Blythewood girls, Keenan boys punch tickets to SC state basketball semifinals
Unranked in the preseason and four years removed from a winless season, the Blythewood girls basketball team has made big strides this season.
The Bengals took another big step Monday night with a 60-47 over Rock Hill in the third round of the Class 5A Division I Upper State playoffs.
Blythewood will play JL Mann in the Upper State championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Florence Center. Both Bengal basketball teams will make the trip to Florence with the boys facing Dorman at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
But the girls trip might have been a little more unexpected. Blythewood went winless just four years ago and wasn’t ranked when the SC Basketball Coaches Polls were released in November. Rock Hill entered the season at No. 1.
Three months later, Blythewood is a win away from playing for a state title and is in its second state semifinal in school history.
“This is definitely a personal season for us. It was like a get-back season,” Blythewood guard Chase Thomas said. “Last year, we went out in the first round and didn’t feel very good. But we came back with a better attitude, worked hard and it shows now.”
Thomas has been one of the cornerstones in the Bengals’ turnaround. The junior scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the victory.
Thomas did it a variety of ways, hitting from the outside, driving to the basket or posting up.
“She definitely is a good player, bright future and she stepped up big time,” Blythewood coach Emily Shaeffer said. “In big moments, she steps up and that is all I can ask for.”
India Williams added 10 points and Daniella Bosman had nine for the Bengals, who blew things open in the third quarter.
Blythewood went on an 8-0 run in the third and India Williams banked a 3-pointer to put the Bengals up 33-23.
Rock Hill got within 50-41 with 4:15 left but Thomas’ three-point play pushed the lead back up over double digits.
Blythewood also did a good job containing Rock Hill all-state guard Aubrey Stevenson in the second half. The senior scored 14 in the first half but just eight in the second half.
“At halftime, we made a few adjustments and had to close down the middle, quit letting them drive,” Shaeffer said. “We picked up our defense. And when we play better defense, we get transition baskets on the other end.”
Keenan boys headed to state semifinals
The Keenan boys earned a spot in the 3A Lower State championship with a 50-36 win at No. 1 ranked Oceanside Collegiate.
The Raiders will play Loris at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Wofford signee Brian Sumpter led Keenan with 15 points and Broderick Anderson added 11. Keenan outscored the Landsharks, 20-8, in the fourth quarter.
Jake Thomas led Oceanside with nine points.
Ridge View girls lose 4OT thriller
The Ridge View girls came up just short from a trip to Florence.
Top-ranked Ashley Ridge defeated the Blazers, 64-60, in four overtimes to advance to the Class 5A Lower State championship game. AR will face Summerville at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Silver Foxes fall in third round
Jade Hailstock scored 27 points and Breah Franks had 13 as JL Mann defeated Dutch Fork, 67-57, in the Class 5A Division I Upper State playoffs.
Dutch Fork ends its season at 22-3, its second straight 20-win season.
Jamia Gerald led Dutch Fork with 11 points and Michaela Fairwell had nine.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM.
