We ranked top Midlands HS basketball teams’ chances for state championship run
The S.C. High School League and S.C. Independent School Association’s basketball postseason kicks off this week.
The playoffs will culminate with the SCISA championships Feb. 27-28 in Sumter and SCHSL title games returning to Columbia at the Colonial Life Center from March 5-7.
Last year, five area teams played for championships, with three of them — Ridge View and Keenan boys and Blythewood girls — winning it all.
The State developed a list of the area’s top 10 teams that have the best chance to play for a state championship. Here they are.
1. Ridge View boys: The Blazers are going for their third state championship in a row and have five new starters from last year’s championship game. Ridge View’s size, with sophomores CJ Moore and RJ Davis, is tough to match up with, along with guards DJ Wylie, Talan Staley and JT VanKallen.
Ridge View is tested, winning the Arby’s Classic in Tennessee and playing against nationally ranked opponents Montverde Academy and Dynamic Prep.
Ridge View will be at home until the semifinals and could face Dorman in the third round.
2. Gray Collegiate boys: The War Eagles won six championships in Class 2A and will look for their first in Class 4A. Gray also has a deep roster, led by Kennesaw State signee Levi Ball.
The War Eagles are at home for the first three rounds, which might include a third matchup against North Augusta. A possible state semifinal matchup against Wilson in Florence might be GC’s biggest obstacle in getting back to the title game.
3. CA Johnson boys: The Green Hornets gained valuable experience in making it to the state semifinals last season. CAJ returned most of its roster, including Milton McCray, Tony Odom and Aasiac Germany and added Javarious Wyche. All four are averaging double digits in scoring. Possible matchups with Abbeville and Horse Creek Academy might be the Green Hornets’ biggest obstacles to making it to the title game.
4. Blythewood girls: The Bengals are the defending 5A Division I champions and returned their big three of Chase Thomas, India Williams and Hayley Hightower. Blythewood added eighth- grader Kristen Fulton to the starting lineup, so the pieces for another title run are there despite losing the regular-season finale to Ridge View.
Blythewood’s path won’t be easy, with the Upper State bracket including Dorman, Byrnes and Mauldin.
5. Westwood boys: The Redhawks lost a thriller to Sumter, 73-71 (OT) to end the regular season but definitely have the experience and guard play to make it to a state championship. Westwood’s lineup features D’Marcus Thomas, Jayden Crews and Cylan McLeod. The Redhawks can play with top-tier teams and have a win over Ridge View this season. Westwood’s path to the 5A Division II title game includes a bracket with Goose Creek, Berkeley and St. James. The Redhawks might have to go to Saint James for the third round.
6. Keenan boys: The Raiders are the defending 3A state champions, but a return to the title game will definitely be a challenge. Keenan will play its first three rounds on the road despite being a region runner-up because of SC High League sanctions. The Raiders will be without head coach Zach Norris in the playoffs because of the same penalties. Norris can run practices but hasn’t coached in games this year.
Still, Keenan can definitely make a run despite losing the region championship to Fox Creek. The Raiders have a deep roster, which includes Antoine Caughman, Broderick Anderson and Bryson Schofield.
7. Dutch Fork boys: The Silver Foxes won their fifth region title in the last seven years and might have their best team to get to the title game since making it there in 2020. Dutch Fork has a strong 1-2 combination in senior Justus Bell and junior Samajae Govan.
The Silver Foxes are the No. 2 seed in the 5A Division I Upper State bracket and will be at home until the state semifinals. A possible third-round matchup against Byrnes and then maybe Ridge View or Dorman in the semifinals will be a tough challenge.
9. Heathwood Hall boys: The Highlanders won their first region title since 2017 and now hope to make it to their first SCISA title game since 2012. Heathwood is a very balanced and streaky shooting team from the outside, which could be big for a deep playoff run. The SCISA brackets aren’t out yet, but Pinewood Prep, Porter-Gaud and Laurence Manning Academy could be in Heathwood’s path to a title game. Heathwood has a win over Pinewood and one-point loss to Laurence Manning.
9. Keenan girls: The Raiders will be looking to make it back to the championship for the first time since 2022. Keenan made five straight championship appearances with star guard MiLaysia Fulwiley from 2018-2022.
The Raiders have lost in the third round in each of the last two seasons but have one of the top scorers in the area in Taelor Lee-Sutton, who is averaging more than 20 points per game.
10. Ben Lippen girls: The Falcons are in the midst of their best season in a decade, with 20 wins heading into their regular-season finale against Hammond on Tuesday. Ben Lippen is young, with seventh-grader Ny’a Gipson, eighth-grader Ariel Summons and freshman Laney McEntire all in the starting lineup. Powerhouse Northwood is the favorite in SCISA 4A, but the Falcons definitely have a shot to make it to the title game.
Others to watch: Dutch Fork girls, American Leadership boys, Saluda girls, Ben Lippen boys, Camden girls
This story was originally published February 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
