After a season that started around Thanksgiving, just a few high school teams are still left playing. Just two Boys teams from each class and two Girls team from each class remain. They will do battle at Bob Jones University for a chance to call themselves Upper State Champions and a chance to punch their ticket to the State Finals. Below is the results from Wednesday's games which concluded the Upper State Semifinals and a scheduled for the Upper State Title Games in Greenville.
5A Girls Scores Wednesday
Mauldin got a hard fought home win holding off Lexington 46-43. Sensational Sophomore PG Trinity Jones had a game high 25 to lead Mauldin. She got two buckets down the stretch to save the day and the season for the Lady Mavs.
Spring Valley edged Dorman 61-59
5A Boys Scores Wednesday
Dorman had no trouble as they routed Fort Mill 66-33. The Cavs are back in the 5A Upper State Finals , after missing it last year when Mauldin ousted them in the 3rd round on a buzzer beater. Last year was the only time since the creation of the 5A Class that Dorman's Boys didn't make the Upper State Finals. They're back his year and are looking to put the program back on top of the heap.
TL Hanna's bid for Upper State fell short as they lost to Lexington 64-56
1A Girls Wednesday
St. Joseph's knocked off High Point 75-72. The run that many didn't expect continues for St. Joe's. St. Joe's finished 3rd in Region 1 - 1A and had dropped two regular season meetings to High Point. The 3rd time was the charm and they'll look to keep the cinderella postseason run going.
Schedule For Upper State Finals at Bob Jones University in Greenville
Friday
Noon - 2A Girls Keenan (Columbia) vs Gray Collegiate. One of the all time great players in the history of South Carolina Girls Basketball, Milaysia Fulwiley looks to cap her incredible career by leading Keenan to their 4th straight State Title.
2 PM 2A Boys- Keenan vs Gray Collegiate. Keenan is back in the Upper State after they lost in the 3A Upper State last year to eventual State Champs, Blue Ridge. Keenan Coach Zach Norris is one of the best to ever patrol the sidelines, can he come up with something to knock off a loaded Gray squad? We will find out.
5:30 PM 4A Girls- Wade Hampton (Greenville) vs North Augusta. Wade Hampton has sort of quietly been one of the best teams in 4A this season. They'll take on perennial powerhouse North Augusta, who just beat a quality Pickens team by more than 20 on the road.
7:30 PM Greenville High vs Lancaster. The top two seeded teams in the 4A bracket meet with a chance at state on the line. The Red Raiders have athleticism, talent and balance, will they finish the deal?
Saturday
Noon 1A Girls St. Joe's vs Denmark-Olar. St. Joe's is playing with confidence and house money after knocking off the champs of their region, High Point on the road.
2PM 1A Boys Christ Church vs Great Falls.
Jordan Butler leads Christ Church, the 6ft 11 Center has signed to play with Missouri. He will look to finish his high school career on a championship note. Great Falls is the most accomplished 1A program in modern history. They've won 10 State Title as a program and are looking for Back-To-Back State Titles for the 1st time since the era of legendary Coach John Smith. It's a battle of the best private school program in 1A in modern history vs the best public school program in 1A's modern history.
530 PM 3A Girls Wren vs Southside. These two teams come from the same region, they know each other extremely well. They've met three times already this season, Saturday marks the 4th time. Southside took two of the previous three meetings.
730 PM 3A Boys Travelers Rest vs Wren. Two teams who play "pace and space" on the offensive end. Both feature three guys that average double figures. Both get up and down the floor and have shooters. It may come down to who can go get it off the glass, better? TR's Drew McKibben impressed me in their 2nd round win when he had 14 boards, 8 of them on the offensive end.
Monday
530 PM 5A Girls Mauldin vs Spring Valley. Mauldin is making their 2nd straight trip to the Upper State Finals. Last year, they faltered and were beat soundly by eventual State Champs, Rock Hill. They will look to get over the hump.
730 PM 5A Boys Dorman vs Lexington. For Dorman to regain their status as the "top dogs" of 5A, they have to go through a really good Lexington program. Dorman lost Noah Clowney off of last year's squad , he's at Alabama averaging 10 points and 8 boards per, right now. The Cavs haven't missed a beat despite the graduation of such a high level talent. Dorman doesn't rebuild, they re-load.
