(Photo by Ridge View High School)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
A week after battling C.A. Johnson on its homecourt as part of the “Bojangles Bash”, the Ridge View boys returned the favor in a way this past week.
The Blazers took part in the Carolina Holiday Hoops Summit at the home of the Hornets. It was another event when the defending Class 5A Division I champions tested themselves against out-of-state competition.
This time, the results were more favorable.
Ridge View opened with a 76-61 win over Julius Chambers. R.J. Davis led a quartet of double-figure scorers with 29 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
D.J. Wylie had 16 points, J.T. Vankallen had 11 points and five assists and Talon Staley finished with 10 points and six assists.
In the second game, they defeated Gaston Christian 71-60 behind 28 points and seven rebounds from C.J. Moore, 16 points from D.J. Wylie and 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks by R.J. Davis.
Up next is the 3-day Arby’s Classic where Ridge View opens against Mount Bethel Christian Academy on Saturday.
The Ridge View girls closed out its 2025 schedule at the Beachball Classic. It dropped two of its three games by two points to George Washington (West Va.) 64-62 and Greenville 47-45.
The Lady Blazers’ lone win was a 56-34 victory over Bishop O’Connell.
WESTWOOD
Both Westwood teams travelled to the Pee Dee/Grand Strand area for Classic games.
The boys teams split two games at the Magic City Invitational at Wilson High School in Florence. It opened with a 52-46 win over former Class 4A number one North Augusta.
Jayden Crews had 15 points, D’Marcus Thomas finished with 14 and Daytron Cantrell scored 10 in the win.
The following game, the Redhawks fell 50-45 to Greenville. Cylan McLeod had 11 points and Crews and Thomas each finished with 10 points.
The Lady Redhawks were one of three Northeast teams to compete at the Beachball Classic in Myrtle Beach. They played two games on the opening day, losing 41-40 to Kay Yow Division champion St. James in the afternoon and 54-46 to Deep Creek (Va.) in the John Rhodes Division.
Westwood finished play with a 39-26 loss to James Island.
In the same Kay Yow Division bracket, defending Class 5A Division I champion Blythewood opened with a 61-44 win over Greenville. The Lady Bengals then fell 56-46 to Deep Creek as Chase Thomas posted a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds and India Williams added 10 points.
The final game of the tournament saw Blythewood roll past Keenan 67-39 in a matchup of Top 10 teams.
S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS
BOYS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. Ridge View, 2. Dorman, 3. Dutch Fork, 4. Sumter, 5. Cane Bay, 6. J.F. Byrnes, 7. Ashley Ridge, 8. Clover, 9. Spartanburg, 10. Carolina Forest
(Division II)
1. Greenville, 2. Goose Creek, 3. Riverside, 4. Fort Mill, 5. Westwood, 6. TL Hanna, 7. Irmo, 8. St. James, 9. Berkeley, 10. Indian Land
GIRLS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. Spartanburg, 2. Byrnes, 3. Lexington, 4. Mauldin, 5. JL Mann, 6. Dutch Fork, 7. Wando, 8. Dorman, 9. West Ashley, 10. Blythewood
(Division II)
1. Gaffney, 2. Goose Creek, 3. North Myrtle Beach, 4. Berkeley, 5. Irmo, 6. Westwood, 7. Berkeley, 8. Greenville, 9. Myrtle Beach, 10. Greenwood
