Blazers Are Still The Champs
Blazers captured their seventh state championship in the past nine years and have now won three straight titles.
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
Columbia – Ridge View defeated Ashley Ridge 65-44 in the 2026 5A, Division 1 Boys Basketball Championship.
With the impressive win at Colonial Life Arena March 6, the Blazers captured their seventh state championship in the past nine years and have now won three straight titles.
“It’s definitely not easy,” Ridge View coach Joshua Staley said of the feat. “It’s more humbling than it is anything because it takes a lot of things going your way. God really blessed us. We have a great administration, athletic director and a lot of people behind the scenes helping us get to this point.”
Ridge View (27-3) built a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter into a 13-point halftime lead. Things didn’t get any better for the Swamp Foxes (23-8) after the break.
Ashley Ridge scored 13 points in the third to have its most productive quarter of the game. However, Ridge View scored 28 points to take all the momentum and a 60-32 lead into the final eight minutes.
The game was a reunion for the head coaches as when he was in high school, Staley played for current Ashley Ridge coach Brad Dobbels.
“Coach Dobbels does such a great job,” Staley said. “Them being here tonight is a testimony as to how great a coach he is. We knew they do a good job of getting downhill and Clayton Everett Jr. is a great player so we just wanted to get in the gaps and make them take the tested 2s all game.”
Ashley Ridge struggled stopping Ridge View in transition.
“They just shot layup after layup after layup,” Dobbels said. “Then a couple of times when they shot their 3s and missed they were able to get rebounds and put backs. We got some open looks, but they are a very good, athletic and disciplined team with a good coach. I’m proud of him and you have to give that team credit.”
Junior DJ Wylie led the Blazer shooters with 14 points. Junior RJ Davis added 11 points while both senior Talan Staley and junior JT Vankallen added 10. Senior Jourdin Mack and junior Chris Horton both scored 6.
Everett, a senior, scored a game-high 20 points for the Swamp Foxes. Senior Shayne Pinckney added 13 points. Seniors Gerald Garner and Ben Duncan and juniors Javion Gathers and Nate McKee rounded out the Ashley Ridge scoring.
