SCHSL Class 5A Upper State: Lexington vs. Dorman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If one were to ask many a South Carolina high school basketball pundit, they would probably say that when predicting which would be the last two 5A Upper State teams remaining that those two would be Dorman and Lexington.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to the 5A girls final, it featured an Upper State team vs. a Midlands team that made the trip up Interstate 26 to get to Bob Jones University.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those pundits were correct, but would travel be a factor in this contest? The answer was no as it was hard-fought from start to finish. The Cavaliers reigned supreme over the Wildcats with the final score being 60-52.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In terms of records, that of Dorman is now 28-2 while the 2022-23 season for Lexington concludes with a 20-7 mark.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorman found out that its opponent in the final game of the 10-game championship card at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center will be Goose Creek. In a somewhat stunning turn of events, the Gators prevailed over Conway at Florence Center by a final of 43-23 to clinch its berth to Aiken.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams brought healthy contingencies of fans to the Bruins' den. As the first quarter indicated, both teams also brought their offenses as points were aplenty in the first quarter. It was Dorman with a slim, two-point, 16-14 advantage of Lexington with one frame in the books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers began to expand its lead in the second quarter as that second frame saw a Dorman run midway through that stanza. As both teams went into their locker rooms for halftime, it was 27-21 in the Cavaliers' favor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timely and effective offensive continued to push the Dorman lead even higher as it reached double digits in the third quarter. When the third period came to a close, Dorman's lead was 10 (43-33) with eight minutes left to go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats showed signs of life early in the fourth quarter and were within striking distance for a majority of the final frame. The Cavaliers managed to hold off Lexington for the duration of the game and earn a date with Goose Creek in Aiken on Saturday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822700,"width":332,"height":217,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6970-crop-3878x2547-1677572971.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6970-crop-3878x2547-1677572971.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822700" width="332" height="217" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239549' first='Terry' last='Leonard']</strong> led all scorers with 21 points. The Cavaliers made a total of seven 3-pointers for the game. Out of those seven, four of those departed from Leonard's hands. He bolstered his team's offense near the rim as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822710,"width":338,"height":221,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6966-crop-3886x2552-1677573168.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6966-crop-3886x2552-1677573168.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822710" width="338" height="221" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1082599' first='Christian' last='Andrews']</strong> also had himself a big game as he added 11 points to Dorman's total. He too had a successful evening from behind the arc as he had a pair of made 3-pointers. Andrews also absorbed a good amount of contact and took his chances at the line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822713,"width":343,"height":224,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6961-crop-2141x1406-1677573259.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6961-crop-2141x1406-1677573259.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822713" width="343" height="224" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225258' first='Chase' last='Harris']</strong> also did his part to ensure his final game sporting the Cavaliers colors would take place at USC-Aiken as opposed to Bob Jones University. The 6-foot-1 senior finished with nine points – including four made free throws.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822733,"width":348,"height":227,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6814-crop-3226x2118-1677573607.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6814-crop-3226x2118-1677573607.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822733" width="348" height="227" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 17 points, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='986184' first='Cameron' last='Scott']</strong> led all point-getters for the Wildcats. Scott tallied 11 of those 17 in the second half which kept Lexington firmly in the game. He was not shy about shooting 3-pointers, got physical near the rim and showcased plenty of poise at the free throw line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822735,"width":353,"height":231,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6845-crop-2297x1508-1677573725.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6845-crop-2297x1508-1677573725.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822735" width="353" height="231" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was an 11-point effort for another of the Wildcats' starters in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336428' first='Jaxon' last='Prunty']</strong>. He can log minutes as a guard while also finding time as a wing. Prunty also had two of Lexington's three successful 3-point attempts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1822737,"width":360,"height":235,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6790-crop-2141x1406-1677573822.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_6790-crop-2141x1406-1677573822.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822737" width="360" height="235" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats were the beneficiaries of 10 points courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996189' first='Jose' last='Figueroa']</strong>. The senior can find playing time as a guard but can also play effective minutes as a wing. He too does not shy away from contact – which comes in handy in a game as physical as Lexington-Dorman was.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996189' first='Jose' last='Figueroa']</strong>, <strong>Ian Franklin</strong>, <strong>Matthew Jay</strong>, <strong>Jacob Bowers</strong> and <strong>Tyler Walker</strong> are the seniors graduating from Lexington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->