Bobcats fight hard for win

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 11, 2005

The storied rivalry between

R.C. Hatch and Francis Marion continued Saturday night in Marion, captivating a standing-room only crowd.

They didn’t disappoint as the top-ranked Bobcats pulled out a hard-fought 64-59 win.

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Phenomenal freshman Frankie Sullivan scored seven of his team leading 16 points, going five of six from the free-throw line and adding 3 key steals late in the fourth quarter to thwart the Rams’ upset bid.

Sullivan, who scored a career-high 43 points two weeks ago against 4-A powerhouse Southside, sat out a good portion of the first half, picking up his second foul midway through the first period.

The Rams packed in a tight 2-3 zone defense slowing down their visitors and trailed 14-11 after one period of play.

Brandon Johnson and Calvin Pope pounded the offensive boards and reserve senior guard Darryl Wilson sparked the Cats offense with a couple of key baskets.

When Wilson’s full court drive and lay up pushed Hatch out front 28-21, the Rams’ Brent Wright countered with two baseline layups and Kevin Curry nailed a three from the left wing in a flurry of action that had the house rocking.

Hatch veteran coach Eugene Mason ordered his troops into a stall that ate up the last 1:06 of the half.

Sullivan’s ten footer at the buzzer was off the mark and the Cats clung to a 35-31 advantage at the break.

Hatch opened the third period with a suffocating defense while Pope hit a foul line jumper, a put back, and a free throw that seemingly gave his team a commanding 48-35 lead at the midway point of the third stanza.

But Rams mentor Woodie Jackson made some adjustments after a timeout, and the six time state champions scored nine unanswered points to close the gap. Steady guard Dwayne Woods had two lay-ins and fed Curry for another trey that capped the run. From there the two perennial power-houses matched each other basket for basket until Marion’s Devan Dunnican’s three-point play gave the Rams a 54-53 lead at the 4:44 mark.

During a scramble for a loose ball, Francis Marion’s Justin Johnson signaled for a timeout to maintain possession.

The Rams were out of timeouts and received a technical foul that resulted into two Sullivan free-throws and set the stage for his game saving heroics.

Dunnican battled inside all night for 17 points.

He was matched by Curry who knocked down four treys.

Wright and Woods chipped in nine and eight respectively.

Sullivan led the balanced Cats with 16 points and senior forward Brandon Johnson scored 14.

Phillip Johnson and Lorenzo Jones added 12 each and Wilson tallied 8.

The 14-1 Bobcats now turn their attention to another rival, the Keith Bears.

The Cats scratched out a close win over the Bears in December and brace for the rematch scheduled for Tuesday night in Uniontown.