Both teams come into the week coming off some difficult results. Aiken (7-10, 2-4 Region 4-AAAA) has lost five in a row, albeit three of those to top-10 teams in the state, and let a double-digit lead get away last week in a loss to Midland Valley. South Aiken (5-12, 2-4) can empathize. The T-Breds have dropped four in a row, with two of those to top-10 opponents, and also gave up multiple 10-point fourth-quarter leads to lose to Strom Thurmond and those same comeback kids from Midland Valley.
“We’re a young team, and we’re learning,” McDowell said following the T-Breds’ 65-62 loss to Midland Valley on Friday. “I’ve got … eight guys that basically did not play varsity basketball last year. Some of those guys are seniors that were hurt. We’re extremely young, but we’re getting better. I told the guys in the locker room after the game ‘We’re this close.’ We’re going to break through sooner rather than later, I really believe that. We’ve just got to keep working, keep believing, keep chopping wood, and we’ll be all right.”
There’s no better time for a turnaround than against a team’s biggest rival, and this game always seems to bring out the fireworks. The first meeting last year could’ve been “the game” for several different players, but it was ultimately George Brown who made it his by hitting seven 3-pointers in a double-overtime win. Tre’von Walker had a huge night in the second game, and seniors Joey Tracey and Jadan Young tormented the T-Breds one last time.
That spoiled some quality performances by South Aiken players, and McDowell is well aware that the winner is the one who writes the history books.
“Kelton Walker, last year at home I think he had 18 points and 15 rebounds. If we win that game, everybody’s talking about how well Kelton Walker played,” he said. “But no one was talking about that because we lost the game. He’s a senior, and he’s got a chance to go make his stamp. … The younger guys like Kyson McLeod, Deon Simpkins, Keon Raysor, Issac Elliott, Jamaal Wilson, all those guys, I’m excited to go watch them play in these games.”