus has been investing in this program by creating high standards and developing unity through the program. The high school teams have put their trust in the process, and they have made huge strides by getting one-percent better every single day." The Bulldogs will be returning seven starters from last season including All-Region player Sayde Parris (C/3B). She'll be joined by fellow starters Morgan Hammett (CF), Emma Wilkins (LF), Bri Stanley (P/1B), Gracen Bennett (2B), Leaha Rushing (3B/C), and Chloe Osteen (OF). They'll also look to get key contributions from newcomers Abbie Wilson (Utility), Sydnee Spencer (1B/OF), and Myah Salters (MI). The opening day lineup for the Bulldogs will see Parris (C), Spencer (1B), Bennett (2B), Salters (SS), and Rushing (3B) man the infield, while Wilson (RF), Hammett (CF), and Wilkins (LF) will patrol the outfield. Bri Stanley will return as the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs while also getting key at-bats from Trey Copeland, Bri McAbee, and Chloe Osteen. "The girls have earned everything they have gotten up to this point, and the physical and mental growth the players have shown is surreal," said McDowell. "We have a strong program, with JV players that we can pull up to varsity at any time or by the end of the season. Our roster numbers are lower but our program is stronger. We have girls who have been committed from the very beginning of summer who have learned to put the team first and win together." After two years playing in a region around the Fort Mill area, the Bulldogs will return to play in Region II-5A this season against Byrnes, Dorman, Gaffney, and Spartanburg. "We are looking forward to creating a winning season and being able to prove ourselves against our opponents," said McDowell. Boiling Springs will kick off their regular season on March 6th in a road matchup at Chapman as the Bulldogs will host their first game against Mauldin on March 9th. Boiling Springs Boys GolfThe Boiling Springs boys' golf team will look to finish their 2023 season in the same way they ended the last two seasons, lifting the 5A championship trophy at the end of the two-day state tournament in May. If the boys' team wins the state championship this year, it will mark the third straight consecutive state championship for the team and the second time the team would have pulled off that feat in nine years. "While we lost two seniors last year, we will be full strength with some improved former JV players and some newcomers," said Bulldogs head coach Josh Pruitt. "We will compete in everything we play in and look to have another successful postseason run this year." Boiling Springs will be returning three starters in Andrew Gregory, Walker Ingram, and last year's individual state champion Clayton Taylor. Gregory will be entering his senior season coming off a strong junior golf season that saw him capture the number one ranking in the state after being awarded the Jay Haas Player of the Year award. With the top three spots filled with returning starters, the Bulldogs will look to fill the other two spots from a group of newcomers that include Lawson Miller, Will Waddell, Owen Rodier, and Maddux Camp. While the expectations are high for the Bulldogs within the program, the expectations are also high outside the program as they were recently named the #1 team in 5A in the South Carolina Golf Coaches Association preseason poll. Boiling Springs will kick off their regular season at the Rebel Invitational on March 6th which will be held at River Falls Plantation golf course. If the Bulldogs season goes as planned, they will hopefully be competing for a state championship in their closest spot to home in three years at the Carolina Country Club on May 15th and 16th. Boiling Springs Boys LacrosseThe Boiling Springs boy's lacrosse team is coming off their most successful season in school history and with that comes higher expectations which the 2023 team is looking forward to fulfilling. The Bulldogs will be replacing seven seniors but will also be welcoming as new head coach as Tanner Mills, who was the lead assistant last year, takes over the reins of the Boiling Springs program. He said that while the team was happy with a trip to the second round of the playoffs last year, the Bulldogs expectations are now to be playing for state championships. "We look to continue the positive trend within the program," said Bulldogs head coach Tanner Mills. "Our second-round playoff appearance last year was good but we're going to measure our success from now on by winning the last game of the year. Our new standard is to be in the state championship every single year." While the Bulldogs graduated 12 seniors last year, including five starters, the Bulldogs believe that while this team will be younger that they're going to surprise teams early and be a force to be reckoned with by the end of the year. The Bulldogs will be returning five starters from last year including All-Region players Cam Wagner and Chase Miller. Those two will be joined by fellow returning starters Lincoln Huskey, Parker Lamb, and Elijah Smith. They also look to get some key contributions from returners Javen Chhim and Campbell Johnson along with newcomers Cohen Chalk, Colby Smart, and James Harrell. "We have some of the top players in the state and we look to fill in the gaps in our roster as the