Class 3A: Upper-Lower State Results-Observations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Florence had the Class 3A Upper State-Lower State Championship Games yesterday. How did the games turnout here today from the Florence Center? 3 points was the final tally in the 2 games here from Florence today. Read more inside on your source for basketball coverage in the Palmetto State all year long. <strong><em>SUBSCRIBE today and use the passcode "Swanny30" at checkout to save 30% off your first billing cycle. #RecruitThePalmettoState </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Raiders Hold Off Lions</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game wasn't pretty at times today, but it came down to the bitter end to determine a winner. The Keenan HS Raiders defeated the Loris HS Lions 41-39 to advance to the Class 3A State Championship Game next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Caughman Jr Leads the Raiders</em></strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2433116' first='Antoine' last='Caughman Jr']</strong> took the lead for the Raiders today with his play on the floor. Antoine was able to score the ball on ways to the rack. He was able to knockdown some jumpers or simply drive it to the rack at times. Antoine creates opportunities on both ends of the floor with his length and being active in the passing lanes. He stepped up on numerous occasions here today with his play. He finished with 17 points in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Shots Not Falling</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Keenan HS Raiders didn't make their first field goal from the floor until the 5:58 mark of the 2nd quarter on a three-pointer made by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1474820' first='Broderick' last='Anderson']</strong>. Anderson was playing more on the ball here today out than we have seen in the past. Broderick has great size out front was able to finish with 8 points in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Simmons Plays Strong off the Bench</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795330,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-27-53-7100AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-27-53-7100AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795330" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2691100' first='Marcus' last='Simmons Jr']</strong> finished with 8 points off the bench for the Raiders today. Teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276361' first='Brian' last='Sumpter']</strong> a Wofford signee was held in check all game long and finished with just 5 points here today. Simmons Jr was able to slash to the cup and finish at the rack on the left-side of the bucket. Marcus has played his role all season long from the wing and came up big when needed for the Raiders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Lions Had Chances</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Loris HS Lions had many of chances to win this game today vs Keenan. The Lions were in the game all the way to the end vs the Raiders. <strong>Jacobien Lewis</strong> missed a short shot late with 17.6 seconds left in the game which would have tied it up. The Lions had several travel violations here today that led to momentum breakers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Lions have Youth</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795338,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-27-08-8550AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-27-08-8550AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795338" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Loris HS Lions only have just 2 seniors on the roster this season in <strong>Jay Stevenson</strong> and <strong>BJ Johnson</strong>. Stevenson picked up his 3rd foul with 2:58 left in the 2nd quarter and had to sit longer than usual at times. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629574' first='Khalil' last='Sherman'] </strong>and his brother<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2430899' first='Khalid' last='Sherman']</strong> both finished with 10 and 8 points respectively here today. Khalil lives to attack the rack while Khalis plays aggressive on both ends of the court. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2746116' first='Nigel' last='Miller']</strong> an undersized off guard and <strong>Jacobien Lewis</strong> both are juniors also. Lewis nicknamed "Grim" is a heavily recruited football player for the Lions. The Lions finished the season at (18-8). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Patriots Hold off Cavaliers</em></strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Powdersville HS Patriots will have a chance to play for a back-to-back state championship with a win over Christ Church 58-57 last night at the Florence Center. The Patriots claimed the Upper State Championship and a 3rd victory over the Cavaliers this season. Powdersville HS will play Keenan HS next in the Class 3A State Championship Game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McGee Leads the Way</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795332,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-37-4240AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-37-4240AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795332" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766181' first='Jaleel' last='McGee']</strong> finished the night with 13 points in the win for the Patriots. McGee was able to handle the rock from out top while overpowering defenders at times to the bucket. Jaleel uses his physical frame to bully defenders on the way to the bucket. He was able to finish drives on both sides of the bucket. Jaleel connected on a short baseline jumper late in the game to help secure the victory for the Patriots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Timely Shooting</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795331,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-17-2250AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-17-2250AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795331" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2721034' first='Micah' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2883989' first='Landen' last='Sullivan']</strong> both came up with some timely shooting today for the Patriots. The duo combined on 5 three-pointers here today. Williams and Sullivan both play there role perfectly as shooters out on the perimeter. Williams got things started quickly and finished with 11 points in the win. Sullivan would finish with 8 points while connecting a few three-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Burton Brothers Live to Attack the Basket</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795336,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-29-20-4630AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-29-20-4630AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795336" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299729' first='Von' last='Burton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2305858' first='Quan' last='Burton']</strong> live to ATTACK the basket all night long while on the hardwood. You would think these two play football in the fall but that's not the case at all. Von showed great body control while absorbing contact on the way to the rack all night long. He did connect on a short floater while getting into the lane as a slasher deluxe. Von finished the night with 15 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795337,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-58-5490AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-28-58-5490AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795337" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2305858' first='Quan' last='Burton']</strong> did drop a three-ball along the way tonight but simply loves playing going to the bucket. He was able to touch the paint and get the ball into the gaps with his relentless effort to do just that. Quan scored through contact at times and constantly took high percentage shots inside the paint all night long. Quan finished with 9 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cavaliers Are Just Fine</em></strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christ Church the defending Class 1A State Champions from last year are now holding their own quite well in Class 3A. The Cavaliers would finish the season at (20-6) after tonight's game and three of those losses were to the Patriots. The Cavaliers have just one senior on the roster this season in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299737' first='Adam' last='Brown']</strong>. Brown would finish with 12 points tonight in his final game as a Cavalier. Adam plays his best basketball when he's going to the cup. Brown finished the game making a half-court shot to end the game tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Juniors</strong> <strong>Atkins, Perry and Dixon</strong> <strong>all are Back</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795334,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-29-42-0750AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-29-42-0750AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795334" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Atkins, Perry and Dixon sound like a Law Firm. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2630460' first='Anthony' last='Atkins']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2361714' first='Jonathan' last='Perry']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1807305' first='David' last='Dixon']</strong> are all just juniors and will be back next season for the Cavaliers and Head Coach John Butler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2795333,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-30-12-2780AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/eZy-Watermark_01-03-2025_01-30-12-2780AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2795333" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Atkins and Perry both like to play downhill and getting the ball to the basket. Atkins would finish with 12 points tonight while Perry a left-handed guard was able to penetrate-kick to the basket and at times showed to knockdown an elbow jumper along the way. Jonathan finished with 17 points in the loss tonight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon was able to connect on open jumpers while moving well without the ball all game long. David constantly found himself in the right position at times to make a play. Dixon ended the night with 10 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->