By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PORTSMOUTH — When the Rock Hill Redmen get a lead, they like to keep it.

The Redmen took the lead early and never relinquished it as they beat the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 65-55 on Saturday.

“We have to learn to play better with the lead and stop turning the ball over,” said Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds. “If you take away the turnovers, we didn’t play bad. We shot the ball well and we rebounded well.”

Trey Wilds had a strong all-around game for Rock Hill. The senior guard scored 18 points including four 3-pointers to go with 7 assists.

Will McCollister had 15 points and 6 rebounds, Andy Knipp finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Jared Bruce added 6 rebounds.

Rock Hill (6-8) hit 23 of 50 floor shots including 9 of 21 from behind the arc.

Clay (1-11) was led by Chase Hiles who scored 21 points — he made six 3-pointers — while Michael Schmidt had 14 points.

McCollister and Trey Wilds had 5 points each as Rock Hill took a 19-11 first quarter lead. Schmidt scored 6 for Clay.

Wilds had 6 more points in the second quarter to help offset 8 by Schmidt and the Redmen were up 36-26 at the half.

Hiles got hot and scored 9 points in the third quarter but Drew Kidd hit a pair of 3-pointers while McCollister and Knipp combined for 8 more points to keep the Redmen ahead at 53-40.

Hiles knocked down three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter but McCollister, Wilds and Knipp combined for all 12 of Rock Hill’s points to secure the win.

“We gave up a lot of points, but they just hit some shots. We contested the shots, they just hit them,” said coach Wilds.

The Redmen host River Valley on Tuesday.

Rock Hill 19 17 17 12 = 65

Ports. Clay 11 15 14 15 = 55

ROCK HILL (6-8): Drew Kidd 0 2 0-1 6, Will McCollister 3 1 6-6 15, Evan Morris 1 1 0-0 5, Austin Collins 2 0 0-0 4, Trey Wilds 2 4 2-2 18, Jared Bruce 0 0 0-0 0, Laden Delawder 0 1 0-0 3, Andy Knipp 6 0 2-4 14. Totals: 23-50 10-13 65. 3-point goals: 9-21. Rebounds: 11-22=33 (Knipp 10, McCollister 6, Bruce 6). Assists: 15 (Wilds 7). Steals: 5 (McCollister 2). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (1-11): Chase Hiles 1 6 1-1 21, Chandler King 2 1 0-1 7, Tony Whitt 2 0 0-0 4, Zach Jackson 0 0 0-1 0, Jared Ruby 0 0 0-0 0, Levi Evans 0 0 5-9 5, Jacob Crosier 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Schmidt 7 0 4-4 18. Totals: 12 7 10-16 55. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.