Lancaster reaches SC boys’ basketball semifinal, knocks South Pointe out of playoffs
Lancaster’s Jordan Watford put the game to bed.
The Queens University of Charlotte-bound combo guard controlled the basketball down low and took flight late in Lancaster’s 64-57 victory over South Pointe Tuesday night in the South Carolina high school quarterfinals.
Watford juggled the ball into the palm of his dominant hand as he leaped, throwing down a remarkable windmill dunk during the final minutes. Lancaster will now play for a spot in the SCHSL 4A boys’ basketball title game and the Upper State Championship against Wren on Monday night.
“That’s the main thing that’s getting us our money: Just playing defense 24/7,” Watford said. “For that to be my last ever home game here at Lancaster, playing in front of a packed crowd, I just love it. Anytime I see a packed crowd, in my opinion, I feel like I play better. I step up.
“Early on, before the year, I had the decision to transfer, to go to a prep school. But I really wanted to stay and play with my brothers. These are the same kids I’ve been playing with since rec ball, AAU, and I just knew we’ve had some unaccomplished stuff we had to finish.”
How Lancaster beat South Pointe
Lancaster (25-1) nearly led the entire game against South Pointe, played inside its packed gymnasium early Tuesday evening.
The Bruins gained the upper hand early, making several defensive stops as various players drove to the basket, which helped them build a six-point lead at the half. Roughly one third of Lancaster’s 30 points at halftime came from Watford, who finished with 20 points.
South Pointe (18-9) kept the game close throughout the second half, continually preventing the Bruins from getting more than a three-score lead for most of the night.
Behind Watford’s performance that included a 6-of-6 mark from the free throw line, junior Columbus Parker — son of former J.C. Smith great Chris “Green Light” Parker — finished with 19 points and junior R.J. Brown added a strong 11-point effort.
“Our community responds, especially as this is a place where they love you or they hate you,” Lancaster head coach Jerron Cauthen said. “When you do right by kids, and right by people, that’s how they support you. They will be behind you, but they just want you to do the right thing. Not be perfect; Just do the right thing.
“I’ve been here for 20 years. I remember losing. A lot of these kids don’t remember that, they were just being born in ‘05, or they were babies. I know what it feels like to lose to a lot of teams several times. The effort was there, the coaching was there, we just couldn’t close. I’ve stayed home and I’m reminding them of that, because I don’t want them to have this feeling that our former teams had.”
Notable
▪ Lancaster won its 20th straight game. The Bruins’ lone loss came Dec. 13 against Dynamic Prep, the Jermaine O’Neal-coached powerhouse in Texas.
▪ Lancaster has been dominant in every victory this season, putting up nearly 72 points per game while outscoring opponents by an average of roughly 15.2 points.
▪ South Pointe, winners of eight of 10 entering Tuesday night, bowed out after another strong season. Three of the Stallions’ nine losses came to Lancaster — both the previous ones were also decided by single digits — including a 61-58 game on Feb. 7.
Up next?
The Bruins are now set to play Wren, which defeated Greer at Powdersville High School on Tuesday night, for the Upper State Championship and a ticket to the SCHSL 4A title game on Monday. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Florence Center, site of the SCHSL’s week-long regional finals and state championships.
Andrew Jackson girls win
Andrew Jackson got a test early but pulled away in the second quarter and trounced visiting Atlantic Collegiate, 99-45, in a 2A girls’ quarterfinal game.
The victory send the Volunteers (25-3) into a Tuesday afternoon Lower State regional championship contest against Lake City in Florence.
The Armada entered the game with a 9-12 record but had upset Lake Marion in the previous round. The visitors surprised Andrew Jackson by taking an early lead and were up 12-9 before Andrew Jackson went on a 9-0 run and finished the first quarter up 18-12.
The Volunteers surged in the second quarter, outscoring Atlantic Collegiate 32-8. Tamia Watkins scored 16 of her team’s points in that period.
Andrew Jackson’s regional final/state semifinal game will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Florence Center, against Lake City (16-7).
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Lancaster reaches SC boys’ basketball semifinal, knocks South Pointe out of playoffs."
