SC Lower State basketball championships: Matchups, players to watch and story lines
All games played at Florence Center. Tickets are $12.
Class 5A Boys
Who: Lexington (29-0) vs. Berkeley (25-1)
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Game notes: Lexington is in the state semifinals for the 10th time in the 32 years Bailey Harris has been the coach. The last time the Wildcats made it this far came in 2012 when they lost in the state finals to Gaffney. Mason Carver leads a talented senior class. Berkeley is making its first semifinal appearance in the modern era. The Stags are led by 6-foot-7 Ishan White, who averages 15.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Class 5A Girls
Who: Lexington (24-4) vs. Goose Creek (21-1)
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Game notes: Lexington hasn’t been this far since winning it all in 1979. The Wildcats have seven seniors, led by Class 5A Player of the Year and South Carolina signee Olivia Thompson. She has 1,918 points in her career and is averaging 19.5 points per game this season. Lexington has won 14 of its last 15 games. Goose Creek lost in the Lower State title game last year to eventual champion Spring Valley. The Gators have been to the finals four times with two state titles since 2010.
Class 4A Boys
Who: Darlington (24-3) vs. Wilson (16-8)
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Game notes: The teams have played twice this year with Darlington winning 73-60 in early January and 66-47 on Jan. 25. The Falcons have three players averaging in double figures, led by Kenyon Scott with 16.6 per game. They last made the state finals in 2014. Wilson outlasted Hartsville 97-92 in the third round. The Tigers are making their third straight appearance in the Lower State finals. They lost to Ridge View in the title game last year.
Class 4A Girls
Who: North Augusta (25-2) vs. Myrtle Beach (21-6)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Game notes: North Augusta is the two-time defending Class 4A state champion. They haven’t lost to an in-state opponent since losing to Sumter in the Lower State title game in 2016. Mya Burns is the 4A Player of the Year. Myrtle Beach has won with defense. They’ve allowed 55 points in three playoff games that included two on the road. The Seahawks are in the semifinals for the fifth time this decade.
Class 3A Boys
Who: Ridgeland-Hardeeville (26-3) vs. Manning (23-3)
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Game notes: Ridgeland-Hardeeville is in its fourth Class 3A Lower State Final in five years. A year ago, they made it to the finals for the first time but lost to Southside in the finals. Devin Butler leads the way offensively at 14.3 points per game. Manning last made a state final in 1988. Israel Brown is the top scorer at 14.9 points per game.
Class 3A Girls
Who: Dillon (20-0) vs. Bishop England (26-1)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Game notes: Bishop England is looking to make the state finals for the seventh time in the last eight years. They were eliminated in the third-round last year. The Bishops have won in the first three rounds by an average of 65-31. Dillon is outscoring foes by an average of 53-25 this season. Jykya Bell is averaging 17.1 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 assists per game for the Wildcats.
Class 2A Boys
Who: Gray Collegiate (19-10) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (23-4)
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday
Game notes: Gray Collegiate is the defending Class 2A champions. The War Eagles have won six in a row after playing arguably the toughest schedule in the state. The smallest margin of victory during that time was 18 points. Tommy Bruner is averaging 16.4 points per game for the War Eagles. The teams played on Dec. 11 with Gray winning 75-56. The two schools are sister schools and have built a strong rivalry since Oceanside moved to South Carolina High School League. Shane McCravy leads the Landsharks in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Oceanside has won 13 in a row.
Class 2A Girls
Who: Mullins (17-7) vs. East Clarendon (22-2)
When: 4 p.m. Friday
Game notes: East Clarendon freshman Talaysia Cooper is the 2A Player of the Year. This is the third straight year the Wolverines have played in the semifinals, but the last two were in Class A. Mullins has played in the last two Class 2A finals, winning it all in 2017 before losing to Keenan last year. Jen’Lea Nichols leads the Auctioneers in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Class A Boys
Who: Bethune-Bowman (17-9 ) vs. Hemingway (16-9)
When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Game notes: Bethune-Bowman has won 11 games in a row. Hemingway is the two-time defending state champions and have played in the past three finals. The teams played in the third-round last year with Hemingway coming up with a 69-50 win. Former Mid-Carolina coach Emmanuel DeWalt is the head coach for Hemingway.
Class A Girls
Who: Scott’s Branch (20-3) vs. Lake View (12-10)
When: 11:00 a.m. Saturday
Game notes: Scott’s Branch had its season end last year in the Lower State finals with a loss to East Clarendon. The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Cambria Parker, who is averaging 14.9 points per game. Lake View opened the season by losing eight of its first 10 but has won 10 of 12 since. Lake View didn’t make the playoffs in 2018 and is making its first state semifinal appearance.
This story was originally published February 21, 2019 at 4:15 PM.