AAAAA Division 1 State Championship: Ridge View vs Ashley Ridge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All roads have led to Columbia and the last two teams standing in SCHSL Class 5A Division 1 are Ridge View High School and Ashley Ridge High School. Prep Hoops SC was at the Colonial Life Arena on Friday for this game and will be there to cover the other five classifications as well. Check out my game recap from the 2026 SCHSL Class 5A Division 1 State Championship Game: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View 65, Ashley Ridge 44</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2104388' first='Robert' last='Wylie'] (Ridge View) - 14 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1982894' first='RJ' last='Davis'] (Ridge View) - 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1848083' first='Talan' last='Staley'] (Ridge View) - 10 points and 4 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2413313' first='Clayton' last='Everett Jr'] (Ashley Ridge) - 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2465100' first='Shayne' last='Pinckney'] (Ashley Ridge) - 13 points and 6 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2678769' first='Ben' last='Duncan'] (Ashley Ridge) - 3 points on 1-3 3FG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Recap: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday's nightcap featured another Columbia area team, Ridge View, and their lower-state opponent out of Charleston, Ashley Ridge. The Blazers are the two-time defending State Champions, albeit in different classifications, so Head Coach Joshua Staley had another chance to cement his legacy as one of the best coaches in South Carolina High School Basketball. The Silver Foxes hung tight in the first quarter, with [player_tooltip player_id='2413313' first='Clayton' last='Everett Jr'], [player_tooltip player_id='2465100' first='Shayne' last='Pinckney'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2678769' first='Ben' last='Duncan'] igniting a 7-0 run to tie the game at 15 after Ridge View was up 15-5. Then, after [player_tooltip player_id='2367667' first='Joshua' last='JT Vankallen'] checked back into the game with two fouls, the Blazers switched to a zone with [player_tooltip player_id='2373165' first='CJ' last='Moore']'s length being a factor at the top of it, and went on a 15-2 run, holding Ashley Ridge without a field goal for over five minutes to end the half. Everett Jr. still led all scorers through the entire second half, but [player_tooltip player_id='1982894' first='RJ' last='Davis'] was the first to join him in double figures. Davis was also a major factor defensively, going on to rack up 5 stocks. The Blazers continued to pull away in the third quarter, winning it 28-13 by dominating the points in the paint and points off turnovers categories. Ridge View would go on to win 65-44, winning their third consecutive State Championship despite losing all five starters from a season ago. And don't think they are going anywhere, because [player_tooltip player_id='1848083' first='Talan' last='Staley'] is the only ranked, projected departure from an absolutely loaded roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->