Beaufort bounced Bruins end Eagles’ playoff push

By Wes Kerr

LowcoSports.com

After an incredible run of nine straight victories to reach the Elite Eight in Class 3A, Beaufort High’s boys basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Monday night, falling 61-39 to second-ranked Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the Lower State semifinals.

The Eagles found success

LowcoSports.com

A total of 13 wrestlers from northern Beaufort County qualified for the SCHSL State Championships by placing in the top four in their weight classes at the Lower State qualifying meets Friday and Saturday.

Among the baker’s dozen are four Lower State champs — Beaufort High’s Tayriq Legree (113) and Colton Phares (182) and Battery Creek’s Elmer Linares (120) and Gunnar DeGroat (152). The state championships begin Friday in Anderson. Here’s a look at how the local qualifiers got there and their path to bringing home hardware.

Tayriq Legree, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 113

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Straton Covington, Powdersville (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: Expect a medal, but to win gold, Legree will likely have to beat two past state champions with Belton-Honea Path’s Coo-

Prep Hoops Roundup

inside with Michael Dennison and hit a pair of big 3-pointers to take a 29-25 lead into halftime, and Guerin Willis’ second 3-pointer of the game put Beaufort up 35-33 midway through the third quarter before the Bruins cranked up the defensive intensity.

O-W’s full-court pressure rattled the Eagles, who were plagued by 28 turnovers

Whale Branch’s K.J. Chisholm, center, goes up for two points buts get blocked out by Latta High School’s Grayson Williamson, left, and Pernell Legette during their first-round 1A state playoff game Friday night at Whale Branch. The Warriors overpowered the Vikings and cruised to a 76-41 win. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

BA (19-8) against a tenacious Bruins defense. Jeremiah Jacques had 17 points and six steals, and Horaces Jacques collected 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals to lead the Bruins.

Dennison wrapped up his terrific career for the Eagles (12-12) with 15 points and 13

SEE PLAYOFF PAGE B2

48

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

GIRLS HOOPS

3A 1st rd: Battery Creek 48, Swansea 41

BCHS: Kiara Wilson 14 pts; Armani Hutchinson 13 pts; Genesis Wilson 11 pts

3A 1st rd: Orangeburg-Wilkinson 50, Beaufort 20

BOYS HOOPS

1A 1 rd: Whale Branch 76, Latta 41 WB (17-6): David Evans 21 pts, 6 rebs, 5 stls;

Queashawn Fields 14 pts; KJ Chisholm 11 pts, 10 asts;

Wrestling State Qualifiers

per Strickland possibly awaiting in the semifinals and defending 113-pound champ Teague Strobel of West-Oak looming in the finals.

Elmer Linares, BCHS (Jr.)

Weight: 120

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Syles Woodard, Chapman (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: In his third straight trip to state, including a thirdplace finish at 106 as a freshman, Linares is in excellent position to medal, but he will face a challenging semifinal matchup, likely against West-Oak’s Landon Allen, who was runner-up at 120 last year.

Gunner DeGroat, BCHS (Jr.)

Weight: 152

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Asher Roe, Belton-Honea Path (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: A fourth-place finisher at 132 as a freshman, the younger of two DeGroat brothers who qualified for Creek enters ranked second, and a showdown with West-Oak’s Cael Davis in the finals seems like a strong possibility.

Colton Phares, BFT (Sr.)

Weight: 182

Qualifying details: Lower State champion

First-round matchup: Landon Bledsoe, Fountain Inn (4th at Upper State)

Outlook: After surpassing 100 career wins last weekend, look for Phares to add the last piece of hardware needed on his resume. He is the overwhelming favorite to take gold, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone derailing one of the most determined athletes in the Lowco.

Antonio McKnight, BFT (Jr.)

Weight: 132 Qualifying details: Lower State runner-up

First-round matchup: Jackson

Tilirson, Wren (3rd at Upper State)

Outlook: Despite being ranked seventh in SCMat.com’s Feb. 1 rankings, McKnight placed second at Lower State and positioned himself well to pick up a medal in his first trip. Winning his opener will be key and would lead to a matchup with Jaxton Freeman of West-Oak, last year’s third-place finisher in this weight, in the semis.

Andrew Legree, BFT (Jr.)

Weight: 152

Qualifying details: Lower State runner-up First-round matchup: James Howard, Union Co. (3rd at Upper State)

Outlook: Legree faces another first-time qualifier in his opening match, but if he can get past that it will get more difficult with two-time placer Cael Davis of West-Oak awaiting. Nonetheless, a first-round win would put him in prime position to claim a medal.

3A 3rd rd: Orangeburg-Wilkinson 61, at Beaufort 39

BFT (12-12): Michael Dennison 15 pts, 13 rebs; Sully Gay 9 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts; Samari Bonds 8 pts

Sam DeGroat, BCHS (Sr.)

Weight: 132

Qualifying details: 3rd at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Blake Greenwood, Clinton (Upper State runner-up)

Outlook: Now a four-time qualifier, the elder DeGroat was runner-up at 113 as a sophomore and placed third at 120 last year. He is the most accomplished wrestler in the bracket, and a trip to the finals for a chance to check the last box off his list is definitely not out of the question.

Anthony Phelan, BCHS (Sr.)

Weight: 285

Qualifying details: 3rd at Lower

State

First-round matchup: Qwentin

Welborn, Daniel (Upper State runner-up)

Outlook: “Bronco” is a relative newcomer to the sport, but he finds himself on the state’s biggest