I Have A Dream Showcase: Monday’s Results
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The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is usually a day off from school on the academic calendar. For many high school basketball teams across the Palmetto State, it was anything but. A number of those teams converged on 4A…
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Continue ReadingThe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is usually a day off from school on the academic calendar. For many high school basketball teams across the Palmetto State, it was anything but.
A number of those teams converged on 4A West Florence in the Pee Dee for the I Have A Dream Showcase. There were eight girls teams and eight boys teams – including both the Knights girls and boys teams – that took part.
We at Prep Hoops also made the trip to West Florence for the day’s action. Without further delay, here is a recap of the four boys games that took place.
Johnsonville vs. West Florence
Following a pair of girls contests that had taken place, the first boys game of the day would feature the host school.
It also featured a 1A team in Johnsonville that has encountered the wrong kind of turnaround. The Flashes had a 13-8 record last season, but have yet to win a game in 2023-24. Johnsonville was on the wrong end of five-point decisions this season to Lamar and Lee Central.
As for West Florence, it also has encountered a down season from the 2022-23 it had when it won on 17 occasions. The Knights have only won five games this season, but two of those (Trinity Collegiate and North Myrtle Beach) came in their last three contests.
West Florence was successful in defending its home court. The Knights got in the win column by virtue of a 59-41 decision over the Golden Flashes.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
Unlike much of what has happened this season, Johnsonville had a great night against West Florence that game. The Flashes earned a 60-58 win over the Knights in January of 2014.
Quarter-By-Quarter
But that was January of 2014. This was 10 years later – and the first quarter told a story that the result would be massively different this time around. With one quarter having elapsed, the Knights built a 16-4 lead on the Golden Flashes.
West Florence’s girls had earned a victory earlier that day against Dreher. The West Florence boys were looking to duplicate what the girls day and the Knights were well on their way. At the half, it was Knights 29, Golden Flashes 13.
The Knights were two quarters shy of going 2-0 for its own showcase. The proceedings of the third quarter helped in a successful try to defend the Castle. With three in the books, West Florence’s lead was 48-21.
Both Knights teams were matched up against squads that were winless going into the I Have A Dream Showcase. Both Knights teams were victorious against those winless teams. West Florence’s boys margin of victory would be 59-41.
Primetime Performers
Freshman guard Josh Gamble Josh Gamble 6'0" | CG West Florence | 2027 State SC had himself a game for the Knights. His 19 points were what led all West Florence scorers. A pair of 3-pointers were part of Gamble’s scoring barrage – the only 3-pointers the team had for the game.
The Knights also benefitted from the 12 points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of senior Jamarcus Askew. He displays his versatility with his ability to play as either a two or a three.
Johnsonville did have a bright spot – and it came in the form of sophomore Tahkari Ross. He led all scorers with 22. Ross was particulary efficient as a rim attacker and managed to draw contact on a few occasions to find his way to the free throw line.
What’s Next?
Both teams will take a day off then return to region play on Wednesday. West Florence will travel to Hartsville while Johnsonville will be at Scott’s Branch.
Hannah-Pamplico vs. Richland Northeast
It is commonplace to look at potential matchups between a 1A team and a 4A combatant as potential routs for the 4A team. The only way to prove if that’s the case is to put both teams on the court.
The 1A team in question was the Raiders of Hannah-Pamplico. Four of the nine games the Raiders have played this season have been against either Aynor or East Clarendon. Hannah-Pamplico is 2-0 against the Wolverines yet 1-1 vs. the Blue Jackets.
Richland Northeast entered play having been only two victories shy of the 12 wins the Cavaliers compiled last season. The team began the season as winners of six of its first seven games before encountering mixed results as of late.
It was a 4A team playing a 1A team – with the 4A team prevailing. The Cavaliers ended up on top, defeating the Raiders by a final of 57-30.
