Indian Land improves to 17-2, stops Queen’s Grant at MLK event at West Charlotte

After a 16-2 start to its season, the Indian Land, S.C., boys basketball team was staring a two-game losing streak squarely in the face on Saturday night against Queen’s Grant in the finale of the MLK Peace Showcase at West Charlotte.

But after falling behind by as many 10 points in the first half and by three with 3 1/2 minutes to play, the Warriors rallied behind junior guard Michael Jones to win 57-50.

“It was a quick turnaround,” said Indian Land head coach L.J. Johnson, who coached from 2018-22 at nearby Harding University High School. “I’m glad the guys responded. We went back after last night and talked to the guy about how four or five plays that we didn’t make cost us a win. We didn’t repeat those mistakes tonight.”

Following Friday’s 53-52 loss to S.C. Class 5A Region 3 rival Fort Mill, Indian Land quickly fell behind as the Stallions scored five of the first seven points and were ahead 17-7 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter before the Warriors found their footing.

Jones, a 5-foot-10, 145-pound guard who has received recruiting interest from South Carolina, Utah State, Monmouth, Coastal Carolina, Winthrop and Presbyterian, spearheaded the comeback.

In the first half, his 13 points allowed Indian Land to close within 29-28 at the break.

In the second half, the Warriors took five-point leads at 37-32, 41-36, 43-38 and 45-40 before the Stallions forged a rally of their own.

And after freshman Mekhi Allen’s follow shot capped an 8-0 run, Queen’s Grant was ahead 48-45 with 3:34 to play.

But Johnson knew Jones would, at the very least, get Indian Land into favorable possessions and made sure he had the basketball for much of the rest of the contest.

“He does a good job with shot selection - for himself and his teammates,” said Johnson, whose team is 17-2 overall and 4-1 in Region 3.

Jones created seven of the Warriors’ final 12 points — five of his own points and two more with an assist.

Queen’s Grant fell to 13-7.

Three who made a difference

Michael Jones, Indian Land: The junior guard scored 26 points — 13 in each half with four or more in each quarter — and was named his team’s MVP after the contest.

Jayden Williams, Indian Land: A 6-foot-5, 245-pound post player, he scored 13 points, all in the last three quarters.

Mekhi Allen, Queen’s Grant: A freshman, he scored a team-high 16 points with four 3-pointers and a pair of 2-point buckets.

Notable

▪ Indian Land returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Rock Hill Northwestern in a S.C. 5A Region 3 contest.

▪ First-year Queen’s Grant coach Joe Badgett, a state championship-winning coach at two schools in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association, returns to Metro 1A Conference action Tuesday at Carolina International; The Stallions are 2-0 in league play and have played a challenging schedule of private and public school powers.

▪ Chase Smith was named Queen’s Grant MVP after the contest. He had 11 points for the Stallions.

They said it

“That’s our third straight game with 20 plus turnovers. We’re doing different things to clean that up. When we play tough guards like Jones, it’s been trouble for us.” — Queen’s Grant coach Joe Badgett

GAME SUMMARY

Indian Land 13 15 15 14 — 57

Queen’s Grant 19 10 11 10 — 50

INDIAN LAND 57 — Drakeford 7, Michael Jones 26, Simpson 4, Terrell 7, Jayden Williams 13.

QUEEN’S GRANT 50 — Bobby Montgomery III 11, Scott 4, DeBerry 2, Mekhi Allen 16, Chase Smith 11, Howard 6.

Records: Queen’s Grant 13-7; Indian Land 17-2