State champion Ridge View headed to national tournament

By Thomas Grant Jr.

For the second time in March, the Ridge View boys basketball team has another shot at a title.

The South Carolina High School League unanimously approved the Class 4A champion’s acceptance of an invitation to play in The Throne. The tournament will take place March 27-30 at the American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Super excited and grateful the executive committee approved us to play,” Ridge View High School head coach Joshua Staley. “We look forward to competing and learning at a great event!”

As part of the approval, Ridge View will give up a summer competition day for each day it advances in the tournament. The Blazers (27-2) will open against Jackson-Reed (33-3) out of Washington DC on March 27.

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.

This will be the Blazers’ second tournament in “The Swamp”. In December, they won the Chick-Fil-A Classic at River Bluff High School which propelled them into the national rankings.

After reclaiming the Class 4A title for the fourth time in school history and winning a fifth title overall, Ridge View (27-2) is currently ranked 11^th by USA Today Super 25, 20^th by Maxpreps.com and 24^th by SC Next 25.