year goes on," said Mills. "This team is full of passion and the boys want to bring home the first state championship for the school in the sport of lacrosse in 2023. This group will surprise people especially being a majority of 10th graders as people will underestimate them at the beginning of the season but by the end of the season will change the minds of other teams. The other teams will notice that Boiling Springs boys' lacrosse has arrived and we're here to stay." Boiling Springs will also be joining a new region this year after spending the last two years playing their region games in the Rock Hill area. The Bulldogs will be rejoining Region II-5A where they'll be competing against Byrnes, Dorman, and Spartanburg. The Bulldogs will hold scrimmages at the Upward Center on February 11th, at Hammond in Columbia on February 17th, and at home against Lake Norman Charter on February 18th before starting their regular season schedule. Boiling Springs will kickoff their regular season on February 24th in a home matchup against Charlotte Christian at 7:00 PM. Boiling Springs Girls LacrosseThe Boiling Springs girls' lacrosse team will look to find a way to close out games this year and hope that with a few changes that they can turn some close losses from last season into wins this year. "When we looked back at the 2022 season we lost eight games by less than three goals," said Bulldogs head coach Michelle Lockwood. "This season our goal is to focus on ball control on the offensive side by improving our shot selection and the installation of a more structured offense." The Bulldogs will be returning eight starters from last year's team that include All-Region selection Mia Lockwood. She will be joined by fellow starters Allie Hollified, Emma Wood, Kirsten Fisher, Brooklyn Easler, Chloe Moyers, Caroline Bishop, and Cadence Pruitt. On the defensive side of the ball the Bulldogs will be led by three-year starting goalie Allie Hollified who Coach Lockwood says has really taken on a leadership role this year. "On defense our goalie Allie Hollifield is heading into her third year and is looking outstanding," said Lockwood. "Allie's leadership has matured and she is ready to run the defense." Boiling Springs will be rejoining an old familiar reason as they move back into Region II-5A against Byrnes, Dorman, and Spartanburg which will help the Bulldogs on travel for road trips. "Our team goal is to capitalize on our new region and get our record above .500 this year," said Lockwood. Boiling Springs will kickoff their regular season on February 18th at Byrnes but will have two scrimmages against JL Mann (home on February 7th) and Riverside (away on February 9th). Boiling Springs Boys SoccerThe Boiling Springs boys' soccer team will look to improve on their strong playoff performance last year and build on it as they enter into the 2023 season with a lot of experience from last year returning. After finishing in fourth place in the region last season with some close losses in region play, the Bulldogs bounced back with an upset victory in penalty kicks over number one seed Spring Valley before falling to Dorman in the second round of the 5A playoffs in overtime on a bicycle kick goal. "We're hoping to build off of a strong 2022 season and a close loss in the second round of the state playoffs," said Bulldogs head coach Jack Underwood. "The team is a solid mix of experienced returning players with a good group of new players who are hungry for another deep run in the playoffs." The Bulldogs will be returning nine starters from last year that will start with the experience in the middle of the field. Boiling Springs will look to control the field which begins with the return of midfielders Will Poplawski, Alan Horton, and Josh Bravo. They will be joined in the midfield by Roberton Silva, Sammy Guerrero, and Erick Ramirez. On the defensive side of the ball the Bulldogs will be led by returning defenders Yonathan Gonzalez and Roger Ocampo. In the attacking side of the ball the Bulldogs will be looking to replace Christian Gonzalez, who graduated last year, with forward Valmir Bytyqi. They will also look to get key contributions from newcomers Holden Mace and Adam Henderson to help lead the Bulldogs back to the 5A playoffs. Boiling Springs will also be rejoining Region II-5A with Dorman, Byrnes, Spartanburg, and Gaffney. It will be a welcome relief for the Bulldogs after spending the last two years making road trips to the Fort Mill area. The Bulldogs will open the regular season on February 28th on the road at Laurens before hosting their first match against the Greenville Hurricane on March 6th. Boiling Springs Girls SoccerThe Boiling Springs girls soccer team is looking to improve on last year's performance that saw them make the playoffs for the first time in a couple of years. The Bulldogs finished their season with four wins for a fourth-place finish in region play that saw them advance to the 5A playoffs but drop their first-round playoff match. "The girls soccer program is making strides to become a major factor in our region," said Boiling Springs girls soccer coach Chad Kerr. "The team made the playoffs last year for the first time in quite a while and will look to continue that trend in the many years to come." Boiling Springs will return seven starters from last year's team that will be led by All-Region