SCHSL basketball state playoffs first-round games set for Monday, Tuesday

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • February 16, 2026

12 state championship games set for March 5-7 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia

The first round of the South Carolina High School League basketball state playoffs will begin on Monday.

 

Girls play on Monday will have first-round games in AAAAA Division I, AAAA and Class A. The boys playoffs beginning on Monday are in AAAAA Division II, AAA and AA.

 

Girls first-round play on Tuesday will include AAAAA Division II, AAA and AA. The boys starting up on Tuesday are AAAAA Division I, AAAA and Class A.

 

Second-round matchups will be on February 20-21 while the third round will be played on February 23-24. The higher seed will be the home team through the first three rounds.

 

The Upper State and Lower State championship games will be played on February 27-28. The Upper State games will be played at a neutral site agreed upon by the two teams, while the Lower State games will be played at Florence Center.

 

The 12 championship games will be played at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia for the first time in several years on March 5-7.

 

The AAAAA Division II games and the AA title games will be played on March 5 starting with the AA girls at 2 p.m. The AA boys will follow at 4 p.m. with the AAAAA DII girls game at 6 p.m. and the boys games set to start at 8 p.m.

   

The AAAAA Division I games and the AAA title games will be played on March 6 starting with the AAA girls at 2 p.m. The AAA boys will follow at 4 p.m. with the AAAAA DI girls game at 6 p.m. and the boys games set to start at 8 p.m.

 

The final day of championship games will feature the Class A and AAAA contests. Play will begin with the Class A girls game starting at noon followed by the Class A boys contest scheduled for a 2 p.m. start. The AAAA girls game is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff followed by the AAAA boys game at 6 p.m.

 

SCHSL

AAAAA Division I

Boys

First Round

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

(1) Ridge View (bye)

(9) J.L. Mann at (8) Boiling Springs

(12) Rock Hill at (5) Spartanburg

(4) Dorman (bye)

(3) Byrnes (bye)

(11) Blythewood at (6) Clover

(10) Spring Valley at (7) Mauldin

(2) Dutch Fork (bye)

Lower State

(1) West Ashley (bye)

(9) Summerville at (8) Lexington

(12) Stall at (5) Sumter

(4) Cane Bay (bye)

(3) James Island (bye)

(11) Stratford at (6) Fort Dorchester

(10) Wando at (7) Ashley Ridge

(2) Carolina Forest (bye)

 

Girls

First Round

Monday, February 16

Upper State

(1) Dorman (bye)

(9) Spartanburg at (8) Rock Hill

(12) Spring Valley at (5) Clover

(4) Blythewood (bye)

(3) Dutch Fork (bye)

(11) Boiling Springs at (6) Byrnes

(10) J.L. Mann at (7) Ridge View

(2) Mauldin (bye)

Lower State

(1) Ashley Ridge (bye)

(9) James Island at (8) Sumter

(12) Stall at (5) Wando

(4) Summerville (bye)

(3) Carolina Forest (bye)

(11) Cane Bay at (6) West Ashley

(10) Fort Dorchester at (7) River Bluff

(2) Lexington (bye)

 

Class 5A Division II

Boys

Monday, February 16

Upper State

(1) Riverside (bye)

(9) Catawba Ridge at (8) Eastside

(12) Northwestern at (5) Fort Mill

(4) T.L. Hanna (bye)

(3) Nation Ford (bye)

(11) Greenwood at (6) Indian Land

(10) Woodmont at (7) Hillcrest

(2) Greenville (bye)

Lower State

(1) Goose Creek (bye)

(9) White Knoll at (8) Myrtle Beach

(12) Chapin at (5) Irmo

(4) Berkeley (bye)

(3) Westwood (bye)

(11) North Myrtle Beach at (6) Conway

(10) Lucy Beckham at (7) Lugoff-Elgin

(2) St. James (bye)

 

Girls

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

(1) Greenville (bye)

(9) Catawba Ridge at (8) Riverside

(12) Northwestern at (5) Fort Mill

(4) Eastside (bye)

(3) Greenwood (bye)

