By Thomas Grant, Jr.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Staley – Talon Staley
Ridge View senior guard Talon Staley keeps making his father/head coach Joshua Staley proud.
Having watched the elder Staley coach in All-Star games, he now gets to finish his career competing in one. On Wednesday, the younger Staley was named to the South Carolina All-Star team that will face North Carolina at the Carolinas Classic.
This year’s game will take place at Dorman High School on March 19. Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill was the original site until the city of Spartanburg reached an agreement to hold the Classic the next three years.
Before a televised audience as part of WACH 57’s High School Hoops series, Staley helped Ridge View continue its winning ways. He had a team-high 15 points in the 88-57 win over Spring Valley.
C.J. Moore had 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists. D.J. Wylie and Gregory Williams each finished with 12 points and Brayden Mack had 10 for Ridge View (19-3, 7-1).
Ironically, Spring Valley was the first opponent Tuesday for Westwood coming off the loss to the Blazers. The Redhawks still share first place, but Ridge View holds the points allowed tiebreaker should they finished in a tie.
On the girls side, second-ranked Blythewood (18-4, 9-0) looked to clinch a second straight Region 5-5A title with a win Tuesday over West Florence. The defending Class 5A Division I champions entered the contest riding a 12-game winning streak.
The Ridge View girls basketball team with the WACH 57 Friday Night Hoops trophy won after defeating Spring Valley.
Ridge View has a 2-game lead on second place over Westwood, whom it lost to last week 52-49. It had Lugoff-Elgin at home Tuesday and West Florence Friday on the road.
New regions for Northeast Schools
Classes 4A and 5A will look differently for Northeast schools this fall.
The newly-released region realignment by the S.C. High School League has most of the remaining Class 5A schools moving to Region 4.
Barring changes from appeals, Ridge View, Blythewood and Spring Valley will compete in Region 4-4A. The schools will be joined by Sumter and Class 5A newcomer Gray Collegiate Academy.
This is the second upward move for the West Columbia school in four years. They will be most affected by the 3x multiplier which has its reclassification number among the Class 5A schools.
In Class 4A, Westwood reunites with Richland Northeast in Region 4-4A. It’s a mix of Midlands (A.C. Flora, Dreher and Lugoff-Elgin) and Rock Hill (Lancaster, Indian Land) schools.
