Irmo boys win thriller over Blythewood, give coach Tim Whipple another region title
Irmo boys basketball coach Tim Whipple didn’t think his team was worthy of the lofty preseason ranking it received.
But with less than two weeks left in the regular season, the hall of fame is changing its tune.
Dylan Williams scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and the Yellow Jackets wrapped up the Region 4-5A title by holding on for a 58-55 win over Blythewood on Tuesday night.
“I think this group was put in a difficult position to start the year because we were ranked so high,” said Whipple, who notched career win No. 776. “I didn’t think we deserved that ranking. Winning region gives us a little validity that we have battled, fought and found a way to win when we haven’t played great basketball.
“I think the (region title) shows a lot about our resilience and willingness to work and stay after it.”
Irmo (19-3, 6-0) began the season ranked No. 5 and is up to No. 2 in this week’s poll behind three-time state champion Dorman. By the Yellow Jackets winning the region, the two teams wouldn’t meet in the postseason until the Upper State final in Greenville on Feb. 29. But Whipple knows that would be a long way off.
Whipple has been pleased with steady progression of his team during the season and thought Tuesday’s win might have been one of the team’s best efforts of the season as they overcame foul trouble to his center CJ Washington and strong effort from Blythewood, which could tied for the region lead with a win.
The Bengals (14-10, 3-3) led 32-28 at halftime and were ahead 47-46 going into the fourth quarter. The score was tied at 51 with less than three minutes to go but Williams gave the Yellow Jackets the lead with a slashing move to the basket and added two free throws to make it 55-51 with 1:13 left.
Emmanuel Richard’s’ basket got Blythewood within 55-53 with 47 seconds. Irmo’s lead was 58-55 with 10 seconds left and Williams at the line for two shots. The point guard missed them both and Stacy Shepard’s 3-pointer went halfway down and back out on the Bengals’ game-tying attempt.
“We had two fouls to give so what I was thinking was foul,” Whipple said of the final sequence. “That ball almost went in and we would have went to overtime and I don’t think our chances were looking good in overtime.”
Khari Felder led Irmo with 17 points, 13 in the first half and Washington had 14.
Julian Phillips led Blythewood with 16 and Richards had 12.
I: Dylan Williams 13, Khari Felder 17, Readus 2, CJ Washington 14, Kiett 4, Forrest 2, Bing 2, Avery 4. B: Emmanuel Richard 12, Julian Phillips 16, Williams 6, Samuel 6, Rogers 6, Hardy 2, Shepherd 6, Wright 1.
Girls
Irmo 59, Blythewood 24
I: Ehrial Wagstaff 14, Jayla Lovett 16, Jones 2, Smith 2, Whaley 4, Maliyiah Mason 11, N. Johnson 4, Thomas 4, Seabrook 2. B: Jones 4, Terry 2, Bosman 8, Swanier 5, Kelly 3, Gallmon 2
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 10:30 PM.
