By Thomas Grant Jr.
Destiny Drakeford closed out her prep career on a winning note.
The Ridge View High School senior center played an integral role in South Carolina’s 81-77 comeback win over North Carolina at the Carolinas Classic in Wilmington, N.C.
Drakeford finished with nine points, seven coming in the second half. South Carolina trailed as many as 17 points and did not take the lead until 34.1 seconds left in the game.
Terriana Gray of archrival A.C. Flora earned MVP honors. She scored 10 points but had three steals in the fourth quarter rally.
Fellow Ridge View senior Jayden Pretty of the Class 4A champions did not fare as well in the boys’ game. He finished with eight points in the 109-91 loss to North Carolina.
Weddington High School guard Grant Hamilton scored 33 points, including a Classic record nine, 3-pointers. He broke the previous mark of eight 3-pointers made by Blythewood’s Trey Jackson in 2019.
Jackson still holds the Classic record of 38 points.
Last Saturday’s game served as a “warmup” for Pretty. He and the Blazers headed to East Rutherford, N.J. to begin preparation for The Throne basketball tournament.
A partnership between the National Basketball Players Association and Gold Level Sports and Entertainment, the single-elimination event will feature a 16-team boys field and 8-team girls field from around the country.
Dorman was a past participant of The Throne.
Ridge View (27-2) will open against Jackson-Reed (33-3) out of Washington DC on March 27.