(11) Hillcrest at (6) Nation Ford

(10) Woodmont at (7) T.L. Hanna

(2) Gaffney (bye)

Lower State

(1) Goose Creek (bye)

(9) Socastee at (8) Lucy Beckham

(12) Lugoff-Elgin at (5) St. James

(4) Chapin (bye)

(3) Berkeley (bye)

(11) Myrtle Beach at (6) Irmo

(10) Conway at (7) Westwood

(2) North Myrtle Beach (bye)

 

 

AAAA

Boys

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

(16) Lakewood at (1) Westside

(9) Seneca at (8) Blue Ridge

(12) Dreher at (5) South Pointe

(13) Wren at (4) Laurens

(11) A.C. Flora at (6) Greer

(14) Berea at (3) Lancaster

(10) Fountain Inn at (7) Camden

(15) Southside at (2) Daniel

Lower State

(16) South Florence at (1) Gray Collegiate

(9) Midland Valley at (8) Brookland-Cayce

(12) Lower Richland at (5) Crestwood

(14) Hartsville at (4) North Augusta

(11) Aiken at (6) Hilton Head Island

(14) Bishop England at (3) Wilson

(10) Darlington at (7) May River

(15) South Aiken at (2) Bluffton

 

Girls

Monday, February 16

Upper State

(16) Bluffton at (1) Westside

(9) Fountain Inn at (8) Travelers Rest

(12) Richland Northeast at (5) Blue Ridge (13) Seneca at (4) Camden

(11) Pickens at (6) Wren

(14) Lancaster at (3) South Pointe

(10) Laurens at (7) A.C. Flora

(15) Berea at (2) Daniel

Lower State

(16) Gilbert at (1) North Augusta

(9) Lower Richland at (8) Darlington

(12) Colleton County at (5) Wilson

(13) Brookland-Cayce at (4) Gray Collegiate (11) May River at (6) Bishop England

(14) Crestwood at (3) Beaufort

(10) South Aiken at (7) Midland Valley

(15) Aiken at (2) South Florence

 

 

AAA

Boys

Monday, February 16

Upper State

(16) Greer Middle College at (1) Christ Church

(9) West-Oak at (8) Union County

(12) Southside Christian at (5) Chapman (13) Broome at (4) Pendleton

(14) Palmetto at (3) Belton-Honea Path

(11) Woodruff at (6) St. Joseph’s

(10) Walhalla at (7) Powdersville

(15) Crescent at (2) Mountain View Prep

Lower State

(16) Aynor at (1) Orangeburg-Wilkinson

(9) Waccamaw at (8) Newberry

(5) Keenan at (12) North Charleston

(13) Swansea at (4) Georgetown

(14) Hanahan at (3) Loris

(11) Silver Bluff at (6) Oceanside Collegiate (10) Marlboro County at (7) Battery Creek (15) Dillon at (2) Fox Creek

 

Girls

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

(16) Mountain View Prep at (1) St. Joseph’s (9) Crescent at (8) Broome

(12) Powdersville at (5) Woodruff

(13) Greer Middle College at (4) West-Oak (14) Carolina at (3) Walhalla

(11) Union County at (6) Southside Christian

(10) Pendleton at (7) Christ Church

(15) Belton Honea Path at (2) Chapman

Lower State

(16) Loris at (1) Oceanside Collegiate

(9) Waccamaw at (8) Newberry

(12) Battery Creek at (5) Fox Creek

(13) Swansea at (4) Aynor

(14) North Charleston at (3) Dillon

(11) Silver Bluff at (6) Orangeburg-Wilkinson

(10) Georgetown at (7) Hanahan

(15) Marlboro County at (2) Keenan

 

 

AA

Boys

Monday, February 16

Upper State

North Central at High Point Academy Batesburg-Leesville at Eau Claire

Brashier Middle College at Andrew Jackson Liberty at Fairfield Central

Landrum at Clinton

Mid-Carolina at Saluda

Buford at American Leadership

Strom Thurmond at Chesnee

Lower State

Lake City at Hampton County

Woodland at York Prep

Academic Magnet at Mullins

Lake Marion at Burke

Manning at Central

Marion at Edisto

Whale Branch at Philip Simmons

Andrews at Atlantic Collegiate

 

