Sunday, Mar. 08, 2009

Diamonds are 4-ever

Lower Richland shrugs off a slow start to claim its fourth state title in a row

The dynasty continues.

With a 68-42 victory against Darlington in the Class 3A championship, Lower Richland’s girls basketball team proved true the statement printed on the back of their warmup shirts.

With 17 points each from Morgan Stroman, Jasmine Harrison and Stephanie Hayes, the Diamond Hornets claimed their fourth consecutive state title on Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena.

Lower Richland won Class 4A titles the past three seasons.

“It’s a great feeling to come into an arena like this, and know every time you step on the court, you win it,” coach Debbie Stroman said.

The feeling was especially sweet for the Diamond Hornets’ six seniors.

“I’m just happy we won four in a row, and this time it’s my last time,” said guard Dayshaun Richbow, who had six points and two steals in her final game.

“I loved every minute of it. I didn’t want to come out of the game because I knew it was going to be the end,” Hayes said.

Hayes was confident that she was going to earn her fourth ring, even as the Diamond Hornets trailed early.

Darlington (25-3) seemed unfazed by the Diamond Hornets’ pressure at first, and Jazz Green was able to find ways around their perimeter defense.

But Darlington’s resolve quickly eroded when the Diamond Hornets’ offense started clicking. Lower Richland, which went 0-for-9 from the field in the first five minutes, began its run with a layup from Stroman and never looked back.

As the Diamond Hornets began to walk away, Darlington gave up four late first quarter turnovers.

“I was afraid we were going to run out of gas, and we did,” Darlington coach Brian Rozzell said. “Lower Richland put the pressure on and did a good job of frustrating us.

“Once they saw that they had us rattled, they put it down and never let up.”

Hayes opened up the game in the second quarter, hitting two 3-pointers and contributing 10 points, two steals and an assist to push the Diamond Hornets to a 14-point lead.

“Stephanie was on a mission. She was not going to take defeat, and she made her teammates feel like that, too,” coach Stroman said.

Junior Jasmine Harrison finished off the half with two steals, a layup and two free throws.

“I wanted to have fun with it,” Harrison said. “I knew how much our seniors wanted four in a row, and I just wanted them to go out having fun.”

Hayes and Harrison combined for 25 points in the first half and Lower Richland led 34-16 at the break.

Morgan Stroman, a McDonald’s All-American and the Class 3A player of the year, put up most of her 17 points in the fourth quarter.

“I started slow, but it felt great being out there doing my thing at the end,” she said.

The win makes Lower Richland the first team to win four consecutive titles since Bowman did it from 1977-80.

It was the 20th consecutive victory for the Diamond Hornets and their 83rd in a row against instate opponents. No South Carolina team has beaten Lower Richland since 2006.

“This is the legacy that girls leave for you,” Stroman said she told the young Diamond Hornets after the victory.

“And it ain’t gonna stop,” Harrison said.

Reach Nelson at (803) 771-8419.

D: Wilkins 3, Patterson 6, McPhail 4, Jett 5, Jazz Green 18, Bennett 2, McCall 4. LR: Capers 2, Wilson 7, Jasmine Harrison 17, Stephanie Hayes 17, Morgan Stroman 17, Richbow 6, Nathan 2.

MVP

Stephanie Hayes

The senior scored 17 points, including 10 in the second quarter, to help Lower Richland pull ahead. She also produced three steals and four assists.

Head-turning moment

Late in the third quarter, Jasmine Harrison strips a Darlington guard on the perimeter, pushes upcourt and dishes a no-look pass to Morgan Stroman under the basket. Stroman finishes with a layup over two Darlington defenders.

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