SCHSL 2A Upper and Lower State Finals: Saturday’s Results

The 2A teams that earned trips to Florence via qualifying for either the Upper or Lower State finals had roughly a week to devise a game plan for victory.   Saturday was when those teams and coaching staffs were hoping they would have one more contest on the schedule – the 2A state championship game on March 1. The 2A schools went third on the schedule for states last season, but they would go first this time around.    We at Prep Hoops made the trip to the Florence Center for Saturday's festivities. Without further adieu, here is how Saturday's Upper State and Lower State contests unfolded.    Upper State Final: Gray Collegiate vs. Keenan   Anyone who follows Palmetto State sports knows that the storylines write themselves with this one.    Gray Collegiate, defending 2A state champions, bested Keenan in last season's Upper State final at Bob Jones University to eventually prevail over Oceanside Collegiate in last season's state contest at USC-Aiken's Convocation Center. Not to mention the War Eagles' region opponents – including Keenan – opting not to play Gray Collegiate throughout the season. The War Eagles' path to Florence this season has gone through Chesnee, Abbeville and Fox Creek.    As for the Raiders, it was a fair question earlier this season if Keenan would even get back to this point. Including the two forfeits to Gray Collegiate, the Raiders were 5-16 at one point this season. Ever since then, Keenan has won nine consecutive contests – including playoff wins over Blacksburg, Newberry and Strom Thurmond.    Gray Collegiate's season would continue into the final game on March 1. The War Eagles earned the 45-38 win over Keenan.    Quarter-By-Quarter   That Saturday, one of Gray Collegiate's teams already suffered defeat as the War Eagles girls lost to Landrum. Gray Collegiate's boys were looking to avoid a similar fate. With one quarter complete, the War Eagles led the Raiders by a margin of 11-6.    Gray Collegiate managed to increase its lead in the second quarter – but only slightly. As both teams entered their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, it was Gray Collegiate 22 and Keenan 14.   If one adjective could be used to describe the third quarter, it would be slow-moving. What mattered though was not time, but score – and it was to Gray Collegiate's liking. The War Eagles had a 33-24 lead with three complete.    Keenan began the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run to draw within four at 33-29 prior to a Gray Collegiate triple which made it a 36-29 game early in the fourth. At the final buzzer, the War Eagles knew they would be heading to a familiar place – the state championship game.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3465-crop-2744x1802-1708875498.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3465-crop-2744x1802-1708875498.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359586" style="width:445px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   In what was a relatively low-scoring affair, [player_tooltip player_id='1162932' first='Treyvon' last='Maddox'] led all point-getters as he put 16 on the board. The junior War Eagles standout displayed his ability to put points on the board from all three levels.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3562-crop-2775x1822-1708875594.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3562-crop-2775x1822-1708875594.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359588" style="width:439px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With 10 points, [player_tooltip player_id='1180896' first='Braylhan' last='Thomas'] also was once again a key piece for Gray Collegiate in what turned out to be his next to last game as a War Eagle. Thomas is an efficient floor runner and has no problems drawing contact getting to the line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3477-crop-2554x1677-1708875686.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3477-crop-2554x1677-1708875686.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359590" style="width:438px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   A pair of nine-point scorers paced the attack for the Raiders. Both of them were also juniors. One of them was [player_tooltip player_id='1276361' first='Brian' last='Sumpter'] who displays his versatility with an ability to play productive minutes as either a two or a three.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3568-crop-1893x1243-1708875820.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3568-crop-1893x1243-1708875820.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359592" style="width:437px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   The other junior was [player_tooltip player_id='2408831' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil'] who thrives playing at the wing for Keenan. The Raiders as a team made five 3-pointers. Three of those triples departed from McNeil's hands. McNeil is one of eight Keenan juniors.   Up Next…   Gray Collegiate's defense of its 2A state championship (in its final year in the 2A classification) would see them play either Hampton County or a rematch against Oceanside Collegiate. That would be determined with the final game of that day.    So Long, Senior   The lone senior on this year's Keenan assembling is Rashard Robinson.    