By MONTE DUTTON

It doesn’t get much better than the Olympics men’s basketball game between Serbia and the USA.

I watched the first half, took a shower, dressed in dirty pants and old shoes in preparation for mud, and headed to Honea Path, where I thought a football scrimmage was. Thursday morning I thought it was in Clinton.

Turns out it was neither. Before I got out of town, a text message arrived that it was canceled.

Even though I dreaded frightful weather, I was looking forward enough to it to leave the USA to its devices trailing by 13 points. A man’s got to pick his patriotism.

I moped a bit, driving through PC and all its ballfields, then picked up an Advertiser at Sader-Hughes – I know, I know, who goes by a pharmacy to pick up a newspaper? – and in my disappointment at getting to watch football in the slop, forgot about the second half of the basketball game in The City of Lights.

The radio told me that the Americans had come from behind to win. The guy couldn’t say “Steph Curry” without yelling. I wanted more specifics.

I finally watched the second half after midnight via one of the replays that keeps the Olympics on around the clock.

For the Americans, men who made much money showed it. They all came through when it mattered.

It also warmed the heart to note that Americans do not know how to whine nearly as well as Serbians, who are dogged and untiring.

What a great reason to go to bed tired.

Laurens passed its lone preseason test with impressive resolve Friday night, defeating Union County, 21-8, in 24 minutes of work.

Greg Porter faces tests on the practice field, obviously, but the Raiders prevailed in what was a measure of improvement.

Union edged Laurens, 20-17, in a regular-season game at Union County, the Jackets’ only victory last yeara. Both have new head coaches, Porter with the Raiders and Quinnon Isom with the Yellow Jackets.

Laurens was 2-9 last fall. Union County was 1-9.

Porter said his team is scrimmaging only once because it is concentrating on Hillcrest, the first opponent, at home on Aug. 23.

That noted, the Raiders only gave up a late touchdown that cost them a shutout.

“They’ve been working hard,” Porter said. “This was important for confidence. We know it’s not the end result. We know there are things we need to work on both sides of the ball.

“The kids are buying in, and this is good for their psyche. This was important. I know it’s just a scrimmage, but to us it was everything.”

The grand conclusion of the McDonald’s Kickoff Classic – four halves seem seem a bit much for description, but it beats four segments of two quarters – didn’t end until after 10:30 p.m., on a sultry night. It started late on the advice of the wet-bulb thermometer, which deemed it too hot to run, let alone trot.

It was worth the wait.

“It was good,” said Porter, “good for morale. It’s a block that we can build on as we get ready for healing.

“… They needed the experience to erase mental stuff from last year. What we’re doing will work if we do it this way. Long way to go, but it was good to be able to see the fruits of their labor and that they keep working hard.”

On account of the McDonald’s Kickoff Classic in Union being moved up a night, Meet the Raiders Night has been moved up a week, to Friday, Aug. 16, 6-8 p.m., at K.C. Hanna Stadium.

Presbyterian College takes the Bailey Memorial Stadium field for a scrimmage on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Football season is straight ahead, and I could use your help.

My goal has always been to restore coverage for the kids. It’s as much fun as the Daytona 500, but it’s not as big and harder to make a living at. I rely on readers who like the coverage I provide to make contributions.

Advertising alone will not keep me going, but there’s room for a few more. Every ad is inset in every story.

You can support my site in several ways.

Support the advertisers. They are all fine people who appreciate my efforts, not to mention those of the kids, coaches, parents and fans.

Please donate whatever you consider appropriate via Venmo at DHK Sports. You may also reach me by mail at 11185 Highway 56 North, Clinton  29325.

If you choose, make a monthly donation via Patreon. The Laurens County site is here. The Furman site is here.

In the off chance you’d like to read my novels and other books, they’re available on Amazon and many prominent bookseller sites. You can read them on your phones and other devices for a modest cost. I make a bit more if you purchase the actual books, but what I mainly want is for folks to read them.

Sample my latest novel, The Latter Days. Download it for $2.99.

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

Thanks for putting up with me.