The Lancaster Boy’s Rally To Defeat Wren, 61-57, In The Upper State AAAA Basketball Finals

Billy Baker • March 4, 2025

Mail

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Florence—After trailing Wren, 31-28, at the half, Lancaster (26-1) rallied to win a hard-fought game in the AAAA SCHSL upper state finals with a 61-57 lead at the final buzzer.

Lancaster will now prepare to play North Augusta on Friday in the Florence Civic Center at 4 p.m. in the SCHSL AAAA gold medal round. North Augusta beat Wilson to advance.

After the hard-fought win Lancaster head coach Jerrod Cathern said, “We have a very disciplined group of players, a very dedicated group, and a very smart group of basketball players,” said Coach Jerron Cauthen. “Over 90 per cent of our players on this team have a 4.0 or better GPA. We have a student first, player second attitude.

“I was told by a coach once that you win with character, not characters,” said Coach Cauthen. “We could have folded several times tonight with some of the calls that didn’t go our way, and shots not falling, but our guys hung in there and found a way to win. I am very excited for our kids who found a way to win.

“My halftime thoughts were that we had to play deeper with our starting five,” said Coach Cauthen. “We also worked better at cutting off their give and go lanes they had scored some baskets on in the first half.”

Coach Cauthen also praised the play of Queens College bound senior Jordan Watford who led Lancaster 25 points in the game. “He showed why he is the number one player in the state in my opinion,” said Coach Cauthen. “He has a high basketball I-Q and a 4.9 GPA as an honor student in the class room. He knows how to play the game and as he goes the team goes.”

Behind’s Watford’s 25 points the Bruins were also led by senior Jacarey Ballard’s 10 points while Columbus parker and Niquan White contributed 15 and 14 points respectively. RJ Brown had five points and Malik Tinsley scored four points for the victorious Bruins.

Wren is head coached by 42-year coaching veteran Fran Campbell.

The Hurricanes were led by senior leader Brock Cherry with 22 points. Leading scorer on the season Abijah Franklin was hurt by foul trouble all game and he finished with 14 points after coming into the game with a 32.4 points per game average. Rhett Warga contributed 13 points while Beau Brannon and Ethan Harkness scored six and two points respectively.

Wren took a 20-9 lead after the first period as Cherry scored 8 points in the first period on a running jumper, a free throw, a lay-up and a three- point shot from way down-town with 3:34 left that gave Wren a 12-4 lead with 3:34 left in the opening period.

Lancaster rallied in the second period as Watford scored 11 points including a monster dunk late in the quarter that cut the deficit to 27-26. With the score tied at 28 Warga hit a three-point shot at the half-time buzzer for Wren to give his team a 31-28 lead at the break.

In the second half Franklin got into foul trouble for Wren and he spent some time on the bench. Both teams went into the final period tied at 47 each. The difference in the game was the fact Lancaster made 12-of16 free throws in the game, 8 coming in the final period.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Gators’ Hall has built consistent winner on Redbank Road

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Blake Hall has coached the Gators since the 2012-13 season and consistently produced winning teams over the years.

Hanahan volleyball program under new leadership

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Hanahan High School promotes Jamie Kock to head coach of the girls varsity volleyball. Koch, who has moved up from the junior varsity, takes over for former coach Sheena Lanham.

First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.