Photo courtesy of Ridge View boys basketball
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Another week, another high-profile game for the 2-time defending Class 5A Division I boys basketball champions.
Just days after defeating Gray Collegiate Academy at the “Showdown in Shandon”, Ridge View faced Lakeside (Ga.) in the Charlotte Hoops Challenge at Harding High School.
This provided another showcase for sophomore R.J. Davis to continue his ascent. He scored 21 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked two shots in the 75-45 win.
C.J. Moore added 17 points, J.T. Van Kallen had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists and preseason Top Five Senior guard Talan Staley finished with 10 points and five assists.
The Blazers will also play in Sumter this weekend at the Challenge against Goose Creek.
The Ridge View girls made their debut with new head coach and former University of South Carolina guard Aaron Lucas in the She Got Next tournament.
The Lady Blazers competed in the Silver Bracket. They opened with a 55-27 win over defending Class 2A champion Andrew Jackson led by Reagan Ferguson with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Joliyah Robinson and Emani English each had 10 points for Ridge View. It faced Mauldin in the bracket final and had a 17-11 lead after one quarter.
The Lady Mavericks outscored Ridge View 35-11 over the next two quarters and came away with the 52-39 win.
Westwood
The early morning practices are working out well so far for Westwood boys basketball.
Entering Tuesday’s matchup with Northeast rival Richland Northeast, the Redhawks sported a 3-0 record.
They opened the season November 21 with a 76-31 win over Clear Dot Charter led by Jayden Crews with 14 points and four assists. Senior guard D’Marcus Thomas and junior Cylan McLeod each added 12 points.
Up next was the Turkey Farm Shootout at The Castle. The Redhawks opened with a 66-38 win over Heathwood Hall as McLeod led the way with 14 points and Crews and Thomas each added 13 points.
The following night, Westwood battled Lower Richland into overtime. The quartet of McLeod (16 points), Daytron Cockfield (15 points, seven rebounds), D’Marcus Thomas (13 points) and Bryson Hardy (10 points) accounted for 75 percent of the offense.
On Saturday, Westwood and will face defending Class 4A champion Lancaster in the Stars and Stripes Challenge at Sumter High School.
On the girls side, the Lady Redhawks had a 3-2 record entering Tuesday. After splitting opening games with Georgetown and Rock Hill, they reached the final of the Teresa Kendle Classic Tournament at Summerville High School.
Westwood opened with a 74-20 win over Colleton County. Sophomore Lyric Rogers was one of five players in double figures with 18 points, followed by eighth grader Amari Alexander and Shaniya Heath with 12 points each, Amari Dugar with 11 and Kamirra Clarke with 10.
Rogers and Clarke led the way with 15 and 14 points, respectively, in a 56-40 win over Burke. This set up a championship game where the Lady Wildcats edged Westwood 41-40.
Blythewood
The new season got off to a tough start for the defending Class 5A Division I girls’ basketball champions.
The top-ranked Lady Bengals were 0-2 in the Gold Bracket of the She Got Next Tournament. They led preseason fourth-ranked Camden 22-17 after the first quarter, but were outscored 21-12 in both the second and third quarters.
Preseason Top Five Seniors Chase Thomas and India Thomas accounted for 20 and 13 points respectively. Kirsten Fulton had 13 as well, but the Lady Bengals fell 79-63.
This set up a ‘One Versus Two” consolation game with Dorman. Blythewood was unable to contain the duo of Morgan White and Jade Barlow who each had 18 points in the 65-49 victory.
The Lady Bengals picked up their first win Tuesday with a 79-34 road win over White Knoll.
Fresh off last season’s state runner-up finish, the Blythewood boys opened the season by co-hosting the Columbia Tip Off with Columbia High School.
The Bengals played two games in the Bethel Hanberry Alumni Bracket. They won both games over Fairfield Central (91-71) and York (66-47).
Up next last Saturday was a trip to Harding High School in Charlotte, N.C. for the Charlotte Hoops Challenge. Blythewood fell behind 15-4 in the first quarter, then got within 29-25 at halftime.
The Bengals managed to close the gap to 45-43 at the end of the third quarter. Culbertson outscored them 20-15 in the fourth quarter for the 65-58 win.