Girls

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

Cheraw at Blacksburg

Batesburg-Leesville at Columbia

Brashier Middle College at Andrew Jackson Greenville Tech Charter at Chester

Liberty at Clinton

Eau Claire at Ninety Six

Central at Saluda

Strom Thurmond at Landrum

Lower State

East Clarendon at Lake Marion

Burke at Buford

Manning at Atlantic Collegiate

Hampton County at Philip Simmons

Lake City at Chesterfield

Marion at Whale Branch

Barnwell at Timberland

Woodland at Kingstree

 

 

Class A

Boys

Tuesday, February 17

Upper State

Great Falls at Abbeville

Calhoun Falls at Calhoun County

Whitmire at C.A. Johnson

North at McCormick

Lee Central at Horse Creek Academy

Ridge Spring-Monetta at Dixie

Ware Shoals at Lamar

Lewisville at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler

Lower State

Hemingway at Bethune-Bowman

Cross at Denmark-Olar

Lake View at Charleston Math & Science Baptist Hill at Green Sea Floyds

Ridgeland at Carvers Bay

Johnsonville at Hardeeville

Branchville at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

Scott’s Branch at Latta

 

Girls

Monday February 16

Upper State

C.A. Johnson at McCormick

Thornwell at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler

Green Upstate at Lee Central

Williston-Elko at Ware Shoals

McBee at North

Blackville-Hilda at Abbeville

Dixie at Great Falls

Lewisville at Ridge Spring-Monetta

Lower State

Johnsonville at Academic Magnet

Baptist Hill at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

Hannah-Pamplico at Bethune-Bowman

St. John’s at Carvers Bay

Ridgeland at Latta

Lake View at Allendale-Fairfax

Cross at Denmark-Olar

Scott’s Branch at Green Sea Floyds 

Saluda Football Uses Spring To Build Depth

By Dennis Brunson • July 3, 2026
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Saluda – The Saluda High School football team will have a good amount of experience returning for the 2026 season. The Tigers have six starters back on offense and eight on defense from a team that went 6-6 and reached the second round of the AA state playoffs. However, they didn’t get a lot of work in during spring practice because many of them were on the school’s baseball and track and field teams that made deep runs in the postseason. Saluda head coach Greg Woerner found a silver lining in that though. “We were only able to get eight days of spring practice in and made the most o it and got better learning the offense and defense and developing some depth with the younger guys,” said Woerner, who will be in his second season as head coach. “A lot of our returning starters were making playoff runs in baseball and track, so we got a good luck at our depth.” Saluda returns four players who were selected to the All-Region 2-AA team last year. They are rising junior placekicker Ericson Vasquez , senior running back Tristan Daniels, senior tight end Jahmeer Myers and junior defensive back Ceddion Springs . Vasquez was named the Region 2 Special Teams Player of the year. Woerner is hoping the Tigers can be productive in the month of July leading into the start of fall practice. “For the remainder of the summer we’re really just looking forward to continuing to get stronger but also focusing in more on football,” Woerner said. “We had a good June competing in 7-on-7s (competitions) and getting better at our passing game and pass defense. July will focus more on getting better at the whole game.” The Tigers completed their 7-on-7 competition in June. Their first scrimmage will be on August 6 at Woodland before coming home to scrimmage Gilbert on August 10. Saluda is scheduled to open its season on August 21 at home against Abbeville . The Tigers will be part of a new region in Region 4-AA. The region will include two old Region 2 foes in defending state champion Strom Thurmond and Pelion to go with American Leadership Academy , Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Silver Bluff . MILLER MARTIN SELECTED TO AA ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM Sophomore pitcher Miller Martin , a key figure for Saluda’s AA state championship softball team, was selected to the AA All-State softball team announced by the South Carolina Association for Women’s Sports . Martin had a 15-3 win-loss record and struck out 248 batters in 139 2/3 innings while posting a 0.70 earned run average. At the plate, Martin had a .308 batting average with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. Martin was also named the Region 2 Co-Player of the Year. Martin was joined on the All-Region team by Amy Sorcia , Zoey Springs and Nyla Jordan . Tigers head coach Hannah Towery said the program’s first ever state title sets a precedent for the future. “Future players will walk on to that field knowing a championship can be achieved because this team proved it,” said Towery, who guided Saluda to a 29-3 record. “The banner will hang, the trophy will be displayed, and the record books will always show who did it first. “History remembers champions, but it especially remembers those who paved the way. This team just didn’t win a state championship – they built a legacy.”

