5A State Championship: Goose Creek vs. Dorman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nine down and one to go. And as it turned out, the USC-Aiken Convocation Center had saved, arguably, its best for last.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the season commenced, it was a guarantee that there would be a new champion in the 5A classification. That was because last season's champion Ridge View, led by current South Carolina Gamecock Gregory Jackson, dropped down to 4A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's tournament commenced with 32 teams looking to eclipse what the Blazers accomplished at USC-Aiken last season – and it came down to just two who would compete for that honor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two were the Gators out of Goose Creek and the Cavaliers from Dorman. The final team that would leave the CSRA with state hardware would be the Cavaliers as they defeated the Gators by a final score of 58-56 in what was a classic under the bright lights at the Pacers' stable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our program expects to play for championships every year,” Dorman coach Thomas Ryan says. “This is six of seven (that we've played in). We lost our last one here at USC-Aiken (to River Bluff in 2020-21). Nice to get one here.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter By Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators had a 5-3 advantage in the early going of Saturday's nightcap prior to Dorman embarking on a 10-0 scoring spurt. Goose Creek replied with an 8-0 run of their own to tie the game at 13 apiece. With the first eight minutes in the books, Dorman had the slimmest of leads – 16-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At one point in the second quarter, the Gators managed to pull even with the Cavaliers (18-18) and Dorman's lead was as large as seven (25-18) in the second frame. When both teams entered their respective locker rooms for the half, the Cavaliers' advantage was still four with the scoreboard reading 27-23.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third frame continued to tell a story of two elite 5A teams that were as evenly matched as two elite 5A assemblings could possibly be. With one quarter remaining to crown the 10^th&nbsp;and final SCHSL champion of the 2022-23 season, Dorman maintained a 41-36 edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth quarter of this season's 5A state championship game looked like the fourth quarter of a state championship game as both Cavaliers and Gators matched each other seemingly basket for basket. High drama had built up at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center that lasted to the final seconds, but it would those in Dorman colors that would experience the jubilation of another state championship.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831282,"width":329,"height":215,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0309-crop-3120x2049-1677992993.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0309-crop-3120x2049-1677992993.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831282" width="329" height="215" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers finished with its entire starting five in double digits for points. Beginning with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239548' first='Jamarcus' last='Wilkins']</strong>. He contributed 14 to the Dorman cause – including 11 in the first half. Wilkins also hauled in six rebounds and rejected a pair of shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831286,"width":329,"height":215,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0328-crop-3055x2006-1677993111.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0328-crop-3055x2006-1677993111.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831286" width="329" height="215" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239549' first='Terry' last='Leonard']</strong> may have only seen 17 minutes of playing time, but he did the most to make sure those 17 minutes were as productive as possible. Leonard finished with 12 points and was 4-8 from the field. He also made two of his three free throw attempts and a pair of 3-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831289,"width":326,"height":213,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0318-crop-2884x1894-1677993267.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0318-crop-2884x1894-1677993267.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831289" width="326" height="213" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two for the Cavaliers concluded their championship-winning evenings with 11-point outings. One of those was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1082599' first='Christian' last='Andrews']</strong>. He also had a pair of made 3-pointers and was true on three of his four freebie attempts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831294,"width":331,"height":216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0352-crop-2916x1915-1677993387.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0352-crop-2916x1915-1677993387.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831294" width="331" height="216" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036143' first='Jordan' last='Miller']</strong> filled up the stat sheet on Saturday night. Not only did Miller drop 11 points, he also dished out seven assists. Out of those 11 points, seven of those 11 came courtesy of the charity stripe. Miller also collected a pair of steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831298,"width":337,"height":220,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0342-crop-3063x2011-1677993580.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0342-crop-3063x2011-1677993580.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831298" width="337" height="220" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 10 points, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='975133' first='Sean' last='Lindsay']</strong> was also an integral piece to what was a winning puzzle for Dorman. In addition, Lindsay also sent out three assists and collected a pair of steals in the 29 minutes he logged. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It makes it real tough to concentrate on what we want to do. We'll get different guys different shots,” Ryan says on his team's depth. “I just think it makes it very difficult for the opposing team to come in with a good game plan when so many different guys can beat you.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831306,"width":345,"height":225,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0406-crop-2908x1910-1677993864.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0406-crop-2908x1910-1677993864.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831306" width="345" height="225" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172567' first='Elijah' last='Dates']</strong> had a noteworthy performance in a losing Goose Creek. In his final occasion wearing the Gators' black and gold colors, the senior led all point-getters with 26. Dates also went 3-6 from three and a perfect 7-7 from free. Two steals were also part of Dates' performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1831308,"width":350,"height":229,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0417-crop-3226x2118-1677994247.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/IMG_0417-crop-3226x2118-1677994247.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1831308" width="350" height="229" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 11 points of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1133746' first='Justin' last='Britt']</strong> massively helped the Gators' cause. The five rebounds Britt brought down played a key role as well. Britt also distributed three assists and managed to come away with three steals in 30 minutes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Coach Blake Hall, great coach. Give Goose Creek a lot of credit,” Ryan says. “They came in here thinking they could win this basketball game and competed hard. In the end, our kids made the plays they had to make.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Coach Ryan Reflects on Returning to This Point</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“That's another thing that made it special. Last year's team had not lost in-state at all and lost (to Mauldin) on almost a half court shot. So, then to come back and do that this year – it's just awesome. I'm proud of our kids.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Closing the Book</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorman concludes its season with a 29-2 record – and the euphoria that comes with being crowned kings of 5A ball this season. A stellar season for Goose Creek finishes as 5A runners-up with a mark of 26-5.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Nobody gave these guys a chance,” Ryan says. “And they just kept getting better and better and better and we hit our stride at the right time.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225258' first='Chase' last='Harris']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036143' first='Jordan' last='Miller']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='975133' first='Sean' last='Lindsay']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239549' first='Terry' last='Leonard']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239548' first='Jamarcus' last='Wilkins']</strong> and <strong>A'quon Chapman</strong> are the seniors departing from Dorman. Goose Creek is graduating a bevy of seniors as well in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1133746' first='Justin' last='Britt']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172567' first='Elijah' last='Dates']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1023659' first='Daunte' last='Taylor']</strong>, <strong>Da'Quan Amlett</strong>, <strong>Sam Crabtree</strong>, <strong>Lavareuis Major</strong>, <strong>Charles Baylor</strong>, <strong>Brandon Burgess</strong> and <strong>Gabriel White</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->