By MONTE DUTTON

The Laurens Academy boys’ basketball played a rip-roaring game with Our Lady of the Rosary and lost, 46-43.

The girls dominated from the opening tap and tamed the Lions, 63-18.

The evening featured considerable contrast.

At times it looked as if Olivia Huck could defeat Rosary by herself. In fact, she had a case since her 25 points were more than the Lions’ team total. In fairness, if Huck had been on the court by herself, it would have been harder.

Huck hit 10/19 field goals, all two-pointers, and all five free throws.

The margin enabled LA head coach Jason Marlett to play everyone, and many scored: Rylee Ballard (7), Sadie Bruyere (7), Gracie Hall (6), Taylor Cagle (5), Hannah Ervin (4), E.K. Moore (2), Abby Howard (2), Braydyn Dorn (2), Madisyn Graham (2) and Addi Hornberger (1).

Whew.

Madalyn Jennings had all but four of Rosary’s points. It’s sporting to include the two with two, Brooklyn Lesley and Sophia Bondurant.

Laurens Academy is 6-1. Our Lady of the Rosary is 0-2.

Braydon Burke scored 20 points for Laurens Academy in the boys’ game. He popped 4/7 three pointers and was 6/12 from the floor overall.

The Crusaders could have won the boys’ game a lot of ways. For instance, at the end, LA’s press almost forced Rosary into five-second violations on three straight tries in which the referee’s count reached four. LA (4-4) couldn’t get possession, but the first two had to be redone after fouls. On the third, Rosary finally set a screen to get it in-bounds, and the Lions finally roared off to the forecourt. That happened on a fourth the next time down.

Another way Our Lady of the Rosary (4-2) won the game was at the end of third quarter when John Lesley hit a desperation shot from halfcourt. He hit one other shot in the game and scored five points. That accounted for the final margin, too.

Buddy Baker hit a three with 7.7 seconds left that brought the Crusaders within two points at 45-43. A free throw by the Lions’ Eli Brockman in two tries set the final margin.

Ned Murphy led the Lions with 14 points. Jesse Gourde added nine.

Rosary led most of the way, and, thanks to Lesley’s answered prayer, entered the final period with a 34-29 advantage. The Crusaders crept within one with 2:52 remaining and within two twice more.

Also scoring for LA were: Garrett Murphy (9), Garrison Vaughn (6), Baker (3), Hector Rubio (2) and Jared Willard (2).

Clinton (5-3) won the girls’ game in Simpsonville, 60-25 over Hillcrest, behind 17 points from Mylayja Rhompson and 15 from Bryanna Belton.

The Red Devils took control with a 14-2 first quarter.

Other Clinton scorers were Jy’Daijia Mars (9), Nah’shia Wright (7), McKenzie Clark (6), Haleigh Luke (3), Saniya White (2) and Arianna Reeves (1).

The great majority of the site’s advertising is in Laurens County. The great majority of contributions is from Furman fans. I would love to get more donations from the county and more advertising from Furman.

But, amazingly, it is what it is.

Thanks so much for the recent contributions.

I used to list an address to send a check (DHK Sports, P.O. Box 768, Clinton, S.C. 29325). I finally got it through my thick head that not that many people write checks nowadays. For example, me. A more convenient means might be sending a reasonable amount to DHK Sports on Venmo.

Support the advertisers, and help keep the site – the game stories, the blogs, the photos – alive by making, if you choose, a monthly donation via Patreon. The Laurens County site is here. The Furman site is here.

Another way I can make a little is if you purchase my books at MonteDutton.net. They’re quite entertaining in spite of the fellow who wrote them. Two of my novels, Cowboys Come Home and Lightning in a Bottle, are available in audio versions. The latest, The Latter Days, is about baseball.

Photo galleries are posted on Instagram @furmanatt and @laurenscountysports.