players in seniors Emily Vargas and Drey Nesbitt along with fellow captain Kenturah Meadows. Those three along with fellow seniors Ruby Garcia and Annlee Grace Ryan will help lead a young Bulldogs team. The Bulldogs defense will look to juniors Hannah Snyder, Morgan Baird, Madison Squires, Emma Bishop, Sarah Posey, Cailey Lindsey, and Sophie Crosby to secure the backline in front of junior goalie Natalie Trudell. They will also look to junior Alexis Kishbaugh at the forward position to score a lot of goals with the support of junior winger Ava McCaskill and sophomore midfielder Charley Kerr. Boiling Springs also looks to get contributions from freshmen Miranda Amieva, Abby Bishop, Meadow Hayes, and Hannah Sheppard who they will look to provide some depth on the attacking side of the field. "The experience of the older players along with the younger talent that the program has will put the program on the path to be something special," said Kerr. The Bulldogs will be rejoining Region II-5A this season where they'll compete against Byrnes, Dorman, Gaffney, and Spartanburg after spending the last two years competing against teams in the Fort Mill area. The Bulldogs will compete in the Viking Cup at Spring Valley from February 24th-25th in the preseason before opening regular season play at home against Greer Middle College on March 2nd. Boiling Springs Boys TennisThe Boiling Springs tennis team will go into the 2023 season looking to rebuild after losing numerous senior players last season but they feel like they have the young talent to be competitive in a tough region this season. "We are looking forward to a competitive season," said Bulldogs head coach Matt Shumate. "After losing many seniors last year, we are young, fresh, and ready to make our mark in one of the most competitive regions in the state." The Bulldogs finished in third place in their old region around the Fort Mill area last year before falling to Blythewood in the first round of the playoffs. They will now rejoin Region II-5A this season where they will compete against Byrnes, Dorman, Gaffney, and Spartanburg. Boiling Springs will return four starters from last year's team in Sam Corbitt, Preston Reese, Nathan Miller, and Ben Reese, who they will look to lead the team this year. They also hope to get key contributions from newcomers Thomas Raynor, Matthew Borders, Joseph Crocker, William Garner, and Mekhi Young. "We look to compete every single day and grow the sport of tennis throughout the community," said Shumate. "We will take advantage of this rebuilding year to focus on consistency on the court while seeing extensive progress for our team." Boiling Springs will kick off their regular season March 2nd and March 4th in the Sparkle City tournament at Byrnes High School. Boiling Springs Track and FieldAfter both team's finished in fourth place at the region meet last year, the Boiling Springs boys and girls track teams look to improve on that finish with a mixture of youth and experience returning this season along with a large number of participants on the team this year.
On the boys' side of the team, the Bulldogs will look to build on the success they had last year with a group of juniors that will be looking to prove themselves with big senior years along with a group of young runners looking to put their mark on the Bulldogs program. "The boys' team has a lot of promise with a good mixture of new and old competitors," said Bulldogs head coach Reginald Graham. "We look for the sprint, jump, and hurdle group to be pretty competitive. We also have a lot of newcomers in the thrower's group that will provide us a more competitive group and we also have some distance runners that will compete in our region." The Bulldogs will be led by returning All-State and All-Region runner Carmelo Martin along with All-Region runner Spencer Eison. They'll be joined by fellow returnees JoJo Barrett, Demarco Thomas, Jacob Sapp, and Thomas Glover. That group will be joined by newcomers Kristion Thompson, Stone Furrey, and Jeremiah Vincent. The Boiling Springs girls' team will also be looking to improve on a fourth-place finish at the region meet last year and will count on a young group of freshman and sophomores who the Bulldogs expect big things from this year. "I feel like our girls' track and field team while being very young will be very competitive throughout the season," said Graham. "We will have a solid group of sprinters that will be divided up to create competitive sprints, relays, hurdles, and jumps. I look forward to seeing the girls improve into state contenders." The Bulldogs will be led by All-Region players Sydney Watson and Cayalah Davis along with fellow returnees Julia Graham, Kaitlyn Gratee, Tatyona Burrisson, Dakota Smith, Kendall Garner, and Gabby Sanchez. They'll also look to get key contributions from newcomers Jayonna Dawkins and Joy Pinckney. Boiling Springs will kick off their season at the Frank Kleckner Invitational at Southside Christian on February 25th. They'll host their first home meet on March 8th. BOILING SPRINGS, SC - Prior to the start of the boys' basketball game, the Boiling Springs community raised a banner to retire the jersey of Bulldog legend Sheila Foster and when the night was over that same community was on the court celebrating a Boiling Springs 71-70 last second victory over region rival Spartanburg.
