Dutch Fork, Ridge View boys move one game away from state championship games
Houston Jones didn’t get much sleep in the day leading up to Dutch Fork’s matchup with Sumter.
But after his performance Monday night, he should sleep pretty good. The Dutch Fork senior scored 23 of his season-high 28 points in the second half in helping the Silver Foxes past Sumter, 58-48, in the Class 5A Lower State semifinals.
“I love this game,” Jones said. “I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited for tonight. I live for every moment. I just love playing the game.
Dutch Fork will play Fort Dorchester in the Lower State championship on Saturday in Florence at 7:30 p.m. It is the Silver Foxes’ third straight appearance in the state semifinals after one just one before that.
Sumter, which trailed for much of the game, took the lead 46-45 on Ahmari Samuel’s basket with 3:38 left. But that’s when Jones took over especially getting to the free-throw line. He hit four free throws on Dutch Fork’s next two possessions.
Then after Sumter coach Bryan Brown was hit with a technical foul, Jones hit all four free throws to make it 53-46 with 2:33 left. He was 15-of-16 from the free-throw line, including 12-of-13 in the fourth quarter.
Jones, an 85 percent free-throw shooter, has missed only five attempts since January.
“Everyone feeds off each other but in that fourth quarter I felt I had to turn it on and get it done” Jones said.
Landon Danley added eight points and Octavious Smith had seven for Dutch Fork. Center Nykeem Issac led Sumter with 19 points.
Ridge View 63, Fort Mill 44
GG Jackson poured in 21 points and 13 rebounds as Ridge View advanced into the Class 5A Upper State playoffs in front of a raucous road crowd.
The Blazers face Mauldin in the Class 5A Upper State final at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bob Jones University in Greenville. Mauldin defeated top-ranked Dorman, 69-68, on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Caleb Byrd.
Xavier Moultrie added 14 points and Donovan Rivers added 10 for the Blazers, who are looking for their fourth state championship appearance in five years under coach Yerrick Stoneman, who is leaving for Oak Hill Academy at the end of the season.
Monday’s Schedule
Class 5A Boys
Ridge View 63 Fort Mill 44
RV: Cohen 6, Xavier Moultrie 14, Letthand 2, Powers 8, GG Jackson 21, Squirewell 2, Donovan Rivers 10. FM: Neibch 4, Jennings 7, Tooder 12, Carrington 12, Stumph 7, Thompson 2.
Dutch Fork 58, Sumter 48
S: Lane 2, Ahmari Samuel 11, Jenkins 8, Bledsoe 8, Nykeem Isaac 19. DF: Green 2, Williams 4, Houston Jones 28, Renner 3, Rivers 6, Smith 7, Danley 8.
Fort Dorchester 47, Lexington 45
L: Cam Scott 16, Figueroa 8, Byrd 8, Farmer 5, Maxwell 5, Mollohan 2, Bell 1
SCISA Class A Girls
Newberry Academy 52, Dorchester Academy 41
NA: Daja Taylor 32, Senn 6, Ka. Cheeks 5, Rivers 5, Joyner 4. DA: Abby Weathers 17, V.Weathers 9, Judy 6, Shelton 5, Guess 4
Tuesday’s Schedule
Class A Boys
CA Johnson at Great Falls
Class 5A Girls
Lexington vs. Sumter, 6 p.m.
SCISA Class A Boys
Richard Winn vs. Patrick Henry at Orangeburg Prep, 5 p.m.
SCISA 3A Girls
Hammond vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 3:30 p.m.
Cardinal Newman vs. Hilton Prep at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s Schedule
Class 3A Boys
Keenan at Seneca
Class 4A Girls
Westside at Westwood, 6 p.m.
AC Flora at Catawba Ridge
Class 2A Girls
Christ Church at Gray Collegiate at Allen University, 6 p.m.
SCISA 3A Boys
Heathwood Hall vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 3:30 p.m.
Hammond vs. Augusta Christian at Sumter Civic Center, 5 p.m.
Cardinal Newman vs. Hilton Head Prep at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday’s Schedule
Class 4A Boys
Travelers Rest at Irmo
AC Flora at South Pointe
Class 2A Boys
Abbeville at Gray Collegiate at Allen University
Class 3A Girls
Blue Ridge at Keenan
Lower Richland at Southside
Camden at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
SCISA Class A Girls
Newberry Academy vs Patrick Henry/Laurens Academy at Cardinal Newman, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Schedule
Class 5A
Upper State Championship
At Bob Jones University
Ridge View vs. Mauldin, 7:30 p.m.
Lower State Championship
At Florence Center
Dutch Fork vs. Fort Dorchester, 730 p.m.
This story was originally published February 21, 2022 at 10:07 PM.
