What teams, players to watch in Midlands as push begins for SC basketball playoffs
We’ve made it through the non-region and holiday tournament portion of the high school basketball schedule in South Carolina.
Now, it’s time for region play and the journey to next month’s postseason.
Here is a look at which players and teams have stood out in first half of the season:
Boys Basketball
▪ Class 5A: Lexington started the season as preseason No. 1 in Class 5A. While they are no longer at the top spot in the latest poll, the Wildcats are a local favorite to make it to the 5A title game. Lexington has the area’s top player in Cam Scott and talented newcomers in Jaxon Prunty and Kaleb Evans along with returnees Jose Figueroa and Coulter Bell.
Lexington has played a tough non-region schedule with tournaments in Tennessee and Chick-fil-A Classic, so they will be battle-tested. The Wildcats’ playoff road will be a tough one if they win the region, as the No. 1 and 4 seeds go to the Upper State side of the bracket.
Dutch Fork added Clemson football signee Jarvis Green to its lineup this week and the Silver Foxes hope to make a postseason run. Blythewood and Spring Valley will be contenders in Region 3-5A. Bengals head coach Zeke Washington earned his 500th win over Christmas break, and Blythewood has a young but talented roster.
▪ Class 4A: Irmo has been the top local team in Class 4A and was ranked No. 4 statewide in the latest poll, and coach Tim Whipple has his team in contention for another playoff run.
The Yellow Jackets won the Mountaineer Classic last week and were a game away from playing for the state championship last year. Brandon Crawford has emerged as one of the top players in the area.
Ridge View has gone through a roster changeover in Joshua Staley’s first season. The Blazers should be a factor in region play.
Ridge View and Irmo are part of Region 5-4A, one of the toughest regions in the state with A.C. Flora, Westwood, Lugoff-Elgin and Richland Northeast all capable of making the playoffs.
▪ Class 2A: Gray Collegiate continues to be the team to beat and enters the week as No. 1 with just one of its five losses against an in-state opponent. Senior guard Trai White was the MVP of the Poinsettia Classic and has stepped up his game this season. The War Eagles soon will open its new on-campus gym and have a true home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Keenan will be a big threat to Gray for Region 4-2A and in the Upper State playoffs. The two teams will play Jan. 17 and 20. Senior Chrisean Oree has been Keenan’s top scorer and had strong showing in the Chick-fil-A Classic.
Other teams to watch for are Columbia in Region 4-2A and Newberry in Region 2-2A.
▪ SCISA 3A: Cardinal Newman is 7-10 but has only played one SCISA team so far. The Cardinals have played the likes of Oak Hill, Keenan, Lexington and in a tournament in Las Vegas. The Cards have three players averaging double figures in Evan Carter, Josiah Peeples and Jordan Frazer.
Ben Lippen is off to a 12-1 start under second-year coach Jay Reid. The Falcons have a big road win over Porter-Gaud. The Falcons have talented guards in senior Ellis Jones and Braysen Stockman, the son of former Clemson player Tony Stockman.
Girls basketball
▪ Class 5A: Spring Valley and Lexington both are ranked in the latest top 10 and have a good shot to make a deep playoff run. The teams split their two games this season.
The Wildcats have Lindsay Garner and Jenna Yanty, who have been a part of the team’s region titles the last few seasons. The Vikings have a veteran team led by senior Jaidah Liebert.
▪ Class 4A: Westwood and A.C. Flora are the area teams to watch in 4A.
Both programs are ranked in the statewide Top 10 and play for the first time against each other Friday.
Westwood has Division I signee Jessica Woods (Campbell). The Redhawks’ three losses came against out-of-state teams. A.C. Flora has a win over state champion Keenan and has a good 1-2 scoring punch in Trinity Delaney and Terriana Gray.
▪ Class 3A: Camden might be the best team in the area and has one of the top players in the country in junior Joyce Edwards, who is averaging 26.7 points and 15.2 rebounds.
The Bulldogs won their bracket in the United Bank Holiday Classic in Myrtle Beach and dominated Keenan in the girls showcase at the Chick-fil-A Classic.
Lower Richland and Gilbert also are ranked and will contend for the Region 5-3A championship. LR recently knocked off A.C. Flora.
▪ Class 2A: Keenan enters the week ranked No. 1 in 2A and is going for its fifth title in the last six seasons. The Raiders have struggled at times, especially against Camden in the CFA Classic, but still have South Carolina signee MiLaysia Fulwiley, the state’s top senior prospect and one of best players in the country.
Gray Collegiate will test Keenan in Region 4-2A and are poised to make a big postseason run in former Gamecocks standout Brandon Wallace’s first season as coach.
Columbia also is a team in Region 4-2A that is ranked in the latest coaches poll.
▪ SCISA: Heathwood Hall has been a surprise this season and is the lone unbeaten area team. The Highlanders have a talented trio in Lauren Jacobs, Sabreya Monsanto and Camillea Gore, all averaging double figures. Jacobs and Monsanto were part of the Cardinal Newman championship team last season.
