As the clock ticked down in the 3A Boys State Title Game on Friday night at USC-Aiken, the Blue Ridge Boys became part of history. This year's team did what no other team in program history has done before them. The Blue Ridge Boys program won its 1st State Title in the school's nearly 7 decades of existence, downing Orangeburg-Wilkinson 49-42. Coach Richie Stevens and his assistant Keith Cannada did something that so many only dream of. The two are both alumni and former players at Blue Ridge, so winning this State Title made it that much sweeter.
It's no secret that Justin Bailey has been the driving force behind this historical run for Blue Ridge. The Senior and USC-Upstate signee came into Friday night averaging 36 points per game during this post season run. He had 38 in their 1st ever Upper State Title game to lead them to a victory over perennial power Keenan.
On Friday night, Bailey once again shouldered the load offensively. He had a double-double of 29 points and 11 boards. Most of his game high 29 came in the 2nd half, as he got 17 after the break. Blue Ridge who has seemed like the unlikely or improbable candidates in the last two games, clawed from behind on Friday night. Orangeburg-Wilkinson opened the game on a 10-4 run. They lead the entire first half, but a run late in the 2nd quarter put Blue Ridge down just one at the half, 24-23.
The Fighting Tigers would do just that and fought their way to their 1st lead of the night with just over 7 minutes left in the 3rd. Blue Ridge would outscore the Bruins 15-11 in the 3rd frame to take a 38-35 lead into the 4th. What has impressed me so much about Bailey is his efficiency. Volume scorers in many cases can be less than efficient, but not Bailey he shot over 50% from the floor. His shooting numbers were 9 of 17 from the floor and 11 of 14 from the foul line.
This season will live in folk lore and to be talked about by the Blue Ridge community for years to come. My dad won the Class A State Title as a player at the now defunct Tamassee High School and he still tells the story 60 plus years later. So I know, this memory and story will live on as for generations to come among Blue Ridge players, coaches, alumni and fans. It's a story of the unlikely school, who's never done it before. It's a story of a transcendent player named Justin Bailey who carried the load, night in and night out all the way to the "Big Gold Trophy". Sometimes real life writes better storylines than Hollywood and that story is exactly what played out at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center.
