Photos by Morgen Orr A.C. Flora center Marquise Simuel posts up LR's Washawn Burgess. The Lower Richland Diamond Hornets (11- 3) used 22 hard- earned inside points from Larry Felder and 11 different players scored in the game to outlast A.C. Flora (2- 6) Friday January 9, 73- 55.

The Region IV- 3A opener for each team saw the Diamond Hornets jump out to an early lead, allow Flora to come back just before half time, and then control the second half for the important road region win.

Felder was particularly strong in the first quarter, dominating offensively. Despite AC Flora's 2- 3 zone aimed at keeping the ball on the perimeter and away from the paint, Felder muscled his way to nine points. On the other end of the floor, Flora's Marquise Simuel scored six of his 15 points in the first quarter to pace the Falcons and provide some interior offense of his own. Ultimately though, the constant full- court press employed by the Diamonds gave Flora fits and gave LR a 21- 12 lead after one.

Kvahn Pennix got going for A.C. Flora in the second quarter scoring six points, and Carlos Jeter added five more as the Falcons scrambled to get back into the game. Flora controlled the tempo as LR struggled to make shots and allow for their press to set up. A Wayshawn Burgess lay up just before the first half buzzer pushed Lower Richland's narrow lead to just six, 36- 30 at the break.

LR's Torrance Outing dribbles between his legs in the first half. The third quarter saw the Diamond Hornets extend their fragile lead back to double digits on the strength of inside play by Kenneth McFadden and Sidney Rivers. The duo scored just seven points between them in the quarter but was able to reestablish LR in the post and keep Flora from getting easy baskets on fast breaks. After three quarters, LR led 53- 39.

The Falcons tried hard to keep in the game as Pennix and Simuel kept up the scoring, but they could not get any closer than a dozen points throughout the fourth quarter. Felder added seven more points for the Diamonds and Preston Blackmon tallied free throws down the stretch to give Lower Richland its first region win in Region IV- 3A.