Lower Richland and Chapin survived first round testing on Tuesday in the Class 3A state boys basketball playoffs, but Dreher, Airport and Brookland-Cayce did not.

As usual, Lower Richland opened postseason play on a positive note, crushing visiting Georgetown 67-25 It was the 17th straight playoff-opening win for the vaunted program since 1993.

The Region 5 champion Diamond Hornets, who stand at 16-10 and have gone 11-1 since coming out of the holiday break, host Hartsville on Friday. The teams last met in the Class 4A playoffs in 2007 – a 67-57 Red Foxes win. Hartsville thumped Battery Creek 75-46 in its 3A playoff debut on Tuesday.

Vincent Hicklin and Edward Stephens paced the balanced LR scoring attacj vs. Georgetown with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Chapin, which blew a chance for a first-round playoff game by losing its final two games in the regular season, made a little history anyway on Tuesday. The Eagles (13-10) upset North Myrtle Beach 70-62 in overtime to secure its first postseason victory in 10 years – dating back to a 78-76 win over Andrew Jackson in a 2A playoff opener in 2001.

The host Chiefs sent the game into overtime with a late 3-pointer, but Chapin dominated the extra session as Brian Kidd scored eight of his game high 27 points in OT, including a clutch, 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line.

Michael Weimer, who fouled out in regulation, and Michael Melvin backed Kidd with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Melvin’s total included three 3-pointers.

The Eagles hit the road again on Friday to face Lake Marion (16-7), a 60-50 winner over Lakewood last night. Chapin heads to Santee with the goal; of coming away with its first second round triumph since 1998.

The Dreher girls upset host St. James in the 3A girls playoffs on Monday. Last night the Sharks boys team returned the favor – stunning the host Blue Devils, 56-55. That closed the book on a 17-9 Dreher campaign.

A disappointing 7-15 season at Brookland-Cayce came to an end on Tuesday, but at least the Bearcats went down swinging in a 64-62 loss at Daniel against the defending state champion Lions.

Airport (8-14) made it back to the state playoffs for the first time in three years, but clearly was outclassed by Wilson, 68-32.