Diamond Hornets roll in first round

Lower Richland coach Debbie Stroman wanted her team’s defense to set the tempo in its first-round playoff game.

That strategy worked as the Diamond Hornets applied their full-court defense in a 79-18 rout over Emerald on Monday in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Lower Richland (16-9) will play the winner of Tuesday’s Seneca-Lancaster game Thursday in the second round. Seneca at Lancaster was postponed because of wintry weather in the upstate.

“When you play a team in the playoffs, you aren’t sure they have seen the same type of pressure you apply,” Stroman said. “So we took a chance and pressured the ball up and down the court, making sure we get in the passing lanes and go for steals, and it turned out in our favor.”

The Diamond Hornets forced 12 of 24 turnovers in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 22-5 lead over Emerald (12-11), which was making its first playoff appearance since 2010. Lower Richland allowed just seven field goals in its largest margin of victory of the season biggest since a 59-point win over Brookland Cayce in 2011.

Lower Richland has won at least one playoff game every year since 2006, with five state championships during that time. Stroman said this year’s team is capable of making a deep run, and is battled tested during the year having played region Dreher and Sumter twice, as well as Spring Valley.

“The potential for this team is really great. Playing a team as good as Dreher in our region makes this team much better,” Stroman said. “We have so many components and so many kids that can do so many things. We rely on them to show up at every game.”

Alaysia Washington led Lower Richland with 18 points and Kentucky commit Kameron Roach added 16 –11 in the first quarter. Ten different Diamond Hornets players scored.

“Our main focus was hustle and get the ball down the court,” said Washington, who was a benefactor of many fast break points inside. “They weren’t guarding the post, and why not feed it to the post if it was open.”

Now, Lower Richland will have an extra day to prepare for either Lancaster or Seneca. Lancaster defeated the Diamond Hornets 65-39 in the second round last year on its way to winning a state title.

Lower Richland didn’t have Dejah Williford, a Division I signee who was out with a broken hand. Plus, the Diamond Hornets are getting more contributions from other players, including Washington.

“We are always up for the competition,” Stroman said. “Last year we didn’t have Dejah Williford so now we have that component back. And Alaysia Washington comes off the bench and is doing a good job. Hopefully we will go in there ready to compete.”

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 11:19 PM.