Coach Chad Cary and the Newberry Bulldogs have had some big offensive performances along the road to their first Class 2A boys’ basketball title game.

In the first and third rounds, the Bulldogs notched over 100 points each. Through the season, they averaged 79 points.

Cary said the Bulldogs will look to keep running and gunning against the North Charleston Cougars at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.

But Cougars coach Blake Hall said, “I want no part of that.”

Rather than getting into a shootout, Hall hopes the Cougars will stick to what has worked for them through their 22-6 season.

“I like a disciplined game, a rebounding game,” Hall said.

With its patient, defense-minded approach, North Charleston has held opponents to a 48-point average.

“Our guys will run at times, but it’s choosing when to,” Hall said.

As the two teams with opposing philosophies take the court, both will be battling to control the pace of the game, not just the points on the scoreboard.

Tiny Timmonsville ready for challenge

The Class A girls finalist Timmonsville Whirlwinds are headed to Colonial Life Arena with one of the smallest, youngest rosters to contend for a title.

The Whirlwinds’ eight-man roster includes three middle-schoolers. The team’s lone senior, Sade Zimmerman, is out with an injury.

Timmonsville, which takes on Abbeville on Saturday, is led at point guard by eighth-grader Justice Gee.

The Panthers, 20-6, are twice as deep and bigger too, but Timmonsville coach Perry Stokes believes playing smart is going to get the Whirlwinds over that hump.

Reach Nelsonat (803) 771-8419