Skyhawks struggle to get back to top
~January 7, 2008~
From Staff Reports

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Hammond's Cliff Ayers alters his shot to avoid the block attempt by Pinewood Prep's Damien Simmons. Ayers finished with 12 points.

The Hammond Skyhawks were optimistic coming into this basketball season. They lost by only six points in last year's state championship final to Pinewood Prep. Four starters from that Hammond team returned this year including SCISA Region I- 3A player of the year, Daniel Bailey. But wins have been hard to come by so far.

Monday's 83- 55 loss at home to the two- time defending champion Pinewood Prep Panthers dropped the Skyhawks to 4- 9 and proved that another run at the state championship could be difficult for Hammond.

The Panthers jumped out to a 10- point lead in the first quarter thanks to Ryan Bogdan's three 3- pointers. Milton Jennings added two. Kenny Manigault exploded for 11 points in the second quarter giving the Panthers a 45- 26 lead at halftime.

Bailey scored 13 points for Hammond in the first half and Cliff Ayers added seven, but the outcome was well in hand for the Panthers. They held Bailey to five second half points. Ayers finished with 12, and Wilson McWilliams got seven in the fourth quarter to finish with nine.

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Hammond's Wilson McWilliams gets the break- away lay up. McWilliams had nine points.

Bogdan continued his torrid shooting finishing with seven 3- pointers and 24 points. Manigault and Jennings finished with 15 points each.

The Skyhawks return to region play Friday, January 11 when they host Cardinal Newman.

Hammond's Taylor Smith shoots a jumper. Smith had six points.