As the Midlands prep basketball season winds down, here are 9 matchups to watch
The high school basketball season is winding down in the Midlands and across the state.
There are only three weeks left in the regular season, and here are nine matchups to watch from here on out.
Dutch Fork vs. Irmo boys (Jan. 23, Feb. 12)
The two matchups between Irmo high schools might go a long way in deciding the Region 4-5A championship. Dutch Fork moved into top spot in the Class 5A Division I coaches poll this week and has been dominant, winning its first three region games by an average of 38.6 points. Irmo will get two chances to slow down the Silver Foxes, beginning Friday at home. Irmo has won two straight region games after an 0-2 start in the region.
Irmo/Dutch Fork/Lexington/Chapin girls
The Region 4-5A girls championship is the most competitive in the area and no one game will decide the title. Irmo, Dutch Fork and Lexington are all tied at 3-1 and Chapin is a game back at 2-2. Irmo and Dutch Fork will play each other twice on Jan. 23 and Feb. 12. Lexington has games with Irmo on Jan. 30 and Dutch Fork on Feb. 6. Chapin, which handed Irmo its first region loss, has Dutch Fork on Jan. 30, Lexington on Feb. 3 and Irmo on Feb. 10.
Westwood at Ridge View boys (Jan. 27)
The biggest game left in Region 5-5A is set for Tuesday at Ridge View between the Redhawks and the Blazers. Westwood is ranked No. 2 in Class 5A Division II, while Ridge View is No. 2 in Class 5A Division I. Westwood defeated Ridge View, 64-61, on Jan. 5 and will have control of the region with a win. The Blazers have won nine of their last 11 in the series against the Redhawks and haven’t lost to them at home since 2013.
Gray Collegiate at North Augusta boys (Jan. 27)
The second matchup between the top-ranked teams in Class 4A will likely determine the Region 4-4 crown. Top-ranked Gray defeated No. 2 North Augusta, 64-56, in the region opener on Dec. 16. The War Eagles (17-2) haven’t lost since losing to Davidson Day (NC) on Dec. 13. North Augusta is 2-0 all-time against Gray Collegiate at home, including a win in last year’s Class 4A playoffs.
Camden at South Pointe girls (Jan. 30)
The rematch between the Bulldogs and Stallions could decide the Region 3-4A championship. South Pointe won the first matchup, 75-63, on Jan. 7 and hasn’t lost a region game since Jan. 21, 2023. Since its loss to South Pointe, Camden has won four straight by an average of 29.7 points.
Ben Lippen at Hammond girls (Feb. 3)
The Falcons have been one of the surprises in the area this year and are in the driver’s seat in SCISA Region 1-4A. Ben Lippen (16-7, 5-0) hasn’t won a region championship in what is believed to be more than 20 years and hasn’t finished with a winning record in the region since 2017. The Skyhawks might have the best chance to slow down the Falcons and are the only team in the region to lose by less than 20 points (54-36).
Ben Lippen at Heathwood Hall boys (Feb. 5)
Heathwood Hall knocked off Ben Lippen, 55-54 on Wednesday’s as Xander Pertile hit a shot at the buzzer. If the Highlanders win the home matchup against the Falcons, it likely would give them their first region title since 2017. Ben Lippen also hasn’t been in the thick of a region race in more than a decade and features the area’s top scorer in Braysen Stockman.
Both teams also have games against Hammond, which looks to play spoiler in the region race.
Fox Creek at Keenan boys (Feb. 6)
Fox Creek defeated Keenan, 66-57 (OT) on Tuesday for the first win over the Raiders in school history. The Predators must win at Keenan for the sweep and Region 4-3A title. Keenan has struggled over the last few weeks as it continues to play without head coach Zach Norris on the bench. The Raiders are tough to beat at The Cove and the loss to Fox Creek was their first region loss in two years.
Ridge View at Blythewood girls (Feb. 13)
Defending Class 5A Division I Blythewood has found its groove after a 1-3 start and has a nine-game winning streak, including a 53-35 win over Ridge View on Jan. 20. The Bengals have won their first region games by an average margin of 38 points.
Ridge View has gotten better in its first year under coach Aaron Lucas and the loss to the Bengals snapped its six-game winning streak.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 9:58 AM.
