Four more Midlands teams earn spots in SC basketball state semifinals

Cam Scott made school history and Lexington used a big fourth quarter to advance in the Class 5A playoffs on Wednesday.

Scott had a game-high 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and became the school’s all-time leading scorer in the Wildcats’ 64-56 win over TL Hanna. Lexington advances to the Upper State championship and will face Dorman at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Bob Jones University.

Scott set the record after he was fouled as time expired at the end of the first half. He hit all three free throws and passed former two-sport standout Shaq Roland’s mark of 1,772 as the school’s all-time scorer.

Scott, a junior, has 1,786 points with one and possibly two games left this season.

“He was Mr. Everything and being one of the best athletes to come through Lexington,” Scott said of Roland. “Him being at the top and me climbing that mountain and reaching over him is special.

“Knowing the history that’s come through Lexington and the impact I have applied here in the amount of time since I have been here, it is just amazing to be here and be surrounded by these fans.”

Scott’s three free throws gave the Wildcats a 28-27 lead at halftime. But the second half was back and forth with the teams tied at 43 going into the fourth quarter.

Lexington scored the first six points of the fourth before the TLH answered back to cut it within 51-49. The Wildcats got a big three-point play from Kmadi Maxwell, who had to sit out last game because he was ejected in a first-round playoff game, to make it 54-49. Maxwell scored seven of his nine points in the second half.

Maxwell came up with another big play later in the quarter, stealing the ball and feeding Scott for a layup to make it 60-52 and put the Wildcats into the final four for the first time since 2019.

“We didn’t do everything perfect tonight, but we did a lot of things well. That is an incredibly physical and talented TL Hanna team,” Lexington coach Elliott Pope said. “They earned the right to be here. We were just fortunate enough to come out on top today.”

Kaleb Evans scored 17 points and Jaxon Prunty added 11, all in the first half for the Wildcats.

Now, the attention turns to Dorman in a much-anticipated matchup. Lexington was preseason No. 1 and Dorman was No. 2 to start the season.

Dorman is coached by former Lexington standout Thomas Ryan.

“It’s the game of the year right here,” Scott said.

Conway 44, River Bluff 20

The Gators were held to a season low in points as they lost in the Class 5A Lower State playoffs.

Conway advances to its second Lower State championship in four seasons.

Class 5A Girls

Spring Valley 61, Dorman 59

Lauren Crosland’s had the go-ahead steal and basket with 48 seconds left to give the Vikings a come-from-behind win and earn a spot in the Class 5A Upper State championship.

Spring Valley plays Mauldin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at Bob Jones University.

Spring Valley trailed by 17 at halftime and was down 57-47 with 2:28 left but outscored the Cavaliers 14-2 the rest of the way.

The score was tied at 58 before Crosland’s steal and basket.

Crosland finished with 15 points. Zie’l Ratchford led SV with 17 and JaiDah Liebert scored 15.

Maudlin 46, Lexington 43

The Wildcats’ bid for an Upper State championship appearance came up just short on the road at Mauldin.

Trinity Jones scored 25 points to lead the Mavs and had the go-ahead basket to put Mauldin up 44-43 late in the fourth quarter. Lexington had a chance to tie it but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Class 2A Boys

Gray Collegiate 74, Eau Claire 45

Trai White scored 14 points and Ellis Graham had 12 as the War Eagles earned a spot in the Class 2A Upper State final.

Gray will play region rival Keenan at 2 p.m. on Friday at Bob Jones University. It will be the third meeting between the two teams with each winning on each other’s home floor.

Avantae Parker added 10 for GC.

The loss ends Eau Claire’s surprising postseason run. The Shamrocks finished fourth in Region 4-2A but knocked off Strom Thurmond and Greer Middle College to make the third round for the first time in more than a decade.

Keenan 50, Columbia 41

Chrisean Oree scored 18 points and Jaylen Golston had 14 as the Raiders advanced to the Upper State championship.

The Raiders outscored Columbia, 17-5, in the second quarter to take control of the game and defeat the Caps for the third time this season.

Deshawn Smith and Zay Buckley each scored 12 to lead the Caps.

The loss ends Columbia’s postseason run. The Capitals knocked off Silver Bluff and region champion Landrum to make it to the third round.

Scores/schedule

SCHSL

Wednesday

Class 5A Boys

Lexington 64, TL Hanna 56

TLH: Martin 12, Tolly 4, Patterson 10, Edwards 21, Hogan 2, Williams 7. L: Kaleb Evans 17, Figueroa 5, Bell 2, Cam Scott 21, Jacob Prunty 11, Maxwell 9

Conway 49, River Bluff 20

Class 2A Boys

Gray Collegiate 74, Eau Claire 45

GC: Trai White 14, Ellis Graham 12, Avantae Parker 10

Keenan 50, Columbia 41

C: Dashawn Smith 12, Butler 2, Aymir Caldwell 11, Zay Buckley 12, Swinson 4. K: Sumpter 7, King 3, Chrisean Oree 18, Anderson 16, McCullough 4, Jaylen Golston 14.

Class 5A Girls

Mauldin 46, Lexington 43

Spring Valley 61, Dorman 59

D: Nakiyah Kelly 17, White 8, West 7, Cothran 5, Ferguson 8, Wallace 4, Cathcart 9, Jones 1. SV: Zie’l Ratchford 17, Lauren Crosland 15, Johnson 3, JaiDah Liebert 15, Imari Humphrey 10, Entzminger 1.

Friday

Class 2A Girls

Keenan vs. Gray Collegiate at Bob Jones University, noon

Class 2A Boys

Keenan vs. Gray Collegiate at Bob Jones University, 2 p.m.

Class 4A Girls

Westwood vs. AC Flora at Florence Center, 5:30 p.m.

Class 4A Boys

Irmo vs. Hartsville at Florence Center, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Class 3A Girls

Camden vs. Lower Richland at Florence Center, 5:30 p.m.

Monday

Class 5A Girls

Spring Valley vs. Mauldin at Bob Jones University, 5:30 p.m.

Class 5A Boys

Lexington vs. Dorman at Bob Jones University, 7:30 p.m.

SCISA

Thursday

Class 4A Boys

Cardinal Newman vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 5 p.m.

Hammond vs. Augusta Christian at Sumter Civic Center, 8 p.m.

Class 4A Girls

Heathwood Hall vs. First Baptist at Sumter Civic Center, 6:30 p.m.

Class A Boys

WW King vs. Faith Christian at Hammond, 5 p.m.

Richard Winn vs. Charleston Collegiate at Hammond, 8 p.m.