Keenan marches toward SC basketball history, ends Loris’ storybook season
Keenan boys basketball’s march to the history book continued Friday.
The Raiders earned a spot in the state title game with a 42-39 win over Loris in the Class 3A Lower State championship at the Florence Center. Keenan will face the Powdersville winner at 8 p.m. Thursday in the championship game.
If Keenan wins next week, the Raiders will have 10 state titles and move into second-place behind Great Falls for most state championships in state history (11), regardless of classification.
“That would be so brilliant and excellent,” Keenan coach Zach Norris said. “(Former Great Falls coach John Smith) and I are great friends, so it would put me on the same plateau with him because we had some battles back in the day.
“I hadn’t thought about it too much but it would be marvelous for the schools. We wanted to get back anyway because it brings so much notoriety. Plus, we got some great young kids and will teach them how to carry on the tradition.”
It is the Raiders’ first state championship appearance since winning it all in 2020 and comes after the team’s first losing season in almost 20 years. Keenan went 15-17 last year but still managed to make it to the 2A Upper State title game before losing to Gray Collegiate.
During his pregame speech, Norris talked to his players about getting over that hump and back on the title stage, something the program has been used to doing over the last 2½ decades in which most of the program’s championships have come.
“We been out of that championship too long. Let’s open up that door and go to work,” Norris said to his team moments before taking the court.
The loss ends Loris’ best season in school history. The Lions finished the season with an 18-8 record and were making the first semifinal appearance in program history.
Coach Andrew Eads emerged from the Lions’ locker room and talked about how proud he was of the season but also about the missed opportunities.
Loris had its share of chances to make it to its first title game and almost rallied late to do it.
Marcus Simmons gave Keenan (21-8) a 41-35 lead with 2:45 left but Loris answered with a 5-0 run and Khalil Sherman’s two free throws cut it to 41-39 with 1:35 left.
Loris forced a Keenan turnover with 30 seconds left, but Jacobien Lewis missed a layup.
The Raiders hit 1 of 2 free throws to lead 42-39 and got an open look at a 3-pointer but Nigel Miller missed it.
Loris fouled Nyheim McNeil, who missed both free throws with 2.7 seconds left. But Broderick Anderson secured the rebound to seal the win.
“I thought we played well enough to keep playing, but sometimes it doesn’t work your way and that is what happened tonight,” Eads said.
Antoine Caughman led Keenan with 17 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to put Keenan up 41-35.
Anderson and Simmons each had eight as the Raiders were able to overcome an off night from Class 3A Player of the Year Brian Sumpter, who scored just five points.
“I don’t know what was wrong with him but he is still the man and he will be ready next week,” Norris said of Sumpter. He will be ready next week. But Antoine is getting better and better. We brought him up in the seventh so he knows what it is all about.”
Khalil Sherman led Loris with 10 points while brother Khalid Sherman had eight. The two are part of a large group that will be returning next season for the Lions, who have just two seniors on the roster.
“We know the expectations will be there next year,” Eads said.
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM.
