During the last day of “November-December" basketball games - just before holiday tournament time - Aiken continued its stellar start to the season with a home win against then undefeated Westside. The Hornets had recently avenged its only loss of the season on the road against Spring Valley.
But the first night of games during the new year provides the Patriots, playing at home, with an opportunity to repay Aiken. And although momentum may have been with Aiken before the break, Westside is the team that is now rolling. The Patriots have won six straight games, including two consecutive holiday tournament championships.
Westside’s Frank Booker has continued to be an explosive scorer. The 6’5” senior shooting guard’s most impressive performance may have been a 37 point outburst in last week’s tournament win over the formidable North Augusta Yellow Jackets. Booker’s point total nearly matched North Augusta’s 47, and Westside cruised to a 17 point victory.
Aiken, on the other hand, has stumbled recently, going 3-3 during its two holiday tournament appearances. After winning its first two games, the Hornets fell in the championship game at its first tournament to Newberry High School, a team as good as any in South Carolina. After key player Dramel Coleman suffered an ankle sprain, Aiken limped through the following tournament, losing the first two games before winning the final game of the break.
One Aiken player who continues to play, and score, at full speed is senior shooting guard Shawn Moore. Moore has scored at nearly a 30 point pace all season. And the explosive athlete with a soft touch (nearly 40% from behind the arc and making just under 4 three pointers per game) will be key in Aiken’s bid to again top the Patriots.
We look forward to featuring this “monster match up” between two of our area’s top teams. And we expect to see lots of scoring from two of our area’s most prolific scorers.
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