Jefferson Davis football focusing on the basics over the summer

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • July 3, 2026
Raiders return everyone along the line from 8-4 team that reached 8-man semifinals

OCA Football Sets Sights On Four-Peat

By David Shelton • July 2, 2026
Oceanside's rising senior QB, Aiden Manavian is nearing 10,000 career passing yards and threw 42 touchdown passes last season.

W W King Holds Spring Athletic Banquet

By Gerald Doolittle • July 1, 2026
By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer, HSSR Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. -W.W. King Academy held its Spring/Winter Athletic Banquet in mid-May to honor their 2025-26 athletic efforts. All the Knight teams were very competitive in their SCISA Class A region where they competed against Wardlaw Academy, Newberry Academy, Cambridge Academy, Richard Winn Academy and Anderson Christian . The Varsity Baseball team won the SCISA Class A Title . The Varsity Softball team was very competitive in the playoffs. Coach Jessica Anderson presented the Varsity Girls Basketball Awards . Blythe Buzhardt won the All-Around Excellence Award. Kenzie Morse won the Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award. Coach Dennis Gibson presented the Varsity Boys Basketball Awards. Spencer McCormick received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Brady Goff received the Sharp-Shooter Award. Coach Allen Guy presented the Varsity Softball Awards. Blythe Buzhardt received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Abby Aull received the Leadership Award and Kenzie Morse received the Iron Athletic Award. Coach Zach Matthews presented five awards to his Varsity Baseball State Champion players. Elijah Hutto received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Luke Harvey received the Defensive Player of The Year Award. Wyatt Burbank, Zed Watkins and Smith Kirby shared the Team Leadership Award. Athletic Director Kathy Gibson assisted in presenting the Senior Awards. Smith Kirby and Abby Aull received the Senior Student Athlete of the Year Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie Morse received the Athlete of the Year Award. Spencer McCormick and Abby Aull received the Christian Leadership Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie received the Varsity Year-Round Athletes Award.

Florence Christian football team lost a few players to more than just graduation

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • July 1, 2026
Eagles do return Region Defensive Player of the Year in Hayden Schwab

Lodge Begins Fourth Season As Berkeley Coach

By David Shelton • June 30, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – After a pair of six-win seasons in his first two years , Berkeley head football coach Eric Lodge guided the Stags to a 10-3 record last fall. Lodge is hoping and expecting to see continued growth and development in 2026 and recently put his prospective team through spring drills. The purpose of the spring is to identify roles and hopefully find rising talent that can assist either as backups or starters this fall. “Our spring is about evaluating kids, all of them, to see where they fit in,” Lodge said, “Those practices are very important to the growth of the program. We get everyone involved amd work to get them up to speed. Once we get into the summer, we are working hard to get stronger in the weight room along with seven-on-seven stuff.” Lodge says most of the returning experience is on the offensive side and the Stags should be explosive. Henry Rivers , a senior, will be a fourth-year starter and rates as one of the best in the state. Hethres for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, adding 803 rushing yards and 16 more scores. Returning at receiver are John Cleveland, Eli Mitchell and Johnathan Mitchell, who combined for more than 60 receptions last season. Anchoring the running game are returners Lawrence Washington, Bryson McGee and Jesse Brown . That trio will work behind a revamped offensive line but Lodge sees potential in the developing unit up front. “I like our depth at running back and receiver, and of course we have a veteran leader at quarterback,” said Lodge. There are significantly more holes to fill on defense. The Stags lost an all-state tackle and three starting linebackers that were three-year starters. There also are three holes to fill on the back endd. “We have identified some young men who we feel will step in and be solid players for us,” Lodge said. “Replacing the experience is tough but we have some guys who will learn and grow over time. We’re not new to having young guys on the field. The talent is there and there are opportunities for guys to get on the field.”