Quarter-By-Quarter
At the beginning, Richland Northeast utilized a formidable interior attack to give it an early lead, but Hannah-Pamplico managed to get back into the mid-afternoon contest. With one in the books, the lead for the Cavaliers was 14-7.
The Cavaliers closed out the second half emphatically with a buzzer-beating triple. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Richland Northeast’s lead on the Raiders was 32-17.
Richland Northeast’s lead was 15 at the half – and it would increase into the 20s as the third reached its conclusion. With one frame left to play, the Cavaliers were cruising with a lead of 47-23.
Following the earlier victory by host West Florence, Richland Northeast would ensure that both 1A boys teams that were on hand at the I Have A Dream Showcase would leave The Castle 0-2 against their 4A foes.
Primetime Performers
While the Cavaliers threw a balanced scoring attack at Hannah-Pamplico, that attack was spearheaded by sophomore Chris Asuzu Chris Asuzu 5'10" | CG Richland Northeast | 2026 State SC . He contributed 12 points to the Richland Northeast cause.
For Hannah-Pamplico, they had a bright spot as well. That was junior forward Tylin Jenkins Tylin Jenkins 6'2" | SF Hannah-Pamplico | 2025 State SC , who paced the Raiders’ efforts with a 10-point effort. Jenkins is listed at 6-foot-2 on Hannah-Pamplico’s roster and combines length and lanky frame with his height advantage.
What’s Next?
Both will be up against tough region tests this coming week. On Wednesday, Hannah-Pamplico will host Green Sea Floyds. On Friday, Richland Northeast will host a team many are picking as a 4A state favorite – Ridge View.
Trinity Collegiate vs. Lugoff-Elgin
Six games down, two to go. And both would be boys contests to finish Monday’s games.
Trinity Collegiate’s and Lugoff-Elgin’s girls teams had already did battle earlier that day with the Titans prevailing over the Demons by a final of 84-51. Trinity Collegiate’s boys were hoping to make it 2-0 for its school at West Florence. The Titans were already one victory better than the five wins they had all of last season.
Fortunes have also been rough lately for Lugoff-Elgin. The Demons entered the day’s play having dropped three of its last four games – including contests against North Myrtle Beach, St. James and Ridge View.
Trinity Collegiate’s bid to be 2-0 that day would be a successful one. The Titans earned a 61-55 overtime win over the Demons.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Lugoff-Elgin’s boys were hoping for better fortunes against Trinity Collegiate than was the case for the Demons in the girls contest earlier that day. The first quarter was a case of “so far, so good,” for the Demons as they assumed a 16-7 lead after one.
The message was clear in the second quarter that if Lugoff-Elgin were to pick up a win over Trinity Collegiate that the Demons would have to earn every bit of it. As halftime commenced, both teams were knotted up at 25.
Unlike the girls contest between these two schools which turned into a rout in the second half, the boys matchup stayed close. It was all setting up for a finish down to the wire as Trinity Collegiate and Lugoff-Elgin reached the fourth quarter.
Close contests usually come down to missed layups and free throws – and who would make more in crunch time moments. It appeared Lugoff-Elgin’s ability to make those plays in the fourth quarter would put them in the win column in regulation. The Demons led 49-46 at the close of the fourth quarter before a game-tying triple from the Titans meant four minutes of free hoops at The Castle.
The task for Trinity Collegiate was simple – ride the momentum of that game-tying three and the new life it got from it to a stellar performance in the four minutes of overtime. Mission accomplished for the Titans in its 61-55 overtime victory.
Primetime Performers
Jae Thomas Jae Thomas 6'2" | CG Trinity Collegiate | 2024 SC was the hero for the Titans on Monday evening. He not only scored 19 poins, he made the game-tying triple late in the fourth quarter that sent the contest to overtime. It was his only 3-pointer of the game.
