Class 3A: Upper State-Lower State Championship Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What teams made it to Florence to play in the Class 3A Upper State and Lower State Championship Games? The Final 4 is set for Florence for this coming Friday. Read more inside right after you <strong><em>SUBSCRIBE to the site by using the passcode "Swanny30" at checkout to save 30% off your first billing cycle. #RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong> <strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keenan HS vs Loris HS </em></strong> 4:30 P.M. Friday at the Florence Center </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keenan HS</strong> <strong>Raiders </strong>(20-8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Zach Norris </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> - Marlboro County HS 62-23, Dillon HS 64-46 and Oceanside Collegiate 50-36. - The Raiders have won 13 games in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2642377,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-49-02-2140PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-49-02-2140PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2642377" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders have plenty of depth on the roster and length. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276361' first='Brian' last='Sumpter']</strong> leads the way at 18 ppg and 10.5 rebounds per game. Sumpter is headed to play at Wofford University next year. Brian has great versatility to play all over the hardwood at times for the Raiders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2642380,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-48-32-4990PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-48-32-4990PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2642380" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2433116' first='Antoine' last='Caughman Jr']</strong> comes in at 11.5 ppg, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals each night. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1474820' first='Broderick' last='Anderson']</strong> provides some punch from the wing position. Anderson answers the ball at 9.1 ppg and 6.2 rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2642373,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-48-16-6270PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_10-48-16-6270PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2642373" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1370647' first='Marcus' last='Simmons']</strong> a senior forward averages 6.6 ppg. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2691103' first='Ny'keim' last='McNeil']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408831' first='Ty'heim' last='McNeil']</strong> both average 4.7 ppg and 4.6 ppg respectively. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2642300' first='Malik' last='Brunson']</strong> sees plenty of action for his age and chimes in at 4.6 ppg each night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Loris HS</strong> <strong>Lions</strong> (18-7) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Andrew Eads </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> - Aynor HS 39-37, North Charleston HS 60-54 and Fox Creek HS 57-52. The Lions have won 10 games in a row. 1st trip to the Lower State Championship in School history. Loris and Keenan HS met this past fall on the football in the 3rd round of the playoffs. The Lions started off slow this season with several players playing football late into the post season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2746121,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_21-01-2025_01-08-41-7260PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_21-01-2025_01-08-41-7260PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2746121" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions have a very well-balanced attack. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2746116' first='Nigel' last='Miller']</strong> an undersized guard averages 10 ppg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2746124,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_21-01-2025_01-06-39-0520PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_21-01-2025_01-06-39-0520PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2746124" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior forward <strong>Jacobien Lewis</strong> brings some good energy and athleticism to the floor. Lewis is averaging 9.1 ppg and 4.7 rebounds for the Lions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2430899' first='Khalid' last='Sherman']</strong> averages 8.3 ppg, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629576' first='Jamarius' last='Wilson']</strong> provides some muscle inside the paint each night. Wilson a undersized post averages 7.7 ppg and 7.9 rebounds. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629574' first='Khalil' last='Sherman']</strong> brings his 7.5 ppg to the table for the Lions each night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Christ Church vs Powdersville HS</em></strong> 7:30 P.M. Friday at the Florence Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christ Church Cavaliers </strong>(20-5) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - John Butler </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> - West-Oak HS 65-44, Union County HS 55-34 and St Joseph's Catholic 60-20. The Cavaliers have won 5 games in a row. The Cavaliers have just won 1 senior on the roster. The Cavaliers won the past two Class 1A State Championships before making the move up to Class 3A this past season. The Cavaliers have lost to Powdersville HS 62-60 and 58-47 this past season while playing in the same region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473459,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_23-06-2024_04-38-02-9170AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_23-06-2024_04-38-02-9170AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2473459" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2361714' first='Jonathan' last='Perry']</strong> leads a very balanced attack for the Cavaliers. Perry averages 12 ppg, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists a night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1807305' first='David' last='Dixon'] </strong>will look to stalk the baseline at times or knockdown a perimeter jumper. Dixon answers the bell each night at 10.9 ppg. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299737' first='Adam' last='Brown']</strong> averages 10.5 ppg, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists each game night for the Cavaliers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299739' first='Reid' last='Hipp']</strong> provides paint production with his play around the bucket. Hipp averages 9.7 ppg and 7.2 rebounds per outing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2630460' first='Anthony' last='Atkins']</strong> rounds out this balance scoring with his 9.4 ppg a night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Powdersville HS</strong> <strong>Patriots </strong>(20-9) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Austin Anderson (82-39) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> - Greer Middle College 80-52, Woodruff HS 61-50 and Belton Honea Path HS 66-56. The Patriots have defeated the Cavaliers already 2 times this season 62-60 and 58-47. The Patriots are the defending Class 3A State Champions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2721585,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_06-01-2025_08-02-19-0270PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_06-01-2025_08-02-19-0270PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2721585" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots are led by a senior trio of guards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299729' first='Von' last='Burton']</strong> 16.4 ppg, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2305858' first='Quan' last='Burton']</strong> 15.7 ppg and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766181' first='Jaleel' last='McGee']</strong> 12.2 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.5 steals. This trio rarely leaves the floor for the Patriots. The Burton brothers love to attack the rack at will by getting downhill to the basket. McGee has a bit of old-school flare to his game out top. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2721031,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_06-01-2025_02-17-57-3960PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_06-01-2025_02-17-57-3960PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2721031" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2721034' first='Micah' last='Williams']</strong> a senior guard will provide some perimeter shooting when needed for the Patriots. Williams averages 6.6 ppg. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1997737' first='Colton' last='Kreger']</strong> is just a sophomore for the Patriots punches in at 5.7 ppg and 5 rebounds per outing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->