Gray Collegiate basketball dominates Keenan in powerhouse clash at MLK Bash
Dion Bethea missed nights like Saturday when he was away from high school basketball last year.
The Gray Collegiate head coach spent last year as an assistant at Georgia Southern before returning to the War Eagles’ program, which he built into one of the best in the state, winning six state titles.
The War Eagles, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, definitely look like title contenders again after a dominating 80-64 performance against Keenan at the MLK Bash at CA Johnson.
“It is great to be back. Great to be back in the city,” Bethea said.
With the win, Gray is 14-3 all-time against Keenan and has won seven straight against the Raiders.
The Keenan-Gray game was the marquee matchup of the annual MLK Bash, which was moved this year from Eau Claire to CA Johnson High School. It was the first year that boys and girls played on the same day.
This was the first matchup between the War Eagles and Raiders since the 2024 2A Lower State final, which Gray won, 45-38. That game was known for the post-game interaction between Keenan coach Zach Norris and Bethea. Norris skipped the handshakes after the loss to the War Eagles.
Norris wasn’t on the Keenan bench Saturday despite serving his 13-game suspension for the SC High School League violation. It is unknown whether he will be able to coach this season for the Raiders. He is back at the school and allowed to be at practice and watch games in the stands, but not on the bench. It is unlikely he will be able to coach in the postseason.
“Best part for me was giving Coach Norris a hug,” Bethea said. “All our great battles we have had but not seeing him on the sidelines, that was weird.”
Assistant Alex Harper, one of Norris’ former players, is the acting coach and definitely missed Norris not being on the bench Saturday. He said he is trying to do his best to keep the kids prepared.
“Coach is a legend … and it affected a lot of us,” Harper said. “Just trying to do the best we can. Everything he implemented is still in place. We are just trying to take things one day at a time.”
When asked about Norris situation, a Richland 1 spokesperson replied to The State, “We are complying with the directives issued by the South Carolina High School League. We have coaching staff in place to continue leading the team for upcoming games this season.”
Gray was dominant from the start, jumping out to a 21-5 lead to start the game. The War Eagles started the third quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 51-29. The lead grew to as many as 24 points in the second half.
Luis Echieverra was the game’s MVP, scoring 20 points. Kennesaw State’s Levi Ball added 17. Rickey Littlejohn had 13 and Malachi Felder had 10.
Gray’s outside shooting made the difference in the game, hitting nine 3-pointers, six combined from Echieverra and Ball.
“Lot of credit to the guys at Georgia Southern. They taught me a lot,” Bethea said of his team’s shooting drills in practice. “Lot of practice on making shots and not just taking shots. They are tremendous at making shots but when they do miss one, they run up to each other and say let’s make the next one.”
Gray also was the aggressive team on defense and forced 26 Keenan turnovers. Harper also thought his team didn’t give the defensive effort he was used to seeing.
“Gray didn’t do anything special. It was solely based on us. We didn’t play Keenan basketball,” Harper said. “We weren’t talking on defense and getting straight-line drives to the lane. And that is what happens when you don’t play defense.”
Antoine Caughman led Keenan with 20 points.
K: Simpson 9, Hunter 8, Mathis 3, Antoine Caughman 20, Anderson 5, Brunson 8, Jacques 3, Schofield 8. GC: Luis Echieverra 20, Levi Ball 17, Rickey Littlejohn 13, Rowe 7, Harrington 4, Johnson 2, Tyler 2, Arthur 3, Malachi Felder 10.
MLK Bash Scores
Girls
Keenan 50, Lower Richland 41
K: Taelor Lee-Sutton 23, Mines 4, Brown 7, Caughman 9, Robinson 7, Williams. LR: Jackson 8, Dingle 3, Jay 7, Watts 1, Jhnai Sumter 16, Wright 5
Camden 61, Dutch Fork 38
DF: Lee 6, Gibson 3,McCree 2, Avoni Adams 13, Boyd 4, Crumlin 8. C: Dupree 2, Laikahloni Seagers 10, Harris 9, Mungo 8, Blaylock 3, Jillian Rush 14, Alexander 9.
Ridge View 52, Military Magnet 46
MM: Mariah Brown 12, Smith 7, Wilson 3, L. Brown 6, Da’Nariyah Williams 11. RV: Ferguson 9, Roberson 5, Foster 6, Lewis 6, English 7, Jaliyah Robinson 13, Carr 4, Johnson 2.
North Augusta 61, Goose Creek 36
NA: Boney 2, Williams 6, Wright 4, Davis 2, Celena Grant 18, Ashley Walker 31. GC: Frasier 4, Madeline Dates 11, Moses 5, Madison-Ladson 2, Downey 9.
Boys
CA Johnson 72, Irmo 49
CAJ: Milton McCray 20, Tony Odom 20, Aissac Germany 15, Wyche 1, Walker-Hair 5, Jacobs 2, Harper 2, White 3, Bryant 4. I: Pierce 7, Grissett 4, Christian Brown 17, White 3, Thompson 2, Oshin Brown 14.
Sumter 60, Lexington 40
L: Matthews 8, Glenn 8, Washington 2, Howard 3, Miles 7, Boucharo 4, Hill 1, Mills 7. S: Eli Britt 20, Ward 4, Pedergrass 1, Choice 2, BJ Brown 15, Gregg 8, Ari Rendell 10.
North Augusta 60, Greenville 51
NA: Broadwater 3, Rouse 4, Toian Nabriant 10, Tristan Anderson 23, Q. Webb 17, Wright 3. G: McKoy 1, Shell 4, Farrow 8, Gavin Griffin 10, Scholl 9, Caden Coleman 11, Kirkpatrick 8
This story was originally published January 17, 2026 at 11:13 PM.
