10 Midlands high school basketball teams with best chances for championship run
The S.C. High School League basketball playoffs kick off this week, while the S.C. Independent School Association’s postseason wraps up this weekend.
There are plenty of Midlands teams capable of making deep playoff runs and possibly playing for a state championship. The State compiled a list of the 10 best ones, plus others to watch out for over the next two weeks.
▪ 1. Ridge View boys: The Blazers are the No. 1 seed in the 5A Division I Lower State bracket and have been on top of the state rankings all season. Ridge View is deep and balanced, led by junior Korie Corbett. Ridge View has won 13 straight games and hasn’t lost to an in-state team this season.
▪ 2. Heathwood Hall girls: The Highlanders are going for their third-straight SCISA state championship and are led by Ole Miss signee Lauren Jacobs and East Tennessee State signee SaBreya Monsanto, who both are trying to win their fifth state title. The two won a pair of titles with Cardinal Newman before transferring to Heathwood.
▪ 3. Keenan boys: The Raider boys haven’t won a state championship since 2020 and won’t have Gray Collegiate to deal with. The War Eagles moved up to 4A and Keenan is now in 3A. Keenan’s deep roster is led by Wofford signee Brian Sumpter. The biggest obstacle might come against Oceanside Collegiate in the third round.
▪ 4. Keenan girls: The Raiders are looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since winning three straight from 2020 to 2022. Keenan blew through region competition, allowing under 35 points in all those games.
▪ 5. Dutch Fork girls: The Silver Foxes won their second-straight region title and are the No. 1 seed in 5A Division I Upper State. Senior Michaela Fairwell leads the team in scoring at 18.1 points per game.
▪ 6. Gray Collegiate boys: The War Eagles won three straight 2A titles but moved up to 4A this year with new coach Carlos Powell. Gray bounced back from early losses in region to Brookland-Cayce and North Augusta before beating them both a second time around. The 4A Lower State bracket is one of the toughest with the likes of North Augusta, Wilson, Crestwood and B-C.
▪ 7. Lower Richland girls: The Diamond Hornets went 22-1 with the lone loss to University (WVa.) and won’t have Camden to deal with this year (the Bulldogs are in 4A Upper State). The biggest test could come in the state semifinal possibly against No. 1 North Augusta.
▪ 8. Dutch Fork boys: Silver Foxes won the region title and come into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in Class 5A Division I Upper State. They have a balanced line-up including Bryson Taylor, Justus Bell and Caleb Garner
▪ 9. Blythewood girls: The Bengals won their first region title since 2008 and are the No. 2 seed in 5A Division I Upper State. Blythewood is balanced, with three double-digit scorers led by Chase Thomas (23.7).
▪ 10. Blythewood boys: The Bengals lost their final two games against Ridge View to close the season but have the potential to make run in the postseason with TJ Lewis, one of the top scorers in the area. Blythewood could have a tough test against Byrnes in round two.
Others to watch: Hammond boys; Ridge View girls, River Bluff boys, Lexingtoh girls, White Knoll girls, AC Flora girls, Camden girls, Batesburg-Leesville boys, Northside Christian girls, Spring Valley girls, Brookland-Cayce boys, Dreher boys, CA Johnson boys, Saluda girls, Fairfield Central boys
This story was originally published February 17, 2025 at 9:36 AM.
