FORT MILL, SC – In a high-energy, nail-biting clash, the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets defeated the Indian Land Warriors 58-54 in front of a raucous, packed house at “The Hive” on Tuesday night, securing their spot in the SCHSL semifinals.
The atmosphere was electric from the opening tip, with both student sections bringing an intense level of support. Indian Land won the initial tip, but it was Fort Mill who drew first blood, setting the stage for a defensive slugfest. The early minutes saw both teams displaying aggressive defense, resulting in a slow offensive start.
Fort Mill held a slim 6-3 lead midway through the first quarter, but Indian Land rallied, capturing a 12-10 advantage with a minute remaining. The quarter ended in a 12-12 tie, foreshadowing the back-and-forth battle to come.
The second quarter was a rollercoaster ride. Fort Mill briefly regained the lead, only for Indian Land to respond with a clutch three-pointer. Fort Mill’s Logan Parker answered with his own three, igniting the crowd. With under six minutes left in the half, Indian Land tied the game after a foul on Fort Mill’s Wallace Campbell. The lead changed hands with every basket, culminating in a 27-27 deadlock at halftime.
The third quarter began with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Fort Mill seemed to falter, but a pair of free throws from Campbell broke the tie. Indian Land briefly took a 34-33 lead, only to see Parker sink another crucial three-pointer. As the quarter progressed, referees began calling more fouls, allowing Indian Land to tie the game at 36. Fort Mill entered the fourth quarter with a narrow 39-38 lead.
The final quarter was a display of heightened intensity. Both teams ramped up their aggression, with Indian Land employing a full-court press. Fort Mill, however, seized control, extending their lead to six points with 5:25 remaining. Consecutive fast-break layups from Fort Mill’s Jermier Nelson and Campbell pushed the lead to 10, putting the Yellow Jackets firmly in command.
Fort Mill continued to widen the gap, taking a 13-point lead late in the quarter. Despite the deficit, Indian Land refused to give up, battling until the final buzzer. With 25 seconds remaining, Fort Mill held a 57-49 lead.
Ultimately, Fort Mill prevailed 58-54, sending their home crowd into a frenzy. The Yellow Jackets face Greenville in the SCHSL semifinals on March 5. The winner of that game will be the Upper State Champion and compete in the champtionship game on March 8 against the Lower State Chamption — either Berkeley or Goose Creek.
