CA Johnson’s solid season ends in SC semifinals as second-half spurt carries Abbeville
The C.A. Johnson High School boys basketball team has made big strides in two seasons under Robert McCray.
But a pair of bad stretches in the second half Thursday ended the Green Hornets’ chance of playing for a state championship. Abbeville used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter on its way to a 58-46 win in the Class A Upper State finals at the Florence Center.
Abbeville advances to play Denmark-Olar for in the state championship game at 4 p.m. March 6. It’s the Panthers’ first state title game appearance since 2016.
“They didn’t really understand the moment and I think we could have played a little better,” McCray said. “The third quarter was one of the worst third quarters we played all year. We got back in and forced a few things.”
McCray spent almost 30 minutes with the team in the postgame locker room. He talked about the missed opportunities in Thursday’s game, but also that his team will return much of its players for next season.
The Green Hornets finish the season at 19-11 and have won 35 games in McCray’s first two seasons after winning 23 in the two seasons prior to his arrival. CAJ’s semifinal appearance was its first since 2016.
“I was proud of those guys in general. We fought. I really think we could have won it this year but we will be back,” McCray said.
CAJ hit a rough stretch in the third quarter and trailed 37-22 before going on an 18-4 run during a stretch in the third and fourth quarters.
Tony Odom’s 3-pointer got CAJ within 41-40. Odom finished with 11 points.
But the Panthers (23-2) answered with a 9-0 run that was capped off by Darius Riley’ 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to make it 50-40.
Abbeville also got a big second half from Jaden Baylor, who scored 19 of his 27 points in the final two quarters.
“Jaden got in foul trouble early and we had to take him out, but he came out in the second half and did what he is used to doing,” Abbeville coach Doug Belcher said.
The Panthers also did a good job in containing CAJ guard Milton McCray after a big first quarter. McCray had 11 points in the first quarter on three 3-pointers. But Belcher said they switched up their defense on the star guard, and he scored just two points after that.
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM.