Trinity Collegiate would not have been in a position to win the matchup late if it were not for the stellar play of Landon Wilson Landon Wilson 5'10" | SG Trinity Collegiate | 2025 State SC . Both he and Thomas are team captains and both did a great job steering the Titans ship. Wilson added 12 to Trinity’s total.
It may have been in a losing effort, but it was no less valiant. Nigel Chivers Nigel Chivers 5'11" | CG Lugoff-Elgin | 2025 State SC , the team’s resident junior guard, concluded his evening with an 18-point showing. Chivers is part of a 2025-heavy Demons rendition – seven juniors are on its roster.
Another from that junior septet added 14 to the Lugoff-Elgin cause. That was Braylen Mumford Braylen Mumford 5'6" | PG Lugoff-Elgin | 2025 State SC . Similar to Chivers, he is another anchor of what is a formidable Demons backcourt. Mumford is listed at 5-foot-7.
Lugoff-Elgin also benefitted from the 11 points that were placed on the board from Kaleb Long Kaleb Long 5'11" | SG Lugoff-Elgin | 2026 State SC . He is a 5-foot-11 sophomore. Among the strong points to his game is his ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line.
What’s Next?
The region portion of the schedule resumed for Lugoff-Elgin on Wednesday with a game at Westwood. Trinity Collegiate would also be on the road a day earlier at First Baptist.
Lee Central vs. Hartsville
The final game on the schedule would also feature two schools whose girls teams also matched up earlier in the day.
The fortunes for this year’s rendition of Lee Central boys basketball have been still good, though not to the level yet of its girls team. The Stallions once had a six-game winning streak and a four-game winning streak alongside a three-game losing streak with Columbia, Hartsville and Mullins responsible for those defeats.
As far as the Red Foxes are concerned, their results have not been as promising as Lee Central’s. To Hartsville’s credit, one of its three victories was at home vs. the Stallions to go alongside wins over Great Falls and Fairfield Central.
Would revenge be in the cards for Lee Central? The answer was yes as the Stallions put a bow on the day’s play with a 61-53 win over the Red Foxes.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Tournaments and showcases operate under the “save the best for last” philosophy. Would the I Have A Dream Showcase indeed save its best for last? It appeared that would be the case through one quarter as the Red Foxes’ lead over the Stallions was only six – 15-9.
What was a six-point edge for the Red Foxes was cut down to only one at the end of the second quarter. An entertaining nightcap was brewing to close out the I Have A Dream Showcase with Hartsville leading Lee Central 22-21.
The Stallions eventually made enough plays where they pulled ahead of the Red Foxes in the third quarter. With eight minutes of hoops left in the day’s play, Lee Central’s advantage over Hartsville was 37-33.
Each team would put together its best offensive frame in the fourth quarter – but Lee Central proved to be a few points better than its adversaries from Hartsville. The Stallions managed to hold off the Red Foxes for the eight-point victory.
Primetime Performers
Lee Central got win no. 12 on the season in large part because of nos. 3 and 5. The No. 3 is Kiauj Allen, a sophomore who co-led all scorers with 18 points. Allen is one of only two sophomores on the Stallions’ roster for this season.
Adding 17 points to the Lee Central causse was junior guard Jamisen Wilds Jamisen Wilds 5'8" | PG Lee Central | 2025 State SC . He had one of the two 3-pointers the Stallions were true on for this game and also got to the free throw line on many occasions late.
With 11 points, freshman Kayson Dawson Kayson Dawson 6'1" | CG Hartsville | 2027 State SC led the scoring efforts on Monday evening for the Red Foxes. Dawson particularly displayed a lot of accuracy from behind the 3-point line as he made three from behind the arc.
Hartsville also benefitted from the 10 points that were placed on the scoreboard by sophomore junior forward E.J. Smith. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and is one of four from the 2025 class listed on the Red Foxes roster.
What’s Next?
Ironically, after participating in a West Florence-hosted showcase, Hartsville will host West Florence on Wednesday. Lee Central’s next region test occurred the following day at home vs. Marion.