A game coming down to the last second between the Bulldogs and Vikings is nothing new as the Bulldogs ended up on the wrong side of the decision last time in a one-point loss at Spartanburg. With the Bulldogs trailing by one point and sixteen seconds left in the game, Boiling Springs senior point guard Tre Locklear brought the ball up the court before driving to the rim for a layup to take a 71-70 lead with eight seconds left. The Vikings made one more run at taking the lead but Bulldogs senior forward Logan Hogan secured a rebound to seal the victory for Boiling Springs. "It's amazing what one point will do as how we felt at the end of the game the last time over there and how we feel tonight after this win," said Bulldogs head coach Craig Martin. "I was happy with how our guys fought and played hard working through adversity. Tre made a big play there at the end, which was huge, but without the other little plays that no one will notice throughout the game we're not in that position." Boiling Springs got the first basket of the game on a layup by senior Dominique Johnson to take an early 2-0 lead but a big first quarter from Spartanburg's J'Bari Miller helped lead the Vikings to an 18-15 lead at the end of the quarter. With about four minutes left in the second quarter Spartanburg pushed their lead to eight points but the Bulldogs were able to fight back to cut the halftime deficit to four points at 40-36. The Bulldogs trailed 44-40 minutes into the third quarter when senior Dominique Johnson went to work in the post scoring four straight points from the free throw line to tie the game at 44-44. Boiling Springs took their first lead since early in the game at 49-48 on a Tre Locklear layup with just under two minutes to go in the second quarter. Johnson pushed the lead to 51-48 on a layup off an assist from Locklear and then later hit a layup and a free throw to put the Bulldogs lead to 54-50 when the third quarter ended. Boiling Springs pushed their lead to eight points at 63-55 on a three-pointer from Landon Sprouse off an assist from Locklear with just over five minutes to go in the game. The Bulldogs were trailing 70-67 with just over a minute to go in the game when Johnson hit two free throws to narrow the deficit to 70-69 before Locklear came up with his clutch layup to take the lead and the win. Boiling Springs honored their senior basketball players on Tuesday night and were led by senior Dominique Johnson who played his last game in front of the home crowd going out with a double-double scoring 22 points with 14 rebounds and two assists. Fellow senior Tre Locklear had 17 points while senior London Hogan had 11 points with the only non-senior scoring in double points being Landon Sprouse with 14 points. The Bulldogs honored nine seniors as WJ Fowler, Kam Williams, Dominique Johnson, Joshua Watson, London Hogan, Tre Locklear, Kendall Johnson, Waylon Smith, and Kyle Johnson all played their final regular season game in front of the home crowd on Tuesday night. "We talked about it after the game that you wish these seniors weren't seniors but were juniors or sophomores so that you could have more time to work and grow with them," said Martin. "They've been nothing but a pleasure to coach and done everything that we've asked them to do. We're going to miss them but we still want to get some more wins before their time is over here." Boiling Springs will travel to TL Hanna on Friday for their last game of the regular season before finding out their opponent for the upcoming 5A playoffs. "Going to play TL Hanna on Friday is a good preparation for the playoffs for us," said Martin. "They're such a good hard-nosed team that is well coached and we're going to have our hands full on Friday. It will give us a great opportunity to get ready for the playoffs." GIRLS GAME - SPARTANBURG 48 BOILING SPRINGS 41 The Boiling Springs girls basketball team closed out their regular season on Tuesday night with a 48-41 loss to Spartanburg on senior night. The Bulldogs fell behind 10-5 at the end of the first quarter but in the second quarter came storming back outscoring the Vikings 11-4 in the quarter to hold a 16-14 lead at halftime. Spartanburg outscored Boiling Springs 19-17 in the third quarter as both teams were tied up at 33-33 going into the final quarter of play. In the fourth quarter the Vikings used their strong play around the basket to get numerous second chances outscoring the Bulldogs 15-8 in the quarter to take the 48-41 win. Boiling Springs senior Amiah Ellis led the Bulldogs and all scorers with 13 points while fellow seniors Kylie McMillian finished with six points and Zamaya Young ended with three points. Bulldogs junior Olivia Shirley had eight points to along with 12 rebounds and three blocks while fellow junior Sarah Ezell ended the game with seven points and eight rebounds. Genesis Young led Spartanburg with 11 points and Tay Brewton added 10 points of her own. BOILING SPRINGS, SC - When Boiling Springs boys' basketball coach Craig Martin took over the Bulldogs program in June, the one thing he always mentioned was that he wanted his team to always be the toughest team on the court.
