4A Championship Preview: Irmo vs Lancaster

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The road to Aiken starts tomorrow at USC-Aiken withe Class 4A State Championship Game. The first game of the state tournament should set the tone that's for sure. The <strong><em>#RoadToAiken</em></strong> starts on Thursday and Prep Hoops will have you covered from USC-Aiken with all the action. <strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Irmo HS (25-5) </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Tim Whipple (842-304) 42nd year at Irmo HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellowjackets are making their 11th trip to the State Championship Game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Yellowjackets Road to Aiken: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach HS 79-34 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Florence HS 86-60</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucy Beckman HS 51-34 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartsville HS 54-38 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1492988,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/DEB1C952-D959-4B2D-BF3B-3E6F7C600AD5.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/DEB1C952-D959-4B2D-BF3B-3E6F7C600AD5.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1492988" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1225774' first='Brandon' last='Crawford']</strong> was recently named Class 4A State Player of the Year. Crawford a long and rangy forward can really alter and challenge shots in the paint area. He has swatted away 130 shots this season while averaging 15.1 ppg, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1363072,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/BC6FB5B9-8D9B-4D4C-888C-1EAEC8233CFA.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/BC6FB5B9-8D9B-4D4C-888C-1EAEC8233CFA.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1363072" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1363062' first='Teandre' last='Summons']</strong> comes into the contest averaging 10.7 ppg, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 steals for the Yellowjackets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824944' first='Jonathan' last='White']</strong> is averaging 7.8 ppg while shooting 37% from behind the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1625299,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/41F8BA93-B9D2-49B8-B5A6-5023805D04DB-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/41F8BA93-B9D2-49B8-B5A6-5023805D04DB-scaled.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1625299" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1239543' first='<strong>Madden' last='Collins</strong>'] is averaging 15.1 ppg, 4 rebounds and 3.8 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824934' first='Aaron' last='Brand Jr']</strong> is the Quarterback on the football team and already holds a South Carolina and Charlotte football offer. Brand Jr. has averaged 6.7 ppg this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1755072' first='Mason' last='Collins']</strong> is just an 8th grader a member of the 2027 Palmetto State Class. Mason the younger brother of Madden is averaging 4.3 ppg this season for the Yellowjackets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Lancaster HS (27-3) </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Jay Cauthen (71-26) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Bruins Road to Aiken: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastside HS 66-47 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midland Valley HS 71-57</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wade Hampton HS 54-45</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenville HS 58-48</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1366611,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/D0D686BF-3EB4-4FB0-9735-E9EE63C0943E.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/D0D686BF-3EB4-4FB0-9735-E9EE63C0943E.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1366611" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036976' first='Grayson' last='Kirk'] </strong>is averaging 15.3 ppg, 5.5 assists and 4 rebounds this season. Kirk voted CO-Region Player of the Year has been named All-State 2 times in his career for the Bruins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691210,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A87B2DEF-1FA6-4B90-BD33-901EAD2AE7D2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A87B2DEF-1FA6-4B90-BD33-901EAD2AE7D2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1691210" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UNSIGNED Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1487231' first='Jy' last='Gladden']</strong> is the Glue Guy to this Bruins roster. Gladden is averaging 7.6 ppg, 3.5 steals and 3.3 rebounds this season. Jy brings good versatility to the floor with his play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691207,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/33D56DA3-9C7C-4D6C-82F8-F182D840511D.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/33D56DA3-9C7C-4D6C-82F8-F182D840511D.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1691207" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142617' first='Ladarius' last='Cloud'] </strong>is averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.5 steals this season entering the Class 4A State Championship Game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1691217,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/DAED33DA-51AB-4066-9C2F-9E5B1F57B759.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/DAED33DA-51AB-4066-9C2F-9E5B1F57B759.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1691217" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1145334' first='Jordan' last='Watford']</strong> is ranked #2 in the Prep Hoops Palmetto State 2025 Class. He recently received an offer from Mississippi State University. Jordan is averaging 16.7 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colby Small</strong> and <strong>Xavier Graham</strong> will both play football in college. Small has signed with Newberry (SC) (NCAA D2) while Graham will play at Norfolk State University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The SCHSL State Championships should really get started off with a bang on Thursday night with this Class 4A State Championship Game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->