Prep playoff brackets released
By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer Sunday, February 10, 2008For 19 prep basketball teams, the end of the regular season means the quest for state championship gold begins in earnest.
It all starts at 7 p.m. Monday as Lake Marion travels to Strom Thurmond in the opening round of the Class 3-A girls' basketball playoffs.
In the case of defending two-time Class A boys' basketball champion Calhoun County, the postseason means the continuation of its "March to History." Fresh off completing a second straight undefeated regular season and with their state record consecutive game winning streak now up to 73, the Saints (24-0) now look to make further history starting Wednesday at home against Upper State foe Chesterfield.
Should Calhoun County accomplish a three-peat, head coach Zam Fredrick would become the first man in SCHSL history to lead a program to seven state championships. The Saints would also become the sixth program to win three or more consecutive championships and move into a third-place tie with Eau Claire, Columbia and Olympia for most state championships overall behind Charleston and Great Falls.
Looking to prevent the Saints from making more history out of the Lower State is Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Fresh off winning the Region 5-A championship and with homecourt through the Lower State finals, the Red Raiders open their journey for the school's first state title in basketball since 1971 at home against Lincoln.
While most of the boys' teams will open the playoffs Wednesday, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Allendale-Fairfax will start a day earlier. The Bruins will face West Florence as part of a doubleheader which opens at 6 p.m. with both schools' girls' basketball teams.
The Region 7-AAAA champion Bruinettes (21-2) have won 16 consecutive home playoff games dating back a decade and are seeking their fifth state title and first in the post-Edward Pellman era. Should the O-W girls win, a potential regular-season rematch with Dutch Fork lurks on Friday in the Bruins Den.
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Calhoun County and Woodland girls will also open at home Tuesday.
S.C. High School League playoff brackets
Monday's Games
(GIRLS)
CLASS 3-A
Lower State
Lake Marion at Strom Thurmond, 7 p.m.
Tuesday's Games
(GIRLS)
CLASS A
Upper State
Indian Land at Calhoun County, 7 p.m.
North at Chesterfield, 7 p.m.
McBee at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, 7 p.m.
Lower State
Allendale-Fairfax at St. John's, 6:30 p.m.
Baptist Hill at Blackville-Hilda, 7 p.m.
Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Bethune-Bowman, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2-A
Upper State
Pelion at Newberry, 7 p.m.
Lower State
Andrews at Woodland, 7 p.m.
CLASS 3-A
Lower State
Swansea at North Charleston, 7 p.m.
Lake Marion at Brookland-Cayce, 7 p.m.
CLASS 4-A
Upper State
West Florence at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 6 p.m.
(BOYS)
CLASS A
Lower State
Allendale-Fairfax at St. John's, 8 p.m.
CLASS 4-A
Upper State
West Florence at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 6 p.m.
Wednesday's Games
(BOYS)
CLASS A
Upper State
Lewisville at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, 7 p.m.
North at North Central, 7 p.m.
Chesterfield at Calhoun County, 7 p.m.
Lower State
Lincoln at Bamberg-Ehrhardt, 7 p.m.
Blackville-Hilda at Academic Magnet, 7 p.m.
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