Lower State Finals: Hampton County vs. Oceanside Collegiate   Shades of blue were everywhere with the two teams that took to the court at Florence Center for this year's Lower State final.    The 2023-24 season was the first campaign for the newly christened Hampton County Hurricanes. It has been a banner one as Hampton County has established itself among the top teams in the 2A ranks. Not only did the Hurricanes ride the momentum of a 16-game win streak into Florence, but Hampton County only lost twice to in-state opponents. Both of those were to 4A teams Bluffton and Hilton Head Island and both were close defeats.    As for Oceanside Collegiate, the Landsharks were hoping to depart from the 2A ranks with an exclamation point given they will move up to 3A starting next season. Oceanside was looking to right the wrong of last season's 2A state loss to Gray Collegiate. In this year's playoffs, Andrews, York Prep and Marion have suffered defeats to the Landsharks.    Gray Collegiate would learn its opponent in the state battle would once again be Oceanside Collegiate as the Landsharks dispatched the Hurricanes with the final score being 62-46.    Quarter-By-Quarter   The sizable number of fans that made their respective voyages from the [program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last=''] to the Pee Dee gave the contest an atmosphere indicative of a state championship contest. Through one quarter, Landsharks Nation had more to cheer about as their Oceanside team had a 16-11 edge through one.    That Oceanside Collegiate advantage would grow into the double digits as the second quarter elapsed. With both teams heading to their lockers, the Landsharks built a 35-25 cushion over the Hurricanes.    Oceanside's lead continued to grow as it was almost at 20 with three frames in the books. The word “rematch” had to be on the minds of many Landsharks backers in attendance as Oceanside's lead on Hampton County was 54-36 with eight minutes remaining in the day's play.   At this point, it was not a matter of if the Landsharks would prevail, but what their final margin of victory would be. That margin would be 16 points as Oceanside officially knew a rematch with Gray Collegiate was set for the following Friday.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3853-crop-1833x1204-1708876025.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3853-crop-1833x1204-1708876025.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359594" style="width:422px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   One of the things that makes Oceanside such a tough out for many opponents is the talent that is on their roster regardless of class or position. Max Moorman, who came in off the bench and effectively operated as a big is one of those talents. The sophomore led all Landsharks scorers with 12.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3784-2-crop-2236x1469-1708876128.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3784-2-crop-2236x1469-1708876128.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359596" style="width:421px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1444154' first='Travis' last='Stickney'] had himself another productive evening at the office. He contributed 11 points to Oceanside Collegiate's cause. Despite having only two field goals, they were both 3-pointers and he did plenty of work at the free throw line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3903-crop-1833x1204-1708876272.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3903-crop-1833x1204-1708876272.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359598" style="width:432px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   The bench was a big reason why the Landsharks' win was double digits. [player_tooltip player_id='1725596' first='Terence' last='Johnson'] came into the matchup off that bench and provided 10 points. Jones is one of four sophomores on the Oceanside Collegiate roster.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3750-crop-2307x1515-1708876413.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_3750-crop-2307x1515-1708876413.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2359600" style="width:431px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1744646' first='Devon' last='Allen']'s final game as a Hurricane occurred by him leading his Hampton County team with 14 points. He displayed his long range accuracy as he made four of the eight 3-pointers the Hurricanes had on Saturday night.   Up Next…   Gray Collegiate and Oceanside Collegiate will meet up one more time for the 2A state crown on Friday before going their separate classification ways. The War Eagles starting next year will be in 4A and the Landsharks to 3A.    So Long, Seniors   Allen along with Hector Rakes, Jontae James, [player_tooltip player_id='1363755' first='Kavon' last='Chisolm'], Ian Lawton, [player_tooltip player_id='2023008' first='Cameron' last='Roberson'], Trevelyn Hamilton, [player_tooltip player_id='1639956' first='Xaviar' last='Garvin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1651039' first='Antwan' last='Crittington'] are the senior departing from Hampton County.

The 2A teams that earned trips to Florence via qualifying for either the Upper or Lower State finals had roughly a week to devise a game plan for victory.