High school basketball playoffs: Catawba Ridge boys, South Pointe girls to open at home
Five classes. Ten state championships. 320 total teams.
The SCHSL high school state basketball tournament starts this week, as schools make their annual attempt to etch their names in the hallowed stones of history.
Here is a schedule of the first-round matchups along with notes about each team:
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Class 5A girls
Nation Ford (10-15, 0-10) at Gaffney (19-5, 7-1), 6 p.m.
The Falcons enter the playoffs with an at-large bid.
T.L. Hanna (10-15, 2-6) at Rock Hill (23-3, 10-0), 6:30 p.m.
Rock Hill finished region play undefeated for the second time in three years and fourth time overall under head coach Kenny Orr. The last time the Bearcats went undefeated in region play (2022), they won the 5A state title. Senior guard De’Ashaj Crawford (17.0 points per game) and sophomore forward Chloe Hudson (16.5 ppg) are the leading scorers for Rock Hill. T.L. Hanna has lost four of its past five contests.
Clover (16-9, 5-5) at J.L. Mann (18-4, 6-2), 6:30 p.m.
These two schools last met in the second round of the 2022 playoffs, a game won by J.L. Mann, 45-27. A balanced attack of Brooke Taylor (10.4 ppg), Karis Alexander (10.3 ppg) and Marcia Watt (10.1 ppg) lead the Blue Eagles.
Fort Mill (17-9, 3-7) at Mauldin (15-1, 8-0), 7 p.m.
Fort Mill took the fifth and final automatic qualifying spot in the region and will face a Mauldin team that has been ranked in the top two of the SCBCA 5A girls’ poll all season. The Yellow Jackets snapped a season-long four-game losing streak in their regular season-finale against rival Nation Ford.
Class 4A Girls
Eastside (11-8, 3-5) at South Pointe (24-2, 10-0), 6 p.m.
South Pointe heads into the postseason looking to defend its spot as the top team in the class. First up is an Eastside team that won back-to-back games to end the season. The Stallions are led by a forward duo of senior Victoria ‘Star’ Morris (17.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and freshman Ja’Nyia Cunningham (17.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg).
Greer (9-11, 4-4) at Lancaster (7-14, 7-3), 7 p.m.
After opening the season 0-11, Lancaster went 7-3 in region play to secure a home playoff game to open its postseason run. Greer has alternated wins and losses over it past six games. The Bruins will look to rely on the talented guard duo of Eliza Baskins (18.1 ppg over her past 10 games) and Angel Cousar (13.1 ppg) and a defense that has caused havoc all season.
Catawba Ridge (8-17, 6-4) at Wade Hampton (16-8, 6-2), 7 p.m.
Catawba Ridge takes the third spot in the region and will play a Wade Hampton team that lost in its season finale, snapping a three-game win streak. The Copperheads are led by senior forward Morgan Davis (16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg).
Indian Land (9-16, 5-5) at Riverside (16-8, 7-1), 7 p.m.
Indian Land will face the top overall seed in the upper state side of the bracket in Riverside. The Warriors are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after winning four of their previous five. Sophomore guard Skylar Young (14.4 ppg) leads the team while forward Emily Callahan (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg) provides a stable presence on both sides of the ball. This is Indian Land’s first playoff appearance since 2019.
Class 2A boys
Barnwell (6-13, 2-6) at Andrew Jackson (22-3, 12-0), 6:30 p.m.
Andrew Jackson secured its second-consecutive undefeated region title and will begin its postseason against a Barnwell team that closed the regular season on a three-game losing streak. The Volunteers are led by senior Ghaleb Wilson (16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg).
Ridgeland-Hardeeville (7-12, 4-4) at York Prep (14-11, 8-4), 7 p.m.
York Prep hosts Ridgeland-Hardeeville in its first-round matchup, but the Patriots have alternated wins and losses during their past six games. This is the first meeting of these programs.
Class 1A girls
Ware Shoals (7-14, 6-6) at Lewisville (16-3, 7-1), 6 p.m.
The programs met in their season opener, with Lewisville coming away with a 22-7 victory. Guard Mariah Wallace (13.5 ppg) leads the team, while sophomore big Aiyana Murrell is averaging a double-double (12.7 ppg, 12.2 rpg).
Great Falls (2-19, 2-6) at McCormick (9-7, 8-0), Time unavailable at publication
Great Falls took the fourth spot in its region and will go on the road to play McCormick. The Red Devils are led by senior Mahogany Bailey (5.7 ppg).
