News Summary
As the regular season for high school basketball comes to a close, South Carolina prepares for the playoffs starting February 27. Teams are vying for championship glory, with the first round kicking off that day, followed by semifinals in Florence from February 27 to March 5, and the championship games from March 6 to 8. Tiebreaker games and competitive region standings highlight the excitement as schools aim for playoffs and ultimate victory.
Hello South Carolina, it’s almost playoff time!
That’s right, the regular season for high school basketball is wrapping up and the excitement is in the air as the South Carolina High School League prepares to kick off the playoffs starting on February 27. This is the moment everyone’s been waiting for, where teams will take the court to fight for glory and a shot at the championship title!
What’s on the schedule?
The first round of playoffs will commence on Monday, February 27, and from there, it’s all about trying to make it through to the semifinals scheduled to be held in Florence from February 27 to March 5. The grand championship games will then take place in Florence from March 6 to 8. Mark your calendars; you won’t want to miss any of the action!
Breaking down the competitions
Now, let’s dive into the standings, starting with the much talked-about Regions. In Class 4A and 5A, the region standings are crucial for playoff seeding, with rankings based on the RPI, or Ratings Percentage Index. This formula emphasizes the importance of not only winning but winning against good competition.
Looking specifically at Region 4-5A, we have a thrilling tie situation as both River Bluff and Dutch Fork have impressive 9-1 records. To settle things, a tiebreaker game is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at Irmo. The stakes couldn’t be higher! The winner will snag a bye in the first round, while the loser still holds a shot at getting a bye, depending on the final RPI rankings.
What about the other regions?
In Region 5-5A, Ridge View has clinched first place with an undefeated 11-0 record, while Blythewood and Sumter are in second and third places, respectively, with Blythewood at 9-2 and Sumter at 8-4.
Switching gears to Region 3-4A, Lancaster stands out as an undefeated champ at 12-0, with Dreher and South Pointe battling it out for second place, both sitting at 8-4.
Over in Region 4-4A, North Augusta crowned itself the champion with a sturdy 13-1 record, while Gray Collegiate follows closely behind at 12-2.
The automatic qualifiers and sweet spots
It doesn’t stop there! In Region 5-4A, Crestwood has grabbed the championship title with a record of 11-1, while Wilson is hot on their heels with 10-2.
As we move to Class 3A, Keenan has already clinched its spot with an 8-0 record, and Batesburg-Leesville is enjoying its 8-2 record in Region 2-2A.
Lastly, in Region 3-2A, Fairfield Central has remained perfect at 10-0. It certainly looks like talent is bursting at the seams across the board!
What’s next?
As the playoffs loom closer, the playoff brackets will finally be set in stone on Saturday. Both automatic qualifiers and teams selected based on RPI rankings will fill the remaining playoff spots. In Class 5A, this can mean up to 12 teams qualifying for the brackets in both Upper and Lower State, while Class 4A playoffs will see 16 teams in each state division. With the excitement building, it’s sure to be a thrilling playoff season!
Get ready, South Carolina! Grab your jerseys, rally your friends, and let’s get ready to cheer on our high school teams as they hit the courts in search of victory. The playoffs are upon us, and the energy is electric!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
South Carolina High School League Basketball Playoffs Begin
Additional Resources
- The State
- Sports Illustrated
- Greenville Online
- USA Today High School Sports
- Augusta Chronicle
- Wikipedia: South Carolina High School League
