By Thomas Grant Jr.

It’s no accident the Spring Valley girls’ basketball team have put together a challenging non-region schedule.

Non-region games against preseason ranked teams like Ashley Ridge (a 69-68 win), South Pointe (a 65-57 loss) and Irmo (a 70-36 win) are in preparation for what’s ahead for the fifth-ranked Lady Vikings. Specifically, they will compete in Region 5-5A which Assey refers to as “The SEC of women’s hoops in the state”.

“For Spring Valley, we’ve always had tough basketball regions,” she said. “But I feel like this is kind of the juggernaut that they’ve put us into.

“You’ve got Sumter, the defending (Class 5A) champion, Westwood, Ridge View, Blythewood. Any given night, it can be anybody’s game depending on who’s hitting shots and who’s defending well and controlling the boards.”

Assey said she’s carefully put together her non-region schedule to prepare for those nightly battles coming up in the new year.

She will look upon the team’s senior leadership. Seniors Lauren Crosland (13.3 points per game), forward Mariana Moody (12.7 points. 9.7 rebounds per game) and guards Zie’l Ratchford (12.3 points, 3.7 assists per game) set the example of team chemistry and selflessness on and off the court.

Assey also believes sophomore swingwoman Domonique Briggs is a “high IQ” player who will develop into an “all-around player” for the Lady Vikings.

Spring Valley played in the CHNY Showcase at Cardinal Newman High School last Saturday. The Lady Vikings scored 24 points in the fourth quarter of a 65-54 loss to Lower Richland.

The Westwood girls had a 4-4 record entering Tuesday night. It defeated Richland Northeast 45-35 on Dec. 6 as Aneya Britt posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Amari Alexander added 12 points.

The following night, the Lady Redhawks lost 71-54 to Military Magnet at Charles A. Davis Showcase. Britt led Westwood with 19 points and Alexander added 11.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Spring Valley boys basketball team picked up its first win of the season Thursday.

Dewayne Patterson scored 21 points, including 5 3-pointers, and Nicholas Gonzalez had 20 points in the 69-59 win over Irmo.

The two teams meet again Friday at the Temple of Doom.

Blythewood is off to a 5-0 start on the season. After a 69-62 overtime win over Christ Church, the Bengals have defeated White Knoll twice, River Bluff and Richland Northeast.

Last Friday’s 66-58 win over the Timberwolves was a historic game for T.J. Lewis. He set a school record with 43 points a day after scoring 32 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists in a 61-58 win over River Bluff.

The Westwood boys improved to 6-0 following back-to-back wins over White Knoll and Gray Collegiate. The 51-49 win over the War Eagles took place last Friday in the Stars and Stripes Showscase at Keenan High School.

Jayden Crews had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Rodney Brown added nine points against Gray Collegiate.

HOOPS SCHEDULE

(Friday’s Games)

Westwood at Richland Northeast 6 p.m.

Spring Valley at Irmo 6 p.m.

(Saturday’s Games)

Columbia at Richland Northeast 12:30 p.m.

(Tuesday’s Games)

Spring Valley at Richland Northeast 6 p.m.

Summerville at Westwood 6 p.m.

NOTE: Ridge View boys will play host to The Bash Thursday-Saturday.

Photos by Thomas Grant Jr. – Spring Valley girls basketball coach Megan Assey speaks to her team during a timeout against Irmo