Feb. 25 high school basketball: Clover and Rock Hill head to Upper State 5A title game
The Herald will be keeping up with the high school basketball playoff action around York County, Chester County and Lancaster County in the quarterfinals of the South Carolina playoffs.
Six teams are playing on Thursday night — Rock Hill girls (5A), Clover girls (5A), South Pointe boys (4A), Andrew Jackson boys (2A, Lower State), York Prep boys (2A) and Legion Collegiate boys (2A, Lower State).
Check back here throughout Thursday night for up-to-the-minute scores and end-of-game recaps.
Here’s what you need to know.
Rock Hill area scores from Thursday
Rock Hill 67, Gaffney 54 (girls)
The Rock Hill Bearcats defeated the Gaffney Indians 67-54 in the second round of the 5A playoffs Thursday night in Rock Hill.
The Bearcats led 37-29 at halftime.
Rock Hill improved to 20-2 overall with the win. The Bearcats were led by Laila Hankerson, who scored 24 points on five threes, and Jada Jones, who had 13. Other Rock Hill scorers: Alana Hankerson (6), Katie Reed (6), Gracie Wilson (5), Makayla Street (5), Alyssa Hankerson (4), Shamyah Patterson (3) and Ashlee Creque (1).
They will play Clover on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Northwestern High School for the Upper State title.
Clover 42, Ridge View 40 (girls)
The Clover Blue Eagles edged the Ridge View Blazers 42-40 in the second round of the 5A playoffs in Clover Thursday night.
The game went back and forth from the opening tip-off. The intense battle was not decided until the final seconds.
Clover led 13-8 after one quarter, but Ridge View used a strong second period to take a 22-14 lead at halftime. The Blazers held a 31-28 advantage when the teams headed for the final eight minutes.
Clover regrouped and took a 36-33 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Aylesha Wade, the 5A Player of the Year, made two free throws to give the Blue Eagles the three-point lead.
When the clock ticked down to 1:12 left in the game, Clover led 39-38. Ridge View answered with a basket for a 40-39 advantage with 52 seconds left.
It stayed that way until Wade, who finished with 20 points, scored on a layup and followed with a free throw for a 42-40 lead with five seconds remaining.
Clover improved to 16-1 overall on the year and will play Rock Hill on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Northwestern High School for the Upper State title.
South Pointe 60, AC Flora 58 (OT) (boys)
The South Pointe Stallions defeated the AC Flora Falcons 60-58 in overtime in the second round of the 4A playoffs Thursday night at South Pointe.
The Falcons led 46-42 after three periods, but the Stallions came back to tie it at 52-52 at the end of regulation. The Stallions won the extra session 8-6 to claim the win and advance to the Upper State championship game on Monday night. They will play on the road against the winner of the Greenville-Travelers Rest game.
The Stallions improved to 13-5 overall with the victory.
Gray Collegiate 66, York Prep 64 (boys)
The Gray Collegiate Eagles nipped the York Prep Patriots 66-64 in the second round of the 2A playoffs in Columbia Thursday night.
Gray Collegiate took an early 10-3 lead, but York Prep regrouped and charged back. They tied the count at 15-15 and continued the rally for a 20-16 advantage with just less than six minutes left until halftime.
The Eagles answered with a 17-6 rally, which included an 11-0 run, to take a 33-26 lead at the break.
When the game reached the midpoint of the third quarter the Eagles led 41-37. When the middle of the fourth quarter rolled around, Gray Collegiate led 59-55.
The Patriots scored the next four points to forge a 59-59 tie with 2:59 left to play.
The Eagles used a 6-1 spree to take a 65-60 lead with 1:38 to play. York Prep came back. They cut the deficit to 65-64 with three seconds left. The Eagles added a free throw, and the Patriots missed a shot at the buzzer.
York Prep finished the season with an overall record of 19-5.
Wade Hampton 75, Legion Collegiate 67 (boys)
The Wade Hampton Red Devils toppled the Legion Collegiate Lancers 75-67 in the second round of the 2A playoffs Thursday night in Hampton.
The loss ended the season for Legion Collegiate with a record of 11-7.
Woodland 79, Andrew Jackson 72 (2OT) (boys)
The Woodland Wolverines defeated the Andrew Jackson Volunteers 79-72 in double overtime in the second round of the 2A playoffs Thursday night at Woodland.
The loss ended the season for the Volunteers with an overall record of 10-6.
Scores from Wednesday
GIRLS
Travelers Rest 50, South Pointe 39
Travelers Rest toppled the South Pointe Stallions 52-39 in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
The loss ended the season for the Stallions with a record of 13-4.
Saluda 51, Andrew Jackson 44
Saluda edged the Andrew Jackson Volunteers 51-44 in the second round of the 2A playoffs.
The loss ended the season for the Volunteers with a record of 9-4.
BOYS
Calhoun County 66, Great Falls 46
Calhoun County pulled away in the final quarter and defeated the Great Falls Red Devils 66-46 in the second round of the 1A playoffs.
Calhoun County led 30-22 at halftime and 44-36 when the third period was in the books. They outscored Great Falls 22-10 in the final eight minutes.
The loss ended the season for the defending state champion Red Devils with a record of 6-7.
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 6:30 PM.