Photo by GoFlashwin.com
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Archrivals Lexington and River Bluff find themselves tied in the Region 4-5A standings for girls and boys basketball.
The ninth-ranked Class 5A Division I Lady Wildcats suffered a 69-59 home loss to fourth-ranked Division II Irmo last Friday. It rebounded Tuesday with a 48-26 win over visiting Chapin.
The same night saw the Lady Gators defeat White Knoll 54-40. On Tuesday, it looked to pull the upset against fourth-ranked Irmo.
River Bluff trailed for most of the game before a layup by Meghan Tucker tied the game at 39-39. With 1:39 left, Irmo guard Abby Livingston hit an off-balanced one-handed jumper to gave her team ahead for good.
The Lady Yellow Jackets went on to win 46-41 to improve to 2-0 in Region 4-5A. Tucker and Chaelyn Tifre finished with 12 points each.
In the nightcap, eighth-ranked Irmo faced a River Bluff boys team with just one victory on the season.
After trailing at halftime, the Gators outscored Irmo 18-13 to take a 51-46 lead into the fourth quarter. The game was tied with 1:54 left when River Bluff pulled away for the 61-59 win.
Panthers, Bulldogs at King’s Holiday Classic
Batesburg-Leesville and Newberry boys are among the 14 teams competing at the King’s Holiday Classic this Saturday.
Presented by Eau Claire High School, this year’s hoops event will take place at C.A. Johnson High School.
The Panthers will face Hunter-Kinard-Tyler at noon, while the Bulldogs will meet Hammond School at 3 p.m.
Both teams opened region play Tuesday. Despite 14 points from Braylen Davis, 13 points from Ta’Maj Gilliam and 11 points from Jaden Millhouse, Batesburg-Leesville fell 62-53 to Strom Thurmond.
Newberry was home against Silver Bluff.
S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION TOP 10
GIRLS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. J.F. Byrnes, 2. Blythewood, 3. Dorman, 4. Wando, 5. Spartanburg, 6. Mauldin, 7. Carolina Forest, 8. Dutch Fork, 9. Lexington, 10. West Ashley
BOYS
Class 2A1. High Point Academy, 2. Andrew Jackson, 3. Liberty, 4. Philip Simmons, 5. Central, 6. Hampton County, 7. Marion, 8. Mullins, 9. Chesnee, 10. American Leadership Academy