While his team has bought into that message and been able to knock off multiple top-10 teams this year, one player has taken that toughness to another level. Senior forward London Hogan left Friday night's game against Gaffney leading the state in a rare category, but a category that a coach like Martin takes great appreciation for, as Hogan leads the state in charges taken with 52 on the season. With this number he leads the state of South Carolina and is currently third in the nation, as the leader has 68. "For me, he's one of those kids that you can always count on being at the right spot," said Martin. "He's such a disruption for our opponents because every time down the court they have to account for where he's at when they attack the basket. People don't realize how much a charge can impact on a game and on a team's offense, as he's as disruptive as a good shot blocker would be for a team. He's a key in the success of our defense." In basketball taken a charge requires some guts because it usually means that the defensive player is going to be ran over by an offensive player and therefore taking a hard hit to the body. As Hogan has dealt with injuries in the past, it's even more crazy that he would lead the state in a stat like this, but he says that he doesn't mind taking the punishment if it helps his team win games. "It's fun knowing I lead the state in a stat like that," said Hogan. "If it helps my team win it's worth the sacrifice. Coach Martin preaches toughness, for us to step up and put our bodies on the line to get the ball back with charges and I look it as something I can do to help the team." Hogan said that there is an art form to taking a charge and it's having the ability to read offensive players intent. "You can tell by the look in a guy's eyes if they're intent on scoring with the ball at that moment," said Hogan. "Most guys aren't heading to within two feet of the basket to be stopped and pass the ball at the high school level so if you can slide in front of them, you're probably going to be able to pick up the charge." Hogan said the feeling of hearing the whistle and knowing he has picked up a charge call makes the getting up off the court easier, especially at home when you can feel the electricity and appreciation from the crowd. "It feels great because you know you're getting the ball back for your team so there's an adrenaline rush from that knowledge and seeing the referee make the call for a charge," said Hogan. "When picking one at home seeing our crowd going crazy over it just gives the team and myself that extra bit of energy to keep fighting." Martin says the way that Hogan puts his body on the line for his team with each charge he takes is the type of selfless attitude that will make him successful after high school as well. "He's a team first guy and that's why he's going to be successful once he graduates high school and goes into college," said Martin. "He's going to be a success no matter what he does because of that selfless attitude and thinking of others before himself. That's the type of guy he is and those are the type of guys you need to be successful as a team." As a kid, Hogan never thought about that as being something he might lead the state in but says it's pretty cool to be leading the state in charges for his senior season. "It's weird because I never thought about it as something you could lead the state in but if it's something that helps my team win, I'm happy to do it," said Hogan. "Being able to help our team win is something big to this senior class, as in recent years we've struggled to win but with the new guys coming in and wanting to change things that want to win by them inspires us." Martin says the play of Hogan is setting the standard for the younger kids that will be future Bulldogs that come and see him play. "There are younger kids that come to watch our games and all of a sudden they see this guy taking five charges in a quarter and next you'll start seeing these younger guys coming up understanding the importance of taking a charge," said Martin. "He doesn't understand currently the impact he's having on future Bulldog teams but it's out there and I can't thank him enough for his contributions now and to the future of our players." Martin also added that Hogan is part of a group of seniors that has really set the new standard of what people will expect from Boiling Springs basketball and the dedication it's going to take from any future Bulldogs. "The amount of work these seniors have put in from the weight room to the June scrimmages to the getting shots before and after practice, they have set the standard," said Martin. "This is now the normal as whenever the gym is open, we're going to be here. It's a grind but these kids have proven that with that grind comes success. I can't be more thankful for my first year to have a group of seniors like we have here, I have been absolutely blessed because it's tough coming into a new program and trying to convince kids to play a certain way. Our style is very taxing and demanding on players but these kids have stepped up to the challenge which I think is going to only breed success in the long run." When asked how much having the record would mean to him personally at the end of the year, Hogan answered in a way that anyone has seen him play wouldn't be surprised by at all as he said it'd mean more for his team to succeed. "Whether I finish with the lead or not in charges, if we can finish the season strong with a good playoff run, that's all I could ask for," said Hogan. Hogan and the rest of the 2023 Boiling Springs senior basketball players will be honored on Tuesday night in the Bulldogs final home game of the season against Spartanburg. They will also be honoring Boiling Springs legend Sheila Foster in between the boys and girls game at approximately 7:15 PM. GAFFNEY, SC - After a tough loss at Byrnes on Tuesday night, the Boiling Springs boys' basketball team rebounded pretty quickly with an impressive 54-44 region victory at Gaffney on Friday night.
