Scotland’s boys basketball team has changed since Jan. 15, when the Fighting Scots defeated Lumberton with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
The Scots lost three players since then, including David Campbell, the player who made that game-winning shot. The Scots now have nine active players on their roster, although that could change if jayvee players are called up for the final two games of the season.
The Scots have also continued to build on improvements that started with that win against Lumberton. The Scots ended a three-game losing streak with the win against the Pirates, and they’ve gone 3-4 since then. Two of those losses were against Sandhills Athletic Conference leaders Seventy-First and Pinecrest. The Scots also lost by nine at Richmond, and they suffered a four-point loss at Hoke.
That 78-74 loss to Hoke snapped a three-game winning streak that was notable in several ways. Not only did the Scots play some of their best basketball of the season, but they also returned to their newly renovated home gym after spending most of the year playing at Sycamore Lane Middle School. Scotland’s gym floor had to be replaced after being damaged by flood waters during Hurricane Florence.
During that three-game winning streak, which included wins at Jack Britt — a team that was competing near the top of the conference — followed by wins against Marlboro County and at Purnell Swett, Scotland seemed to overcome the weaknesses that hurt the team early in the season. Sloppy, turnover-ridden possessions, combined with missed opportunities and second-half lapses, had contributed to Scotland’s 0-7 start to the year.
The winning streak brought forth a resilient attitude that the Scots had struggled to embrace during that slow start. They were able to build first-half leads and protect them through late comeback attempts by their opponents. Scotland’s group of guards, which includes Garrett McRae, C.J. Settles and Khalib Simmons, were able to knock down open shots at a higher rate than they used to. During Scotland’s losses earlier in the season, the problem had more to do with converting on those opportunities than finding them.
Scotland has still been dealing with a lack of consistency on both ends of the floor. That is partially due to the fact they’ve had to move on without two of their best players from last season’s squad. Isaiah Bostick is not with the team for what would have been his senior year, and Bruce Wall is sitting out his junior season as he recovers from an ACL tear he suffered during football season. Bostick averaged 10 points per game last season, and Wall averaged just under six points and five rebounds per contest.
Head coach Matt Justin and the Fighting Scots aren’t using those factors as excuses. No one can afford to make excuses at this point in the season.
Scotland plays its final regular-season road game on Tuesday at Lumberton. They wrap up the season on Friday with a rivalry game at home against Richmond.
With a record of 8-4 in conference play, Richmond is tied for second place in the SAC. Lumberton (7-5) is right behind them in third place.
Scotland (4-8) is in seventh place out of eight teams in the conference. They sit behind Jack Britt and Hoke, who are both 5-7.
Wins in the final two games of the year could help the Scots improve their footing as the conference tournament nears. Scotland has shown that it can compete with and defeat some of the better teams in the league.
Can they do it when it matters most? We’ll find out.