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Class 5A boys
Spartanburg (13-11, 2-6) at Nation Ford (13-12, 6-4), 6:30 p.m.
Nation Ford’s turnaround season continues as the Falcons host an opening round playoff game after beating rival Fort Mill in their regular-season finale. Nation Ford will face a Spartanburg team that has lost four of its past five games. Nation Ford has won more region games (six) this season than it had in the previous four seasons combined (four). This will be the Falcons’ first home playoff game since 2019. Senior Jackson Burnham leads Nation Ford with 22 ppg.
Clover (13-12, 5-5) at T.L. Hanna (19-7, 5-3), 6:30 p.m.
Both schools ended the regular season with a win that snapped a three-game losing streak. The Blue Eagles will lean heavily on top scorer and two-sport senior Jaylon Hoover (14.8 ppg).
Fort Mill (15-11, 5-5) at Woodmont (16-10, 4-4), 7 p.m.
Both schools lost four of their final six games to end the regular season. Sophomore AJ Washington leads the Yellow Jackets with 16.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg.
Rock Hill (7-19, 2-8) at James F. Byrnes (22-4, 8-0), 7 p.m.
The Bearcats enter the postseason with an at-large bid and will face a Byrnes team that is ranked third in the latest SCBCA poll. Senior Malik Ashe (11.3 ppg) leads Rock Hill’s scorers, while freshman Nigel Lightner (8.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) will play a big role both offensively and defensively.
Class 4A boys
Northwestern (11-15, 2-8) at Westwood (20-2, 9-1), 6:30 p.m.
Northwestern enters the postseason on the lower-state side of the bracket and will face a Westwood team that is ranked third in Class 4A. The Trojans won their first-round matchup as an at-large seed in the lower state side of the bracket last season. Senior Mason Mitchell leads the Trojans with 12.3 ppg.
Wade Hampton (3-18, 1-7) at Catawba Ridge (22-3, 9-1), 7 p.m.
Catawba Ridge bounced back to beat Northwestern, 56-46, in its regular season finale and clinch the first region crown in program history. The Copperheads open the postseason against a Wade Hampton team that has won once in its past 18 contests. Catawba Ridge is led by the guard duo of sophomore Lance Barnes (19.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.1 apg) and senior Zyan Hager (18.6 ppg).
Eastside (18-5, 5-3) at Lancaster (19-7, 8-2), 7 p.m.
Lancaster ended the regular season winning seven of its final eight. These two schools met in the playoffs’ first round last year, with Lancaster securing a 66-47 victory en route to an upper-state championship.
Indian Land (19-7, 7-3) at Greer (21-5, 6-2), 7 p.m.
This game features another first-round rematch for a Region 3 school. Indian Land lost last year’s contest, 51-48, and head coach LJ Johnson said that he hopes the memories of that experience push the team for a better result this time. Guard Mike Jones leads the Warriors with 24.5 ppg.
South Pointe (10-16, 4-6) at Riverside (21-4, 7-1), 7 p.m.
South Pointe rides into the postseason with some momentum given its two-game win streak. The Stallions face the top seed in the upper state in Riverside, which has won 10 of its past 11 games. This is the first meeting between the programs
Class 2A girls
Edisto (7-12, 3-4) at Andrew Jackson (22-4, 12-0), 6:30 p.m.
Andrew Jackson is riding a 16-game winning streak. The Volunteers are hoping to see the return of Ayona Alexander. The sophomore forward was averaging 18.6 ppg and 12.6 rpg before sustaining a foot injury against Chesterfield on Jan. 23.
York Prep (12-11, 8-4) at Lee Central (18-5, 5-3), 7 p.m.
York Prep closed the regular season on a two-game winning streak after losing its previous three games. The Patriots finished in third in the region and will face a Lee Central team that had defeated its opponents by more than 20 points on average.
Class 1A boys
Lewisville (13-3, 5-3) at Dixie (19-5, 9-3), 6 p.m.
Lewisville sat atop the Class 1A rankings for a sizable stretch, but three region losses will now have the Lions going on the road to open the playoffs. However, Lewisville closed out the second with two straight wins. Dixie is the ninth-ranked team in the class.
Great Falls (14-6, 7-3) at McCormick (21-3, 12-0), 7 p.m.
Before its regular season-finale win against Governor’s School, Great Falls lost two games and slipped from first place to fourth in the region. Now, the boys will join the girls in having to travel to McCormick to face a team that is ranked third in the class.