The Bulldogs win came on the heels of a strong performance from senior point guard Tre Locklear who scored a game high 27 points. "Any time you can go to a school like Gaffney with the tradition they have and compete but also come out with a win, it's always a good thing," said Bulldogs head coach Craig Martin. "These guys put together tonight some things we had been working on and I'm glad to see the better effort. It was a good bounce back game for us after we played so poorly against Byrnes" Boiling Springs jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the game behind a layup from Locklear and two free throws from Landon Sprouse. Gaffney then went on an 8-0 run of their own to take an 8-4 lead before both teams battled the rest of the first quarter with the Indians holding a 15-14 lead when the buzzer sounded. In the second quarter the Bulldogs defense went on lockdown as they held Gaffney to only six points in the quarter and it was led by the play from London Hogan, who took four charges in the game to go along with four points and seven rebounds. "We have to have good defensive effort and I think at times we looked really good but others we still have to work on the little details," said Martin. "I think the kids done a real good some of getting after it. London is our glue guy and gives people fits. I've never had someone that reads a defense better than him. He plays so hard and physical that he just makes up for his lack of size." The Bulldogs outscored Gaffney 15-6 in the quarter as Locklear had his biggest quarter of the game scoring 11 points in the quarter on their way to a 29-21 halftime lead. Boiling Springs continued their strong play in the third quarter as Dominique Johnson hit two big three-pointers and Jeremiah Favorite added another three-pointer to extend their lead to twelve points at the end of the third quarter holding a 44-32 lead. In the fourth quarter, Locklear took over the game as the Gaffney defensive focus went on him but he still led the Bulldogs with nine points in the quarter. Coach Martin said he was proud of how Locklear let the game come to him and take over. "Tre is obviously going to be Tre every game," said Martin. "I think tonight though towards the end of the game he done a good job of letting the game come to him and dictate the tempo of the game, which is huge. He basically slowed the game down and done the little things and getting the guys the ball in the spots they needed to get the ball." While Locklear led the Bulldogs with 27 points on Friday night, he also added five rebounds and a steal. Dominique Johnson and Landon Sprouse each added eight points for the Bulldogs on Friday night. Dylan Riddlespurger led Gaffney in points on Friday night with 12 points, as he was the only Indians player to finish in double figures. Boiling Springs will return to play on Tuesday night where they'll host Spartanburg for senior night. They will also honor Bulldogs legend Sheila Foster when they retire her #53 jersey in the new gymnasium on Tuesday night. GIRLS GAME - GAFFNEY 56 BOILING SPRINGS 29 Gaffney used a couple of big runs in the first quarter to take an early lead over Boiling Springs on their way to a 56-29 win over the Bulldogs. The Indians started the game on a 5-0 run before Boiling Springs' Olivia Shirley hit a layup but then Gaffney went on a 9-0 run to hold a 14-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Boiling Springs was led on Friday night by Kylie McMillian who scored 11 points with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Sarah Ezell added eight points with 12 rebounds and two blocks while Olivia Shirley added eight points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Gaffney was led by Shyrique Parker who had 25 points, four rebounds, and two steals. She was joined by senior Moriah Little who finished her senior night game with a double-double scoring 14 points with 13 rebounds and a steal. BOILING SPRINGS, SC - Boiling Springs had five student-athletes take center stage on Wednesday morning as all five signed to continue their athletic careers at the college level in a ceremony in front of family, friends, and coaches in the Bulldogs Arena.
