The Mauldin High Varity Girls and Varsity Boys basketball teams are your Region 1- 5A Champions. The Lady Mavs clinched their Region Title with a 56-46 home win over J.L. Mann Friday on Senior Night. The Mauldin Girls finish the regular season with a 16-7 overall record and were 7-1 in region play. The Mauldin Boys who had already clinched their region won 60-46 Friday to cap off their regular season. The Mauldin Boys had a regular season record of 15-8, 7-1 in region and finished the region slate winning 7 straight. That is now back-to-back Region Titles for Mauldin Boys Basketball.
In Friday's game, The Lady Mavericks got a tremendous performance out of Freshman phenom Trinity Jones (no relation). The young point guard led the Mauldin charge scoring a game high 22 on 7 of 13 shooting, connecting on all three of her attempts from downtown. Senior Regan Bolden added 12 in the winning effort for the Lady Mavs. Freshman Delilah Soltys had an all around performance scoring 8 points, grabbing 7 boards and dishing out 6 assists, while only turning it over twice. Senior Rebecca Haddad led J.L. Mann with 10, Jakiya Mack and Zakiyah Moss had 9 each.
In the boys game, Mauldin showed poise and resiliency overcoming an incredibly sluggish start. The Mavs turned it over on their first 3 offensive trips on their way to 25 total turnovers. Mauldin did not make a field goal in the 1st quarter, their lone points came on a pair of free throws from Senior big man Drake Downs. Mauldin trailed 9-2 after the 1st, they would get going offensively in the 2nd quarter scoring 20 in that frame to cut the Mann halftime lead to three at 25-22.
The game was a tale of two halves, as the Mavs outscored Mann 40-21 after the break. Mauldin took control of the game in the final frame with a 22-10 4th quarter. A great defensive adjustment by the Mauldin coaching staff jump started their strong finish. Mauldin went to a 2-3 zone done the stretch of the 4th quarter that disrupted and Mann's offensive rhythm and led to a 18-6 run to cap off the game.
Just like any coach would script it, the Mavs Seniors led them to the Senior Night victory. Caleb Byrd had game highs for points and rebounds, Byrd finished with a double-double of 26 points and a dozen boards, 8 of them coming on the offensive end. Senior big man Drake Downs added a dozen and classmate Eliziah Ballenger had 8 points and 4 assists. Sophomore Braden Hershberger added 9 points off the bench. He sparked the Mavs giving them energy off the bench by diving and collecting loose balls on several occasions. Hershberger also had a game high 6 assists.
JL Mann was led by Junior Natambu Calhoun who had 20 points but shot 8 of 23 on the night. Zayn Valentine added 9 for the Patriots.
The Mauldin Girls and Boys will both have home court advantage to open the playoffs and would play at home until the Upper State Finals, if they continue to win. The Mauldin boys start their playoff journey on Wednesday hosting Wade Hampton for a 7 PM tipoff. With a win, Mauldin would host the winner of the Clover/ Blythewood game Friday night at 7 PM. The Mauldin girls open the playoffs hosting Riverside. The Lady Mavs with a win would host the winner of Gaffney and Northwestern for a 7 PM tip on Saturday.