A plethora of negativity surrounded the SCHSL over the last few years when Upstate teams had to travel to Florence for Upper State Title games in the high school basketball postseason. Years later, the people may have finally been heard.
The league's executive committee voted Wednesday in favor of bringing the games back to Colonial Life Arena for the first time since 2020. After the announcement, I spoke with several area coaches to gather their thoughts on the most recent ruling.
Mark Huff: “I just want to make it to the state so I don’t care where it’s played. Being in Columbia is more centrally located so it’s not as far for the upper state teams to travel."
Layne Fowler: “It’s absolutely wonderful for our state that the SC high school basketball state championships are going back to Columbia. I’ve been blessed to play in the state championship and coach in it in Columbia (frank McGuire arena as a player and Colonial Life Center as a coach) and the experience for the players, teams, coaches, schools, fans, and community is amazing!! I’m grateful we are going back to Columbia for this incredible event and memories that will last a lifetime!”
Mike Anderson: “The SCHSL catches a lot of flack but much respect to Commissioner Singleton and his staff for listening to the voiced concerns of their membership. Today is a great day for basketball in SC and a lot of coaches throughout the state are elated."
Thomas Ryan: "I think the SCHSL made a great decision to bring the State Basketball Championships back to Columbia. Student athletes who get the opportunity to play in those games will get the full experience they deserve!"
