Behind stifling defense, Keenan boys earn another trip to state title game
The Keenan boys basketball team prides itself in playing strong defense.
The Raiders turned in another gem Saturday, shutting a potent Seneca offense in the 59-45 win in the Class 3A Upper State championship game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Keenan goes for its second straight title next Saturday against Wade Hampton at 3:30 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.
Seneca came into the game averaging 75 points but was held to a season-low point total. The Bobcats’ previous low was 47 points against Irmo back in November.
“We love to defend,” Keenan coach Zach Norris said. “It was a challenge because they do such a good job pushing the ball up the floor. I was worried about it at first. But I kept harping on our team that we have to get back. Once we get back, we are all right because we are way bigger than they were.”
Keenan will be joined in Colonial Life Arena next week by its girls team. The Keenan girls defeated Seneca 61-37. It’s the third straight year both teams have made it to the state championship game.
“I told the guys, the girls done punched their ticket. What are you gonna do?” Norris said. “And the boys said, ‘We going.’”
Raekwon Horton scored 25 points to lead Keenan. Jazian Gortman and Samejah Echols each had 11.
Keenan trailed 15-14 after the first quarter but started to turn things around in the second on the defensive end. The Raiders led 28-21 before a Jared Rogers shot at the buzzer cut the lead to 28-23.
In the third quarter, Keenan held Seneca to just one field goal in the first six minutes and led 46-30 after three.
“We knew they liked to get up and down so we wanted to slow the game down and really play defense. Because they don’t play anybody like us that plays defense,” Horton said. “There are a few things we need to work on for next week … but we got the job done.”
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 6:27 PM.
