I had thought going in to Monday night's 5A State Quarterfinal game between Mauldin and Dorman it was the biggest game in the state. While many times in sports things don't live up to the hype that game not only measured up, it exceeded my expectations. Dorman the "bully on the block" had beaten Mauldin the last 10 times the two teams met. The Cavaliers had also made the Upper State Championship game every years since 2016. However, Mauldin would get late game heroics in the form of a 3 point buzzer beater from Senior Caleb Byrd to derail Dorman's dynasty. In the tweet below from Joe Dandron of 864 Huddle you can see video of "the shot heard round the Upstate".
Byrd's buzzer beater may well be the biggest single shot in Mauldin Basketball history. It's certainly a moment that young man nor that community will ever forget. Dorman had beaten Mauldin twice in the regular season, but Mauldin got the win when it mattered most. Caleb Byrd, who's committed to play at Newberry College next season, scored a game high 25 points. Byrd is my mind one of the most underrated prospects in the Upstate and maybe even the entire state. His classmate, Mauldin Senior Guard David Sheerer told the coaching staff in the final timeout prior to the game's final shot "Coach Byrd is in the zone, get him the ball, he'll deliver". Sheerer's prediction came to fruition in the form of an off balance three that went in.
Dorman opened the game on a 7-2 run, Mauldin clawed back to close the gap to 12-10 after the 1st. The momentum swung for the homestanding Mavs in the 2nd quarter, when Dorman big man Noah Clowney picked up his 2nd foul and went to the bench. Mauldin then took control going on a run and taking a lead of 28-20 with Clowney on the bench. Dorman Coach Thomas Ryan rolled the dice putting Clowney back in with 3 minutes left in the first half. Mauldin's Caleb Byrd had to leave the game late in the 1st half for a few minutes due to having blood on his jersey. Those two things coupled together led to a Dorman run of 15-2 to close the 1st half. The Cavaliers took a 35-30 lead into the halftime break.
The two teams traded punches like it was a heavyweight fight all night long and through 3rd Quarter. The Mavericks were down 8 late in the 3rd, but closed the frame on an 8-3 run to trail 62-59 heading into the 4th. Mauldin took a brief 4th quarter lead when a Byrd drive and finish put them up 60-59. A 5-0 Dorman spurt put them up 64-60 with 2 minutes left. Mauldin got a bucket to cut it to cut it to a point two game.
The two teams traded foul line trips. Dorman had been perfect from the line down the stretch until Noah Clowney missed one of two, that made it 68-65. Mauldin raced into the front court and Downs put up a three and a foul was called on Clowney with 5.6 seconds left, Downs made the first shot then missed the second. Mauldin called their final timeout to set up an intentional miss and rebound chance. On the scramble for the rebound Dorman knocked it out of bounds.
Dorman Coach Thomas Ryan then took a timeout with 4.5 seconds left, which allowed Mauldin to draw up one final play. The play didn't exactly go as drawn up but Mauldin got in into Downs at the top of the key, he nearly turned it over on the pass to Byrd. However, Byrd corralled the pass and got the shot off just before the horn.
Byrd finished with a game high 25 points, Mauldin big man Drake Downs added 22. Mauldin got a double figure performance out of Sophomore Braden Hershberger who had 6 points in the final three minutes, including a huge drive to the hoop floating one up over Clowney that went in. Downs outdueled Alabama 4-star commit Noah Clowney who finished with 17 points and 9 boards, including three made 3-pointers. Jordyn Surratt led Dorman with a team high 18.
The win for Mauldin is huge, it not only marks their 2nd trip to the Upper State Finals in 5 years but it's a milestone victory over a powerhouse Dorman program. The progression of the Mauldin program under Head Coach Adam McClain and Lead Assistant Armond Flood has culminated into this run this year. McClain is in his 6th year at the helm and Flood in his 5th year on the Mavs bench. The continuity on the staff, the passion and energy they have for the job and the bond the entire program has is easy to see. The Mauldin community has embraced the program and it was evident from the standing room only crowd at "the Stable" Monday night.
Mauldin now moves to the 5A Upper State Title Game, that game is set for a 7:30 tip off Saturday night at Bob Jones University. The Mauldin girls would join the boys in the Upper State, if they beat Dorman on Tuesday night at "the Stable". Mauldin has cleared one major hurdle and now another massive one stands in their way. The Mavs square off with Ridge View, who won in blow out fashion at Fort Mill Monday night. The Blazers are led by one of the nation's top prospects for the class of 2023, Greg "G.G" Jackson. The 6ft 9 Forward holds offers from blue blood programs like Duke and North Carolina among others. Jackson is reportedly also considering staying in town and playing at South Carolina, or forgoing college and playing in the G-League's Ignite program after graduation. One thing I have figured out in covering Mauldin's playoff run is they won't shy away from the moment, because their Senior leadership core that includes Byrd and Downs, won't allow it.