Sumter – Just like it did in football, Gray Collegiate Academy is rolling through Region 4-AA. That’s because no one in the region will play the War Eagles.
For what is perceived as competitive imbalance for Gray, a charter school, over traditional public schools, Keenan, Fairfield Central, Eau Claire and Columbia, all forfeited their games as a sign of protest.
That’s what happened to GCA in football when it had to play out-of-state schools to fill holes in the schedule. The basketball team has had to do much the same thing.
The War Eagles are the defending state champions, beating sister charter school Oceanside Collegiate Academy in the title game. Those same two schools met for the football state title this year as well with OCA being victorious.
This will be the final shot for either at a AA state title for at least the next two years. With a 3x multiplier being used on students from outside of the attendance zone in the South Carolina High School League's just completed reclassification, Gray will be AAAA and OCA AAA next year.
Gray Collegiate is ranked No. 1 in the High School Sports Report AA poll and is favored to defend its title. The War Eagles are led by Tre Maddox and Braylhan Thomas, both selected as Elite players in the state regardless of class or classification by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.
The War Eagles also have Ellis Graham, selected as one of the Top 5 seniors in AA by the SCBCA.
Let’s take a look at the races for the other seven region titles.
REGION 1
Landrum and Greer Middle College are doing battle for the region championship. Landrum is 7-0 in region and 19-4 overall. It is led by Franklin Davis, rated as one of the Top 5 seniors. He is averaging 20.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Landrum is ranked eighth while Greer Middle is ranked 10th. Greer Middle is 16-5 and 6-1, with the loss coming by a 58-55 count to Landrum on the road.
The teams will meet again on February 6 with the title likely on the line.
REGION 2
Unless something unforeseen happens, Newberry and Abbeville will be the top two seeds from this region in the state playoffs. It just matters who is seeded where.
Newberry is ranked 15th and is 5-0 in the 5-team region. Abbeville is ranked 16th and is 4-1.
The Bulldogs beat Abbeville 82-73 in overtime in a home game earlier in the season. They are scheduled to meet in the regular-season finale in Abbeville on February 8.
REGION 3
Strom Thurmond is ranked sixth in the state while Fox Creek is ranked 11th, but it is the Predators who are at the top of the region rankings.
Fox Creek is 15-9 overall and 5-0 in region play. Strom Thurmond is 17-6 and 4-1.
The Predators went on the road and beat Strom Thurmond 57-43 on January 23. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in the regular-season on February 8 in North Augusta.
Fox Creek is led by Connor Cannon, rated as one of the Top 5 seniors. Cannon is averaging 17.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
REGION 5
Andrew Jackson is one of the best teams in the state, ranked fifth with a 17-3 overall record. It would take a major collapse for it not to win the region title.
The Volunteers are 7-0 in the 7-team region, meaning it has five region contests remaining. However, York Prep, ranked 14th, and North Central are tied for second at 6-3.
AJ is led by Top 5 senior Ghaleb Wilson. He is averaging 17.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Central at 4-3 is trying to assert itself into the battle for second or third place.
REGION 6
Hampton County, in its first year of existence with the merger of Wade Hampton and Estill, is in position to win the region championship.
Hampton County, ranked fourth in the state, is 17-5 overall and 4-0 in the region. The Hurricanes beat No. 12 Woodland 69-53 on January 26 to drop Woodland to 3-1.
Hampton County can all but wrap up the title with a win at Woodland on February 2.
REGION 7
Oceanside Collegiate is ranked second in the state and is 5-0 in the region. Bishop England, a private school that will be moving up to AAA next year as well, is ranked seventh and is 4-1.
Oceanside won the initial meeting of the season between the teams on the road by a 77-59 count. They meet again on February 2 with the region title likely on the line.
REGION 8
Three of the teams in the region are ranked, Mullins at No. 3, Marion at No. 9 and Kingstree at No. 13.
Mullins is 17-5 overall and 5-0 in the region. The Auctioneers put themselves in position to win the region with a 64-54 triumph over Marion. The teams will face off again in the regular-season finale on February 8.
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