It’s a Goliath vs. Goliath basketball game. Who has the edge: Dorman or Ridge View?
Like many high school basketball fans, BJ Jackson will be keeping tabs on the No. 1 Ridge View vs. No. 2 Dorman boys playoff game Friday night.
The second-round Class 5A matchup features two of the premier programs in South Carolina that have combined for seven state championships and 224 victories since 2016-17. Dorman has won four straight Class 5A titles, while Ridge View won the last three Class 4A crowns before moving up to Class 5A this season.
With COVID-19 protocols in place, only 200 or so fans will be allowed into Ridge View’s gymnasium.
“I will be online watching,” said Jackson, the head boys coach at Legacy Early College in Greenville. ”I hope to get down there, but I don’t think I will get a ticket.”
Jackson had an up-close look at both teams and brings a unique perspective to Friday’s showdown. Legacy Early College is one of three teams that played both Dorman and Ridge View this season. (The other two are Arizona Compass Prep and Northwestern High in Rock Hill.)
Legacy defeated Dorman 55-49 on Dec. 2, then beat Ridge View 61-53 at The Bash multi-team event at Columbia International on Dec. 10. South Carolina signee Jacobi Wright and Nebraska signee Bryce McGowens combined for 84 points in the two games for Legacy.
“Against Ridge View, we got it going early in the game and we were able to sustain it,” Jackson said. “Against Dorman, we played one of our best defensive games of the year in the first half. We did a good job switching on screens and made the most of the opportunities to score in transition.”
Jackson said the key to Friday night’s game will be which team imposes their will on the other, and also which team excels in doing the little things such as diving after loose balls, taking charges and creating second-chance opportunities.
Ridge View likes to press on defense and play fast-paced games led by guards Tyler Rice, DaVeon Thomas and Jaylon Jeter. The Blazers also have sophomore big man GG Jackson, who is ranked in the Top 30 nationally for the Class of 2023.
Dorman likes to play more of a half-court style of game and has three big post players in Noah Clowney (6-foot-9), Jordyn Surratt (6-6) and Dessie Canty (6-5) to go along with guard and Class 5A Player of Year Jalen Brezeale.
“Watching Ridge View the last couple games, they want to spread the tempo up and are doing a heck of a job with their full-court pressure,” Jackson said. “Dorman, they want to run the half-court sets and want you to make you guard them.
“Ridge View does a great job of shooting the ball and Dorman likes to pound the ball inside. Size-wise and inside Dorman has the edge, but guards-wise Ridge View has the edge.”
Jackson stopped short of offering a prediction on the matchup. The State, in an anonymous poll, asked 15 coaches from around of the state who will win Friday — 10 of them chose Ridge View. One coach said the teams could play 10 times and they’d each win five games.
Jackson said games like Dorman-Ridge View show the quality of high school basketball programs in South Carolina on an annual basis.
“It shows this state is more than a football state,” Jackson said. “You look at basketball in the state of South Carolina, it is going to continue to grow because of great coaches and players. Schools are doing the right things in building their programs up.”
How to watch Dorman vs Ridge View
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Ridge View High School
Tickets: Sold out
TV/stream: The game will be streamed on the QC Broadcasting Facebook page.
About Dorman basketball
Record: (19-4, Ranked No. 2 in SC Basketball Coaches Poll)
Coach: Thomas Ryan (15th year)
Record since 2016-17: 125-17
State Championships: 4 (Class 5A)
SC Basketball Coaches Players of Year: Myles Tate (2020), PJ Hall (2020), Jalen Breazeale (2021)
Other tournaments, honors: Won 2019 Beach Ball and Chick-fil-A Classic. Invited to 2020 GEICO Nationals (wasn’t played because of COVID-19). Ranked No. 2 in ESPN and MaxPreps final 2019-20 Top 25 polls
College basketball signees since 2016-17: Zach Butler (Ohio University), Tae Cannon (Catawba), Tyson McClain (Lenoir Rhyne), Gabe Bryant (Gardner Webb/Lees Mcrae), Ethan Parton (Lander), Ta’Lon Cooper (Morehead State), Kamal Desor (Wingate), Myles Tate (Butler), PJ Hall (Clemson), Justin Amadi (James Madison), Tresean Staggs (Lander), Dessie Canty (Southern Wesleyan), Earl Burgess (Converse)
About Ridge View basketball
Record: 14-2, Ranked No. 1 in the S.C. Basketball Coaches Poll
Coach: Yerrick Stoneman (5th year)
Record since 2016-17: 99-32
State Championships: 3 (Class 4A)
SC Basketball Coaches Players of Year: Ja’Von Benson (2020)
Other tournaments, honors: 2016 Farm Bureau Classic champions, 2019 Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic champions
College basketball signees since 2016-17: Joshua Coatie (Newberry), Kaiden Rice (The Citadel), Ja’Von Anderson (Francis Marion), Brennan Bynum (Spartanburg Methodist), Crosby Harris-James (Anderson), Joseph McKenny (Southern Wesleyan), Walyn Napper (Dodge City), Malcolm Wilson (Georgetown), Ja’Von Benson (South Carolina), Jaden Kennedy (Campbell), Cincere Scott (USC Salkehatchie), Tyler Rice (William & Mary), DaVeon Thomas (Queens)
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 1:36 PM.
