Fort Mill Basketball Playoffs Begin

Postseason basketball arrives in Fort Mill tonight as the Yellow Jackets host a high-stakes double-header against Northwestern High School in the first round of the SCHSL Class 5A Division II State Championships.

Both the Fort Mill boys and girls teams enter the playoffs seeking redemption following heartbreaking, narrow losses to cross-town rival Nation Ford this past Friday — results that shifted the final seeding and cost both squads a shot at outright region titles.

Boys: Regrouping After Double-OT Thriller

The Fort Mill boys (19-7) enter tonight’s matchup as the No. 5 seed after a marathon 95-93 double-overtime loss to Nation Ford. In a game that saw Jermier Nelson and AJ Washington combine for 52 points, the Yellow Jackets were undone by foul trouble and a last-second running layup by Nation Ford’s AJ Cureton.

Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets proved they have the offensive firepower to contend for a state title. Nelson and Washington lead a balanced attack that includes Wallace Campbell and Caleb Tooper, both of whom finished in double figures on Friday. They will need that same offensive efficiency tonight to advance past a physical Northwestern squad.

Fort Mill’s Wallace Campbell defends against Nation Ford’s Drew Robertson in Friday night’s double overtime game.

Girls: Seeking Consistency at the Stripe

The Fort Mill girls (14-12) also find themselves back at home for the first round after a 49-47 overtime loss to Nation Ford on Friday. The Lady Jackets struggled in the extra period, hitting just 2-of-7 free throws while their rivals capitalized at the line.

Colbie Wolf, who led the Jackets with 19 points on Friday, remains the focal point of the offense. Alongside Kate Marker, Wolf will look to exploit Northwestern’s defense early. To move on to the second round, the Jackets must tighten up their ball handling; turnovers late in the game on Friday allowed Nation Ford to erase a fourth-quarter lead.