Bring On The 2024-25 State Basketball Championships To The Florence Civic Center Once Again
2024 State Champions Lake View at the Florence Civic Center
Bring On The 2024-25 State Basketball Championships To The Florence Civic Center Once Again
Moncks Corner—While some prep basketball fans in South Carolina are not fond of the fact that the SCHSL has decided to once again have all the upper and lower state basketball finals, along with the state championship games, at the Florence Civic Center a week later, I personally endorse the move whole heartedly.
First of all, having the late season events at one place will certainly help the players adjust to the rims, and the depth perception issues created by a larger arena should they go ahead and compete for a championship a week after the upper and lower state play-offs.
Also, the location is not really out of the way for most teams. The Florence Civic Center is located adjacent to the merge of I-20, coming from Columbia, and I-95 flowing North to South within our state. It is only a 70- minute drive from Columbia to Florence also.
One super important factor is that having all the teams compete in one central location it is more convenient for the media, particularly a statewide media like the High School Sports Report. Parking has not been an issue either.
In this annual HSSR basketball issue we are pleased to feature our long-time coaching friend Pat Eidson who became the winningest prep basketball coach in state history with his 444th win in early January at Pinewood Prep. Many might also recall his son Chuck playing for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks between 1999 and 2002. After college, the younger Eidson would play 12 years professionally in Europe, where he became among the highest paid American players on any squad.
The talent level for prep basketball in South Carolina is growing by leaps and bounds. It is great to see home grown players like Joyce Edwards of Camden, Milaysia Fulwiley of Keenan, and Ashlyn Watkins of Heathwood Hall all be key players on the top ranked Lady Gamecocks team. Watkins has been sidelined with an ACL but it was neat seeing all three of these former HSSR’s Miss Basketball’s all on the court together earlier in this season.
Former Wilson star Loyal McQueen is in her senior year on the girl’s team at Clemson. Former Christ Church 7-0 stand-out, John Butler (a former HSSR Mr. Basketball) is now a player at South Carolina. It is also great to se former Dorman High and Clemson star PJ Hall make the Denver Nuggets NBA team this year as a rookie.
Perhaps our best example of an in-state number one draft pick is Zion Williamson who went from Spartanburg Day a few years ago, to Duke for one season before the Pelicans made him the top choice in the NBA draft. On the women’s side one could make the argument that former Heathwood Hall and South Carolina Player of the Year, A’ja Wilson, is one of the top WNBA players in the world!
In just a few weeks we will crowning state basketball champions at the Florence Civic Center once again. Hopefully, a team from your community will compete and win a state championship!
In these games, new stars will be born, and new teams just might win their school’s first basketball championship ever.
With this in mind we would like to encourage all players, coaches, and fans to practice good sportsmanship at all times during these highly competitive games.
(Even towards those beloved referees!)
