These Midlands HS basketball teams among top SC contenders to win state titles
The South Carolina High School League and S.C. Independent School Association basketball playoffs begin this week. There’s a good chance the Columbia area will be represented in this year’s state championship games.
Since 2018, area teams have won at least five SCHSL or SCISA championships each year, with seven titles won in the 2019-20 season. Last season, Gray Collegiate and Ridge View boys, and Keenan, Cardinal Newman and Newberry Academy girls won championships.
The SCHSL finals are March 2-4, with SCISA wrapping up the prior weekend.
Here is a look at teams (in alphabetical order) that might be hoisting championship trophies when the playoffs wrap up:
Camden girls
Led by Joyce Edwards, the nation’s No. 2 recruit for the Class of 2024, the Bulldogs could stake their claim as the best girls team in the state regardless of classification if they win a Class 3A title. Camden (24-2) hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent all year and defeated Mauldin (No. 2 team in 5A) and the top two teams in Class 4A (North Augusta and South Pointe) by 19 points or more. Edwards is averaging 28.7 points and 13.7 rebounds per game and needs 151 points to go over 3,000 points in her career.
Gray Collegiate/Keenan boys
These two teams are the favorites to win the Class 2A title and, barring an upset, should square off in the Upper State finals in Greenville. The last time the two teams were in the same classification, they met in the state semifinal — Gray won 49-46 in 2018. The Region 4-2 schools split their two games this year, with each winning on the other’s homecourt.
Heathwood Hall girls
The Highlanders haven’t won the SCISA championship since A’ja Wilson’s senior year in 2014, but they have a good chance to end that drought. Heathwood is 23-1 this season, with the lone loss coming against a team from Australia. Cardinal Newman transfer Lauren Jacobs is averaging 21.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. Heathwood’s biggest challenge is likely from Northwood Academy and Trinity Collegiate.
Irmo boys
After a three-game losing streak late in the season, the Yellow Jackets finished by winning four straight games to win the Region 5-4A title and have home-court advantage for the first three rounds of the playoffs. Senior center Brandon Crawford is healthy after missing several weeks because of mononucleosis, and the Jackets have strong guard play, giving hall of fame coach Tim Whipple a chance to get to another state championship.
Keenan girls
McDonald’s All-American MiLaysia Fulwiley is one of the best girls players in state history and has a chance to cement her legacy with another state championship. She has led Keenan to five straight title games, winning four of them. Fulwiley will likely go over the 3,000-point mark for her career during the playoffs. If Keenan wins a fourth straight title, the Raiders will be the seventh girls team to accomplish the feat and the first since Bishop England (2014-17).
Lexington boys
The Wildcats steamrolled their way to their first region title since 2019 and have a chance to make their first title appearance since 2012. Four-star Class of 2024 prospect Cam Scott is the Wildcats’ top player, but he has a strong supporting cast with Kaleb Evans, Jaxon Prunty, Jose Figueroa and Kmadi Maxwell, among others. Lexington won’t have an easy path, though, with possible matchups against Byrnes and Dorman in the 5A Upper State playoffs.
Westwood girls
Coach Gregory Bauldrick said this month that “all the stars are lining up” for a possible trip to the program’s first state championship game. Westwood rolled to the Region 5-4A championship and will have home-court advantage for the first three rounds. The Redhawks also are in the Lower State bracket for the first time and would avoid facing North Augusta and South Pointe until the title game.
Other Midlands teams to watch: Cardinal Newman boys, Gray Collegiate girls, Lexington girls, Lower Richland girls and Spring Valley girls
This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 1:29 PM.
