Cardinal Newman girls move on, other Midlands teams bow out in basketball playoffs
The Lexington High School girls basketball team’s bid for a trip to the state semifinals ended in the final minutes of their game Tuesday night.
Sumter outscored the Wildcats 14-2 over the final 4:02 for the 53-47 victory in the third round of the Class 5A Lower State playoffs. The Gamecocks advance to their second straight state semifinal and will play Summerville on Saturday at the Florence Center.
“They got the hot hand and we couldn’t knock down shots. We got good looks,” Lexington coach Molly Goodrich said. “But at the end of the day, they can’t hang their heads. They played a hard game. It just stinks we are on the lower end of it.”
Lexington finishes the season at 20-4. The Wildcats came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class 5A.
Lexington, which trailed 33-27 at halftime, held Sumter to two points in the third but still was down 35-33 going into the fourth.
The Wildcats took a 42-39 lead on Alexis Sexton’s 3-pointer with 4:53 to go. Charlize Missick-Rivas’ three-point play made it 45-39 with 4:04 left. That was the only free throw Lexington attempted in the game.
From there, Sumter took over and allowed just one field the rest of the game. Sophomore Kiara Croskey led the way for Sumter with 27 points, including 19 in the first half.
Lindsay Garner led Lexington with 13 points. Sexton and Jenna Yanity each had 12.
Cardinal Newman 54, Hilton Head Prep 33
South Carolina Gamecocks signee Ashlyn Watkins had a triple-double as the shorthanded Cardinals advanced in the SCISA 3A playoffs.
Cardinal Newman will play Friday against Northwood at 6:30 p.m. in Sumter. The Cardinals, who normally have eight players, dressed just six for the game.
Watkins, a McDonald’s All-American, finished with 19 points, 22 rebounds and 11 blocks. Lauren Jacobs added 16 points.
Cardinal Newman has won the last three SCISA 3A state titles.
First Baptist 69, Hammond 66
The Skyhawks’ rally came up short in the second round of the SCISA 3A playoffs.
Hammond trailed by 10 with 4:16 left and got within 68-66 with 16.4 seconds left, but that was as close as it got.
Tyra Myers scored 27 points in her final game at Hammond. The senior went over 2,000 points earlier this year.
Great Falls 66, CA Johnson 60
The Green Hornets’ season ended in the third round of the Class A boys playoffs.
Great Falls outscored CA Johnson 12-6 in the final 2:44.
DaQuan Ramey led CAJ with 15 points. Jalen Gilmore and Devron Davis each had 12.
Tuesday’s Midlands scores
Class A Boys
Great Falls 66, CA Johnson 60
CAJ: DaQuan Ramey 15, Jalen Gilmore 12, Devron Davis 12, Johwon Moore 9, Cecilius Bailey 9, Johvon Moore 2.
Class 5A Girls
Sumter 53, Lexington 47
L: Green 3, Alexis Sexton 12, Jenna Yanity 12, Saville 2, Lindsay Garner 13. S: Kiara Croskey 27, Rickell Brown 11, Brunson 1, Andrews 6, Spann 8.
SCISA Class A Boys
Patrick Henry 50, Richard Winn 34
RW: Lawson Wade 13 Drew Spires 10 Landon Caulder 4 Rob Wilson 3 Jacob Chaisson 2 Miller Stuck 2
SCISA 3A Girls
First Baptist 69, Hammond 66
FB: Tiana Spann 24, Yannah Seaberry 16, Mia Wysong 13, Lexi Grant 10, Brown 4, White 2. Ham: Tyra Myers 27, Anna Katherine Adams 14, Samira Khalil 13, Inman 5, Evans 3, Vincent 3, Earle 1.
Cardinal Newman 54, Hilton Prep 33
CN: Ashlyn Watkins 19, Lauren Jacobs 16, Monsanto 8, Hoover 6, Tuorto 5. HHP: Katie Campbell 10, Campbell 8, Clark 7, Hopman 4, Braun 2, Brothers 2.
Wednesday’s Midlands schedule
Class 3A Boys
Keenan at Seneca, 7 p.m.
Class 4A Girls
Westside at Westwood, 6 p.m.
AC Flora at Catawba Ridge
Class 2A Girls
Christ Church at Gray Collegiate at Allen University, 6 p.m.
SCISA 3A Boys
Heathwood Hall vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 3:30 p.m.
Hammond vs. Augusta Christian at Sumter Civic Center, 5 p.m.
Cardinal Newman vs. Hilton Head Prep at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday’s Midlands schedule
Class 4A Boys
Travelers Rest at Irmo
AC Flora at South Pointe
Class 2A Boys
Abbeville at Gray Collegiate at Allen University
Class 3A Girls
Blue Ridge at Keenan
Lower Richland at Southside
Camden at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
SCISA Class A Girls
Newberry Academy vs Patrick Henry at Cardinal Newman, 3:30 p.m.
Friday’s Midlands schedule
SCISA Class 3A Girls
Cardinal Newman vs. Northwood Academy at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Midlands schedule
Class 5A
Upper State Championship
At Bob Jones University
Ridge View vs. Mauldin, 7:30 p.m.
Lower State Championship
At Florence Center
Dutch Fork vs. Fort Dorchester, 730 p.m.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 9:22 PM.
