“TNT” and the Bluffton girls came across the bridge Friday night and wasted no time detonating host Hilton Head High, blowing by the Seahawks 54-36 to as the dynamic duo of Tatyana Aiken and Tacoya Heyward combined with a host of others to help the Bobcats clinch at least a share of the Region 7-4A title.
“We came out and played tough defense,” Bluffton coach Lonnie Roberts said. “This team is right where I want them to be, focusing on the defensive side and being able to make adjustments on the fly, because teams will throw new stuff at us when we play them for a second time.”
The Seahawks scored the game’s first bucket, but that was all the Bobcats would give them in the opening period. Bluffton rattled off a 13-0 run, including four each from Aiken and Jalynn Ferguson, fueled by a string of turnovers that frustrated the home team’s attack.
The struggles in passing the ball and finding quality shots in Wednesday’s loss to Hilton Head Prep certainly carried over to Friday’s region defeat for HHIHS. The Seahawks stayed in striking distance thanks to three second-quarter treys courtesy of Kenzie Ryan and Miley Ray, cutting the lead to 25-17 at halftime.
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With the Seahawks down just single digits to begin the third quarter, the Bobcats began to take those comeback hopes away, controlling the period 14-8. Finally, the senior captain Aiken shut the door in the fourth with seven points including 3 of 4 from the foul line.
She led the Bobcats with a 16-point outing, and Heyward put up 13. Cassandra Gray and Kayleigh Washington made important offensive contributions, scoring six each for the Bobcats.
Ray and Ryan paced the Seahawks with 12 points apiece.
“I thought our game plan was sound but ultimately their team speed was just too much for us,” Seahawks coach Sean Rochester said. “Our girls competed hard, but their quickness won too many times throughout the game.”
With Colleton County’s win over Beaufort, Hilton Head drops into a tie with the Eagles for third in the region, making next Friday’s contest a potential elimination game, which could end the loser’s playoff dreams. “We know what is at stake and we’ll use the next week to prepare for a very important Senior Night.”
UP NEXT
Bluffton (18-3, 4-0) hosts Colleton County at 6 p.m. Friday.
HHIHS (11-11, 1-3) hosts May River at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Story by Wes Kerr / Photos by Brooke Simons
Brooke Simons is a student-athlete at Hilton Head Island High School and an aspiring journalist. She has a passion for photography and broadcasting.