SCHSL 4A Upper State/Lower State Championships

Last year, the 4A state championships were the first to be decided to conclude the season at USC-Aiken's Convocation Center.    This season, the epicenter of championship week has shifted from the CSRA to the Florence Center in the Pee Dee with the 4A teams being the last to be decided. As opposed to only the Lower State finals taking place at the Florence Center, it will also be the host venue of the Upper State championships as well as the championship finals.    Irmo was last season's champion, but the Yellow Jackets had a down season this year at 5-21 (2-8), only qualified for the playoffs as an at-large team and was eliminated in the first round by Wilson. Four teams remain to vie for the throne vacated by Irmo.    Upper State Final: Riverside (24-4, 7-1) vs. Greer (26-5, 6-2)   Riverside   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_4965-crop-3669x2409-1700080527.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_4965-crop-3669x2409-1700080527.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2274601" style="width:431px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   There will be plenty of Riverside red and blue in Florence this coming week as both the girls and boys Warriors varsity assemblings have qualified for the Upper State championships.    The Warriors have only lost twice this season to in-state opponents. The first defeat was to last season's 5A champions Dorman on Dec. 9 and the second defeat came courtesy of region rival Eastside in mid-January. Outside of those two blemishes, coach Allen Arnold's team have fared more than well against Palmetto State foes.   Riverside will move back up to the 5A ranks beginning with the 2024-25 campaign (and, ironically, will once again share a region with Eastside). Last year, Catawba Ridge dealt the Warriors a first-round exit.    Warriors' Road to Florence:   Feb. 14 – 70-36 win vs. South Pointe   Feb. 17 – 57-47 win vs. Westside   Feb. 22 – 63-61 win vs. Catawba Ridge (2OT)   Key Players   Among the important pieces that have played major roles for the Warriors this season have been [player_tooltip player_id='1172765' first='Julen' last='Iturbe'] (American University commit), [player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Rylan' last='Jones'], Jack Sauer and Mikkel Skinner.   Greer   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/eZy-Watermark_07-06-2023_08-54-05-0200AM-2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/eZy-Watermark_07-06-2023_08-54-05-0200AM-2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2047326" style="width:397px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   The renewal of a region (and crosstown) rivalry already has fans in the Upstate asking why does this game have to take place in the Pee Dee instead of at an Upstate venue such as Bob Jones or the Bon Secours.    Nevertheless, the Yellow Jackets have plenty to play for regardless of the venue. Out of the five losses Greer has suffered this season, three came against South Carolina opponents. One of those was against 5A Byrnes.    The other two? They were to Riverside.    Coach Devin Liferidge and his Yellow Jackets hope to right its wrongs of those previous two get-togethers. Greer was bested in the second round of last year's tournament by way of Greenville.    Yellow Jackets' Road to Florence:   Feb. 14 – 47-45 win vs. Indian Land   Feb. 17 – 60-45 win vs. Greenville   Feb. 22 – 65-53 win vs. Lancaster   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='1407052' first='Amare' last='Anderson'] (16 pts, 3.9 rebs, 1.5 stls)   Mikey Williams Jr (11.4 pts, 2 steals)   [player_tooltip player_id='1221565' first='Zayn' last='Valentine'] (9.5 pts, 2.3 stls)   [player_tooltip player_id='1365021' first='Bradyn' last='Durrah'] (8.6 pts, 6.6 rebs, 1.3 blks)   [player_tooltip player_id='1239537' first='Isaiah' last='Henry'] (6.1 pts, 1.3 stls)   Last Meetings   Jan. 23 at Riverside – 74-61 Riverside win   Feb. 9 at Greer – 60-52 Riverside win   When and Where?   Feb. 28, 4 p.m., Florence Center   Lower State Final: James Island (17-10, 8-1) vs. Ridge View (24-2, 8-2)   James Island   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/IMG_6288.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/IMG_6288.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2293895" style="width:391px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Last season, the Trojans 2022-23 came to an abrupt end despite finishing 18-7 and going a perfect 10 for 10 against region foes. That first-round exit came way of Northwestern.    Then its former coach Brady Schuck took an assistant job at Flagler College, clearing the way for Travis Smith to assume the helm of the James Island program.    The result – a 17-10 record entering Wednesday's play plus a berth in the Lower State championship. James Island is hoping to leave the 4A ranks with a bang since the Trojans will be moving up to the 5A realm beginning in 2024-25.    Trojans' Road to Florence:   Feb. 14 – 77-58 win vs. West Florence   Feb. 17 – 60-43 win vs. Richland Northeast   Feb. 22 – 75-72 win vs. Westwood (OT)   Key Players   In the backcourt, James Island has [player_tooltip player_id='1038227' first='RJ' last='Simmons'], [player_tooltip player_id='2044293' first='Gavin' last='Ward'], [player_tooltip player_id='1384329' first='Braxton' last='Scott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1038226' first='Montreal' last='Jenkins'] as potent threats. The Trojans also have a formidable frontcourt which includes [player_tooltip player_id='1370628' first='Parker' last='Renault'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1370629' first='Donyell' last='Wright'].   Ridge View   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Image-1-2-24-at-4.57-PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Image-1-2-24-at-4.57-PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2312081" style="width:401px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   A couple of years ago, Ridge View, led by a young GG Jackson, departed from USC-Aiken's Convocation Center with championship hardware in toe.    The only difference is the Blazers competed as a 5A team that year when they prevailed in a 65-57 decision over Fort Dorchester.    This year's rendition of Ridge View is looking to recreate the magic that 2021-22 rendition created in what will be the Blazers' final hurrah before moving back up to 5A beginning with 2024-25. Ridge View has done that for much of the season as its 2023-24 briefly had the Blazers on many a national radar.    The Blazers suffered a second-round exit in last year's playoffs at the hands of Wilson. Region rivals Westwood and A.C. Flora have accounted for Ridge View's lone blemishes this season. Purple is sure to be abound in Florence as both its girls and boys qualified for the Lower State finals.   Blazers' Road to Florence:   Feb. 14 – 73-42 win vs. Easley   Feb. 17 – 73-57 win vs. Lucy Beckham   Feb. 22 – 56-53 win vs. Wilson   Key Players   Two reasons why Ridge View has had such success this season are their two senior stars in guard [player_tooltip player_id='1692194' first='Joshua' last='Smith'] and power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1158132' first='Jayden' last='Pretty'].   [player_tooltip player_id='1972146' first='Malachi' last='Cooper'] is a bright star of the 2025 class who plays at the two. The Blazers also have a pair of noteworthy sophomores in small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1692243' first='Korie' last='Corbett'] and guard [player_tooltip player_id='1679970' first='Yale' last='Davis'].   When and Where?   Feb. 28, 8 p.m., Florence Center

Last year, the 4A state championships were the first to be decided to conclude the season at USC-Aiken's Convocation Center.