Published: Monday, Nov. 02, 2009 / Updated: Monday, Nov. 02, 2009 11:43 AM

Northwestern, Clover, York and South Pointe rank near top

Nation Ford, Fort Mill high bands win state in their divisions

The Nation Ford and Fort Mill high school bands won state championships in their divisions on Saturday.

Nation Ford won its first state championship, claiming the Class AAA title at Woodmont High School. Judges gave the band a score of 91.65. York Comprehensive High School finished third, and South Pointe was fourth.

Fort Mill won the Class AAAA title with 93.8 points. Northwestern High School's band took second place with 90.65 points, and Clover High School's band finished fourth with a total score of 88.675. The competition was held at Batesburg-Leesville High School.

It's the third straight year that a York County band won the Class AAAA title. Northwestern won it last year, and Clover won in 2008.

Bands are judged based on musical effort, percussion, flag team and visual performance.