Pinewood Preparing To Move Up A Class

By Roger Lee • June 29, 2026
Expectations are high for Pinewood Prep quarterback Silas Brawner.

Cane Bay Football Looking To Get Back On Track

By David Shelton • June 29, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Summerville – The last two football seasons have been sub-par for the Cane Bay Cobras but veteran head coach Russell Zehr believes the pieces are in place for a potential resurgence. The Cobras finished the last two seasons with three wins each but did win a region championship in 2024. Zehr and his staff have worked hard in the offseason to develop some up and coming talent. They did so through the weight room and spring practice. “We had a good spring overall,” Zehr said. “We were missing a handful of guys due to track but we had good numbers. We spent a lot of time getting everyone up to speed. It was an opportunity for us to see younger kids that are coming up and find out who can help us this season. We had about 80 kids during the sprng and about 75 of those have been consistent in their workouts over the summer.” The Cobras will have a new quarterback this fall. Zehr says senior Coran Houp e is moving from running back to run the option offense this season. Returning in the backfield are Mayson Samuel and Sam Rolston , with some talented backs coming from the lower levels. The offensive line returns two starters, Isaac Siefken and Eli Taylor . Junior JJ Rose is back as the leader along the defensive front, with ends Devin Cobbs and B rennen Shokes also returning. The linebackers will be new starters with only Jackson Williamson returning with experience. The secondary could be a strength with returners Tyrell Bess, Zion Bryant and Caeden Wilson . The kicking game is a solid strength with senior Aiden Thorne returning. Thorne is a deep threat on kickoffs and field goals. “He’s got a leg and can be a real weapon for us,” Zehr said. Cane Bay participated in weekly 7-on-7 passing league scrimmages during June and will play at The Citadel event in July.

Mckoy Continues To Build A Winner At James Island

By David Shelton • June 29, 2026
Head football coach at James Island, Jamar McKoy has worked to build his program into one of the more consistent programs in the state.

Red Fox Football Putting In The Work For 2026 Season

By David Shelton • June 29, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Hartsville – As he embarks on his 22 nd season as the head football coach at Hartsville High, Jeff Calabrese is anxiously anticipating the upcoming 2026 season. Calabrese, with more than 200 career coaching wins, sys his team has put in good work in the offseason and appears focused on bettering last year’s 7-5 record. “We had a good spring practice, a good offseason all together really,” the coach said. “The numbers were maybe a little down but not far off. We spent a lot of time evaluating every position. If we needed to make a change we did. The focus in the spring and summer is making sure we have the right guys in the right spots. We basically are trying to get everyone on the same page.” Like all the schools in the state, the Red Foxes put in training four days a week from 8:30 to 11 am. Calabrese says this summer has been especially important as four new coaches have joined the program, including new defensive coordinator Neil Smith . “Really excited to have coach Smith. He brings a ton of energy and experience and he has really adapted well here,” Calabrese said. In terms of personnel, the Red Foxes have experience returning in several areas, starting with quarterback. Junior Ford Wallace is back as the starter and continues to develop in his role as a leader on the offense.. Returning at running back is Trace Hillian with CJ Hickmon moving from receiver to the backfield. Anchoring the offensive line is two-time all-region performer Fred Turner . Other returning linemen, who could end up on either side of the ball, include Creighton McKnight, Jake Williams, Jaquan Samuel and Pat Rhode. Rod Cranford returns in the back seven as a third-year starter. Zi’Yon Mason is moving from the secondary to linebacker, as is Jamario Scipio-Bishop. Devaris James and Deon McCall are players to watch in the secondary. “At a school our size, sometimes you have to move some kids around to make it all fit,” Calabrese said. “That’s why the summer is so important, to get those kids a lot of reps, good group to work with. We just need to build some depth.”
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