By Thomas Grant Jr.

Having repeated as state basketball champions, Chase Thomas of Blythewood and Talan Staley of Ridge View looked to close their prep careers with one more win.

Both were selected to represent South Carolina against North Carolina’s top seniors in the annual Carolinas Classic All-Star Basketball Games at Dorman High School.

This marked the first time in nearly a decade the contests took place in the Palmetto State.

Thomas, South Carolina win OT shootout

The return to South Carolina proved memorable, particularly for Thomas and the South Carolina girls. They defeated North Carolina 109-107 in overtime in what was the highest scoring game in the Classic’s 27-year-old history.

“We didn’t want to go home to lose,” said Thomas, who finished with 13 points. “So, we just had to play together and play hard and we made the most of what we could do and pulled it out.”

In also helping South Carolina break the team record of 105 points scored in 2005, Thomas had three, 3-pointers in the first half.

This was Thomas’ second victory in less than a month in Roebuck. She had 28 points in the 54-52 win over Dorman on February 23 in the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs.

The game also “reunited’ Thomas with fellow S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A Player of the Year Morgan White of Dorman, who finished with 12 points.

The duo, along with Game MVP LA Alexander of Camden, who had a team-high 23 points, helped South Carolina take a 13-point lead in the second half. North Carolina rallied to take the lead late in the fourth quarter before a 3-pointer by Chloe Hudson of Rock Hill with 13 seconds left tied the game at 96-96.

A technical foul on North Carolina for an illegal timeout gave South Carolina an opportunity to win in regulation. However, Jahzara Leamon of Mauldin missed both free throws and South Carolina’s final shot attempt missed at the buzzer.

Baskets by Thomas and Leamon put South Carolina ahead 100-97. North Carolina got within a point, only for White to hit a layup with 27.6 seconds left. 

Up 105-104, South Carolina sealed with win with four straight free throws by Danielle Oliver of Greenwood and Hudson.

“It was just a great game and I’m just excited to be selected and it was just a great weekend,” Thomas said. “It was fun. We made chemistry quickly. These girls that I played with, it was just fun to be able to play with them and win.”

South Carolina head coach Terrance Gibson, formerly of Ridge View now at Brookland-Cayce, praised his team’s character.

It couldn’t be more satisfying,” Brookland-Cayce head coach Terrance Gibson said. “It’s an honor to coach girls that have that much talent. But more than their talent, they have great character and that comes from where they come from – their homes, their neighborhood, their community.

“To have a high level of character, it’s more than just basketball. It’s great to be around athletes that not only care about being great basketball players. They care about being great people.”

Last run for the Staleys

The boys’ game not only marked the final high school game for Staley. It was the last game playing for his father and South Carolina head coach Joshua Staley.

Despite 15 points from the younger Staley, South Carolina was defeated 131-107 by North Carolina. It was overwhelmed by the Tar Heel State seniors’ 3-point shooting barrage in the form of 22 made in the game.

North Carolina connected on 11 3-pointers in the second quarter, including seven straight to break the game open.

Guard Zy’Vaun Puckett of Panther Creek connected on four 3-pointers in the second quarter. He finished with 15 points to earn Game MVP honors and was one of seven North Carolina players in double figures.

“North Carolina caught fire in that second quarter,” South Carolina head coach Joshua Staley of Ridge View said. “They hit a bunch of shots. But it’s way bigger than just the games. I really enjoyed coaching these young men, these great high character young men. Obviously, it was a little sentimental because it was the last one with Tal.”

“It meant a lot,” Talan said. “I got to play with a lot of my old teammates. Guys I played with before. Just spending time with them. It was a chill way to go out.”