By Thomas Grant Jr.
At the midway point of the regular season, Region 4-5A has competitive races in both divisions.
On the girls’ side, it’s a 3-way tie for first place between Dutch Fork, Lexington, and White Knoll. All three teams stood at 3-1 in the region after three matchups between each other over five days.
It started last Thursday with the Lady Timberwolves falling 47-42 to the Lady Silver Foxes. Dutch Fork then headed to Wildcat Gymnasium for a matchup with fellow unbeaten Lexington.
After trailing 22-18 at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Silver Foxes outscored the Lady Wildcats 21-12 to take a 39-34 halftime lead. Center Claire Howard scored eight of her 21 points in the second quarter.
The Lady Wildcats rallied in the third quarter, outscoring Dutch Fork 18-9 to take a 52-48 lead. The Lady Wildcats extended their lead to nine points following a Braidi Goodrich jumper to go up 65-56 with 3:30 left.
The Lady Silver Foxes used their full court pressure defense to score 11 unanswered points. Leading the charge was All-State senior Michaela Fairwell who scored 11 of her game-high 22 points in the final quarter.
This included a steal and layup with 12.9 seconds left to put Dutch Fork up 66-65.
Lexington’s Goodrich quickly inbounded the basketball to Izzy Saville, who threw the ball up court to Cassidy Harry who found an open Jaleya Lytes at the top of the key.
The junior, who was inserted after senior Charlize Misick-Rivas fouled out, quickly lofted a bank shot which zipped through the nets with 2.9 seconds left. Dutch Fork was unable to stop the clock and the Lady Wildcats came away with the 68-66 victory.
“All of the girls left it all on the court tonight and Jaleya was a great spark at the end when Charlize fouled out,” head coach Molly Goodrich said. “She plays with no fear and we needed her in the moment.”
Sole possession of the region ended on Martin Luther King Day for Lexington. It’s road game with White Knoll was moved up a day and this time, it was the Lady Wildcats who were on the losing end of a final shot.
Shaelyn Hayes hit a halfcourt shot as time expired for the 54-52 victory. Hayes finished with 21 points and Emory Waters Inman added 16 for the Lady Timberwolves.
The boys’ race has turned into a two-way race between River Bluff and Dutch Fork. Their first meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was pushed back to Jan. 28.
The Gators have won eight straight games. In their last contest, they routed Chapin 73-44 behind 25 points and 10 assists from Yasir Cromer.
The Silver Foxes defeated White Knoll 61-57 last Thursday in their last game. Bryson Taylor posted a career-high 30 points and Justus Bell added 19 as Dutch Fork rallied from a six-point third-quarter deficit.
It was the last game on the sidelines this season for Timberwolves head coach Willie Thomas. The 6-time state champion and S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame member suffered a heart attack the next day.
He was rushed to Lexington Medical Center where he reportedly underwent a triple bypass surgery. Thomas underwent another procedure Friday, while assistant coach Cal Pearson will serve in the interim for the remaining games.
In Pearson’s first game as head coach two days later, the Timberwolves defeated Irmo 54-52 on a steal by Peyton Jennings and layup by Cylan McLeod in the final seconds.
“I was just in go mode, saw the basket and went up,” McLeod said. “I saw it go in and then saw my teammates around me. I was happy and excited. A good moment.”
“We’ve held it together and I’m so proud how we finished tonight,” Pearson said.
The following night, the Timberwolves could not hold an 11-point lead to Laurens and lost in overtime 67-63. They evened their record to 2-2 in the region Monday with a 73-44 behind 25 points from Bryson Schofield and 13 from McLeod.
Feature photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – River Bluff guard Yasir Cromer pulls up for a jumper against Irmo
