Lancaster boys, South Pointe girls remain atop The Herald’s prep basketball rankings
There were a few changes on the boys’ side of this week’s Rock Hill Herald Power 5 rankings, but for the most part, the area’s top teams held their ground.
Boys
1. LANCASTER (12-1)
Last week: No. 1
Last week’s results: beat South Pointe 59-50; beat Camden 93-57
Jordan Watford leads Lancaster in most offensive categories, but he is outdoing himself lately. In the last two games, Watford has hit 13 of 14 field goal attempts.
This week: at York (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday)
2. FORT MILL (16-2)
Last week: No. 3
Last week’s results: beat Indian Land 53-52
The Yellow Jackets are doing it mostly with just four players this season. They have four starters averaging in double figures, but the No. 5 scorer is averaging just 2.2 points. In the Jackets’ victory Friday over Indian Land, only four players scored.
This week: at Nation Ford (Tuesday); at Catawba Ridge (Friday)
3. INDIAN LAND (17-2)
Last week: No. 2
Last week’s results: beat Clover 52-41; lost to Fort Mill 53-52; beat Queen’s Grant Charter 57-50
Mike Jones is shooting 32 percent from three-point range, but when he is inside the arc, he is usually on target. Jones is shooting 58 percent on his two-point attempts.
This week: Northwestern (Tuesday)
4. SOUTH POINTE (12-5)
Last week: unchanged
Last week’s results: lost to Lancaster 59-50; beat Dreher 47-32
Rydarius Hill is averaging 19.5 points a game, and he has been especially sharp from two-point range. Hill has connected on 121 of 205 attempts for 59 percent.
This week: at York (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday)
5. ANDREW JACKSON (9-5)
Last week: No. 5
Last week’s results: Trinity Collegiate, in MLK Showcase at Marion (Monday); at Cheraw (Tuesday)
The Volunteers’ record is better than it looks. Those five losses include three to No. 3 Indian Land and one to No. 2 Fort Mill.
This week: at York (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday)
On the edge: Nation Ford (9-9); Clover (12-7)
Girls
1. SOUTH POINTE (18-0)
Last week: No. 1
Last week’s results: beat Lancaster 68-31; beat Dreher 92-33
Serenity Woods is among the unsung heroes on this unbeaten team. Woods is averaging about five rebounds and four assists a game.
This week: at York (Tuesday); Dreher (Friday)
2. ANDREW JACKSON (16-3)
Last week: No. 2
Last week’s results: beat North Central 102-13; beat Pageland Central 100-16; loss to Mount Paran Christian (GA) 67-55
Saturday’s loss was to one of Georgia’s best girls private school teams. Otherwise, the Volunteers are firing on all cylinders. Tamia Watkins had 21 points and 15 rebounds against Mount Paran Christian.
This week: at Cheraw (Tuesday)
3. CLOVER (15-2)
Last week: No. 3
Last week’s results: beat Indian Land 62-23; beat Nation Ford 84-30
Clara Powell hit 6 of 10 shots from three-point range in Friday’s victory over Nation Ford. She finished with 26 points. One trouble spot in that game: 26 turnovers.
This week: at Catawba Ridge (Tuesday); at Rock Hill (Friday)
4. LEGION COLLEGIATE (18-7)
Last week: No. 4
Last week’s results: beat Victory Christian 64-47; lost to Greensboro Day 69-58; beat Queen’s Grant Charter 63-53
LaKiara Alexander is having an excellent all-around season. She is averaging 15.7 points and 10.1 rebounds. And she’s shooting 54 percent from the floor.
This week: Asheville Christian (Tuesday); Life Prep (Saturday).
5. ROCK HILL (13-5)
Last week: No. 5
Last week’s results: beat Northwestern 55-19; beat Catawba Ridge 43-21
Aubrey Stevenson’s 7.3 assists-per-game average is the best in South Carolina. She also is averaging team-high totals of 15.1 points and 4.1 steals.
This week: Clover (Friday)
On the edge: Fort Mill (10-7); Nation Ford (9-9)
This story was originally published January 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM.