SCHSL 4A Upper State/Lower State Championships
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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…
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Continue ReadingLast 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
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 Julen Iturbe Julen Iturbe 6'8" | PF Riverside | 2024 State #234 Nation SC (American University commit), Rylan Jones Rylan Jones 6'1" | CG Riverside | 2024 State SC , Jack Sauer and Mikkel Skinner.
Greer
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
Amare Anderson Amare Anderson 6'2" | PG Greer | 2025 State SC (16 pts, 3.9 rebs, 1.5 stls)
Mikey Williams Jr (11.4 pts, 2 steals)
Zayn Valentine Zayn Valentine 5'11" | PG Greer | 2024 State SC (9.5 pts, 2.3 stls)
Bradyn Durrah Bradyn Durrah 6'6" | PF Greer | 2024 State SC (8.6 pts, 6.6 rebs, 1.3 blks)
Isaiah Henry Isaiah Henry 6'0" | CG Greer | 2025 State SC (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
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 RJ Simmons RJ Simmons 6'0" | PG James Island | 2024 State SC , Gavin Ward Gavin Ward 6'4" | SG James Island | 2025 State SC , Braxton Scott Braxton Scott 6'0" | CG James Island | 2024 SC and Montreal Jenkins Montreal Jenkins 5'8" | PG James Island | 2024 State SC as potent threats. The Trojans also have a formidable frontcourt which includes Parker Renault Parker Renault 6'4" | SF James Island | 2025 State SC and Donyell Wright Donyell Wright 6'4" | SF James Island | 2025 State SC .
Ridge View
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 Joshua Smith Joshua Smith 6'2" | CG Ridge View | 2024 State SC and power forward Jayden Pretty Jayden Pretty 6'6" | PF Ridge View | 2024 State SC .
Malachi Cooper Malachi Cooper 6'2" | SG Ridge View | 2025 State SC 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 Korie Corbett Korie Corbett 6'3" | SF Ridge View | 2026 State SC and guard Yale Davis Yale Davis 5'9" | PG Ridge View | 2026 State SC .
When and Where?
Feb. 28, 8 p.m., Florence Center