The Sun Valley men’s basketball team has advanced their record to 11-7 on the year, with a decisive home-court win over Marvin Ridge. Outscoring the Mavericks in all but the second quarter, the Spartans put on 28 point fourth quarter show that rocketed the team out ahead, sealing Friday night’s 71-46 victory.
Leading the Spartans throughout the game was senior guard Teshaun Walker who, with 19 points on the night, executed the Sun Valley gameplan with precision in all four quarters. Walker, averaging 10 points per game throughout the season, took scoring into his own hands-on multiple occasions against the Mavericks, putting points on the board in key moments when the team was struggling to score. Walker’s ability to make plays, and take the ball to the basket when needed, kept the Spartans ahead following a lackluster second quarter, building an unstoppable momentum that rolled deep into the game.
The Spartans opened the game in a powerful fashion, behind the scoring force of senior forward Raheem Howard, whose high-flying abilities in the key led to 11 points in the first quarter. A fourth-quarter breakaway slam by Howard ignited the crowd and rallied the team into their most explosive, and effective, run of the night. Sun Valley took full advantage of their renewed momentum, outscoring the Mavericks by 17 points in the fourth. Senior point guard Justin Morton, and senior forward Michael Grovanz led the scoring effort in the fourth, each with successful trips to the free-throw line, and accurate shots from long range. Morton totaled 15 on the night, and Grovanz finished with 14.
Marvin Ridge moves to 4-12 on the season following Friday night’s loss. They are 1-6 in the conference. The Spartans are tied for third place in the Southern Carolina 3A conference with the Cuthbertson Cavaliers. Sun Valley will play the Cavaliers, at Cuthbertson, on Tuesday. The Spartans will meet Marvin Ridge again on February 7. The Spartans will finish their regular season play the following week, with a home-court matchup against the Piedmont Panthers.