The Boiling Springs swim team was the most represented team on Tuesday as both Ashton Threadgill and Garrett Watson signed to continue their swimming careers. Ashton Threadgill signed to continue his career at Mars Hill (NC) next season where he will look to pursue a degree in nursing. Threadgill leaves Boiling Springs as a captain this past season where he was three-time All-Region while qualifying for the state meet four separate times. He's also the school record holder in the 100y breaststroke and a member of the school's record holding 200y medley team. He said that his decision to go to Mars Hill had a lot to do with its proximity to home. "I chose Mars Hill because it's close to home and I want to stay nearby," said Threadgill. "I also like how family oriented the campus is overall." Garrett Watson on the other hand signed to continue his college career at Marymount University (VA) where he will look to major in sports medicine. Watson leaves Boiling Springs as a captain who was named All-Region for three straight years. He is a member of the school's record holding 200y medley relay team and was the region champion this year in the 100y butterfly after going undefeated in individual meets this season. He had qualified for the state championship meet every year since his eighth-grade year. He has also been successful in open water meets finishing in 7th and 4th places in the 5k open water events while also finishing in second place at the Upstate Splash Charity Open Water Swim Meet at Lake Jocassee earlier this year. He said that he chose Marymount University because of the team atmosphere around the program as well as the opportunities after school from the school's location to the nation's capital. "What helped make my decision was the team atmosphere because I felt really welcomed more than any other college I visited," said Watson. "There are also a lot of opportunities being around Washington D.C., especially for myself wanting to go into sports medicine for internships and jobs with professional teams in the area, which was a big factor as well. The smaller campus feel was also great because it seemed like when I sat in on classes that the professors knew more about the students than just their name." The Boiling Springs cheerleading team was also represented on Wednesday as Makeena Carothers signed to compete for Limestone next year where she plans on majoring in marketing. She joins a program that just finished fourth in the national championship competition after helping lead Boiling Springs to three-straight region championships, the last two as a captain. She said that her decision came down to her really liking the campus and the team when she visited. "I picked Limestone because of the campus, and I really liked the team and the coaching," said Carothers. "With their success recently in the championships, it had something to do with it as well because it's always fun to cheer for a good school." Boiling Springs cross country also had a person commit on Wednesday as Gabby Sanchez signed to continue her career at USC-Upstate next season where she plans on majoring in biology/pre-med. Sanchez is a two-year varsity letterman for the Bulldogs in only two years of competition. She finished in the top-40 in state this past season for cross country while also being named All-Region in track last year. She said that her decision came to choose USC-Upstate was because of how welcoming the team and coaches were. "I chose USC-Upstate because when I went to visit they were all so welcoming," said Sanchez. "The coaches were very nice and I felt like I could be competitive while still having fun in the program. They also have a lot of opportunities there both athletically and academically." The final person to sign on Wednesday morning was Mia Lockwood who represented the girl's lacrosse team. Lockwood chose to continue her career at Newberry College next year where she plans on majoring in health management. Lockwood has been a member of the Bulldogs varsity program since she was a freshman and been a captain in both her junior and senior seasons. She was also named All-Region in both her sophomore and junior seasons, with her senior season yet to begin. Over her career to this point on the field she has 35 goals, 13 assists, 15 caused turnovers, and 74 groundballs. She that the proximity to home and the atmosphere were key factors in her decision to choose Newberry as the place to continue her playing career. "Newberry is very close to home with a great atmosphere," said Lockwood. "It's also a a small school which I like because I feel like gives me an opportunity to be more successful at the college level." She also said the newness of the program, started in 2012, had something to do with her decision as well. "It played a role in my decision as well," said Lockwood. "I know if I played there, I'd have an opportunity to get on the field and show the coaches what I can do." With the signings on Tuesday, it now marks nine seniors from the Boiling Springs Class of 2023 to sign to continue their athletic careers next season at the college level. |
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