The night couldn’t have meant much more to Tyler Rice. Not only was it Senior Night — his last home game at Bluffton High School — but Friday was also Rice’s birthday.
And what a night it was.
Rice scored 22 points and knocked down the winning shot to lift the Bobcats to a 58-56 home win over Colleton County and clinch a playoff spot.
“It’s just a good day, it’s my birthday, I really can’t say much more,” Rice said. “I’m blessed, it’s a blessing.”
After a back-and-forth matchup between the Cougars and Bobcats, it all boiled down to the last quarter.
With a little over two minutes left, the Bobcats led 53-52 but a double technical gave possession to the Cougars, who were able to reclaim the lead. Lee Kirkland gave the Bobcats a 55-54 lead with less than a minute left, and Rice’s blocked shot looked like it might seal the win, but the Cougars won a scramble and scored to regain the lead with 25 seconds left.
After a timeout with 14.4 seconds left, Rice banked in a long 3-pointer from the left wing for the lead, and Eric Eastham intercepted the inbounds pass to seal the victory.
Kirkland scored 13 points, and Jayden Chance and Jatelvayn Mosley each added eight for the Bobcats.
UP NEXT
Bluffton (11-11, 2-3) plays at Beaufort High at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Story by Dani Campos