SCHSL Class 2A: Upper State/Lower State Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship season has indeed arrived across the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior to champions being crowned in early March, it is time to determine which squads remaining will have the opportunity to be 32 minutes shy of championship glory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) is holding both its Upper State and Lower State finals at the Florence Center along with the state championship games. Previously, the Florence Center was home to the Lower State finals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams remain in the 2A ranks and they will be the first of the five classifications to determine their state participants this Saturday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Upper State Final: Gray Collegiate (30-6, 8-0) vs. Keenan (14-16, 5-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Gray Collegiate</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2274625,"width":"459px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_5021-crop-3758x2467-1700081886.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_5021-crop-3758x2467-1700081886.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2274625" style="width:459px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray Collegiate has been victorious on five of the last six occasions for 2A state championships. Coach Dion Bethea's team wants to win one last state championship in the 2A ranks before the War Eagles begin play next season as a 4A team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The irony of this one writes itself. The teams in Gray Collegiate's region – including Keenan – opted not to play the War Eagles in any sport this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All six of the War Eagles' losses in 2023-24 were to teams outside of South Carolina and this is a rematch of last season's Upper State final which the War Eagles won by a final of 72-66.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>War Eagles' Road to Florence: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 13 – 91-39 win vs. Chesnee</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 16 – 79-43 win vs. Abbeville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 19 – 31-23 win vs. Fox Creek</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1180896' first='Braylhan' last='Thomas'] (16.1 pts, 5.8 rebs)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1162932' first='Treyvon' last='Maddox'] (10.1 pts)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1025879' first='LJ' last='Britt'] (8.0 pts, 3.5 asts, 2.4 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='992183' first='Ellis' last='Graham'] (6.2 pts, 5.2 rebs, 1.5 blks)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2352774' first='Darius' last='Carr'] (6.2 pts, 4.4 rebs)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1032755' first='TyQuan' last='McDuffie'] (5.1 pts, 1.2 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keenan</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2323135,"width":"427px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/eZy-Watermark_16-01-2024_02-38-51-2930PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/eZy-Watermark_16-01-2024_02-38-51-2930PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2323135" style="width:427px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For much of the 2023-24 season, it was a fair question if the Raiders would indeed get back to this point. Following its Upper State championship appearance at Bob Jones University last season, Keenan began the season cold at 5-16 in mid-January.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then coach Zachary Norris' team went on a very Keenan-esque hot streak. The Raiders will enter play at the Florence Center as winners of its last nine consecutive contests.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reclassification will see Keenan return to the 3A ranks beginning next season. The Raiders are familiar with being a 3A team as they were there from 2018 to 2022.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Raiders' Road to Florence: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 13 – 81-41 win vs. Blacksburg</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 16 – 73-49 win vs. Newberry</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 19 – 53-31 win vs. Strom Thurmond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1463715' first='Cedric' last='Schofield'] (12.9 pts, 7.3 rebs, 1.2 blks)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1276361' first='Brian' last='Sumpter'] (11.8 pts, 9.9 rebs, 2.8 blks, 1.3 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1474820' first='Broderick' last='Anderson'] (7.7 pts, 4.8 rebs, 1.5 stls, 1.0 blks)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24, 4 p.m., Florence Center</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Lower State Final: Hampton County (25-5, 8-0) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (21-6, 8-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Hampton County</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2023017,"width":"441px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/84DC01AA-7F6E-4C4F-B871-69152E25F4A4.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/84DC01AA-7F6E-4C4F-B871-69152E25F4A4.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2023017" style="width:441px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the first season that there is a Hampton County team since the consolidation of the old 1A Estill and 2A Wade Hampton schools in the southern portions of the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2023-24, the newly christened Hurricanes have more than made its mark on the South Carolina high school boys basketball landscape. Hampton County was regularly seen in top 10 2A coaches' polls and have reeled off 15 consecutive wins.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hurricanes have only lost on two occasions to in-state opponents. The first was an overtime defeat to 4A Bluffton in late November and to another 4A team (Hilton Head Island) in early December.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Hurricanes' Road to Florence: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 13 – 97-59 win vs. Lake Marion</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 16 – 75-70 win vs. Mullins</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 19 – 68-56 win vs. Andrew Jackson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1363755' first='Kavon' last='Chisolm'] (15.2 pts, 7.3 rebs)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1750474' first='Xavier' last='Garvin'] (7.9 pts)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1744646' first='Devon' last='Allen'] (7.8 pts)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1225770' first='Joshua' last='Goodman'] (6.9 pts)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Oceanside Collegiate</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2339800,"width":"469px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0037-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/IMG_0037-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2339800" style="width:469px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's 2A Lower State final will have at least two distinctions. First – there will be lots of blue on the court and in the stands at the Florence Center. Second – it is all-[program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last=''].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Landsharks were 2A state participants last season before suffering defeat at the hands of Gray Collegiate. Quinton Hollis has compiled an overall record of 118-41 during his tenure at Oceanside. He is in his tenth season as a coach and his sixth at the helm of the Landsharks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Landsharks' last loss to a South Carolina opponent occurred in late December in a 53-49 decision to 5A Spring Valley. Oceanside Collegiate will be moving up from 2A to 3A beginning with the 2024-25 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Landsharks' Road to Florence: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 13 – 76-40 win vs. Andrews</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 16 – 73-37 win vs. York Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 19 – 65-38 win vs. Marion </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1444154' first='Travis' last='Stickney'] (15.2 pts, 8.6 ast, 4.5 rebs, 3.5 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1206191' first='Jake' last='Thomas'] (11 pts, 8.7 rebs, 2.3 asts 1.6 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1725596' first='Terence' last='Johnson'] (9.6 pts, 5.4 rebs, 2.3 asts, 2 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1206020' first='Carson' last='Jones'] (8.7 pts, 2.4 rebs, 2 asts, 1.6 stls)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Florence Center</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->