Midlands teams have state titles in sight

Joshua Staley has accomplished many things during his coaching career, but one thing that has eluded him is a state title.

The A.C. Flora coach hopes to change that Saturday when the Falcons face Midland Valley in the Class 3A boys state championship game at Colonial Life Arena.

This is Staley’s fifth state championship appearance. He went 0-3 as girls coach at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, and is in his second straight appearance since taking over at A.C. Flora in 2014. The Falcons lost to Midland Valley 62-56 in last year’s finale.

“I get asked questions about it (winning a title). As a competitor, you get back up and compete,” Staley said. “You know you are dealing with sports and everything is not going to go your way. You are going to either quit or keep fighting, and I chose to keep fighting.”

A.C. Flora had to replace several key players from last year’s runner-up team, including Rian Davis and James Murray-Boyles. Staley even sought out some advice from South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, a cousin of his, on how to deal with losing four seniors.

After a tough non-region schedule which included losses against Hammond and Millbrook (N.C.) before region play, the Falcons have won 14 in a row, including a thrilling 56-52 victory over Seneca in the Upper State championship game.

“We were exposed in those areas we need to improve,” Staley said of the two losses. “We took to the fact we needed to get tougher on the interior, and our guards needed to do a better job of managing the game. Our coaches did a great job of getting the guys to buy in and make us better.”

A.C. Flora is one of five Midlands basketball teams looking for a state title this weekend. It is the second time in the last three seasons that five area teams made it to the South Carolina High School League’s weekend of champions.

Spring Valley’s girls and Irmo’s boys get things started Friday as Anne Long and Tim Whipple look to add to their Hall of Fame coaching careers. Long is looking for her eighth state title and second in a row for the Vikings, who will take on Sumter in the Class 4A girls championship.

Long won back-to-back titles twice while at Union, but never at Spring Valley.

“This year, it has been a group effort. Last year’s team, we had a couple of individuals that put everyone on their shoulders and try to put it together,” Long said. “This year, the team came together, had excellent chemistry and I think we are a more well-balanced team.”

Whipple is eyeing his sixth state title in his 35^th season for the Yellow Jackets, who face Byrnes for the 4A boys championship. The longtime coach said this year’s team might have improved the most from the beginning to the end of the season.

Irmo lost star guard Devontae Shuler, who transferred to Oak Hill before the season, and started the year at 3-3. Since then, the Yellow Jackets have won 21 of their last 22 games.

“Everyone counted us out and wanted to play us because they thought they could beat us,” Irmo senior guard Dre’Von Sweat said. “So it feels great that we are here now.”

Dreher is back in the championship game and is looking for its third title in six seasons. The Blue Devils, who won titles in 2012 and 2014, will face Myrtle Beach in the 3A girls title game.

Blue Devils coach Teresa Jones thought last year’s to Lancaster in the Upper State final proved as a big motivation for going into the season.

“They have kind of claimed this as our redemption year,” Jones said. “With this being our redemption year, our objective was to get back and play for that state championship.”

Keenan’s girls will look to end Bishop England’s title run when they face off the in the Class 2A championship. The Battling Bishops are in the championship game for the fifth straight year, winning it all in 2012 and 2014-15.

Bishop England’s lone loss in the title games during this reason stretch was to Keenan in 2013. The Raiders are in the championship for the fourth time since 2008.

“Bishop England has a lot of talent, but we are ready to win,” Keenan center Le’on Hill said. “We had a long season and we fought hard to get here. It is going to be a tough matchup but we are ready.”

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Midlands teams have state titles in sight."