LDHS girls qualify for Raider Rumble final

The Laurens Raiders girls’ basketball team will play in the Raider Rumble Championship Game after the team’s second victory in as many nights.

Laurens got 22 points from Qua Fortson and 10 from Lamoria Allen as the Raiders took advantage of an ice-cold Riverside Warriors’ offense to pull out a 56-35 victory in the final game of pool play Friday night in Laurens. The Raiders, who have gone 2-0 in the tournament, will face Hillcrest in Saturday’s final after the Rams knocked off Union County, 37-30.

Saturday’s final is slated to begin at approximately 12:55 p.m.

Laurens got out to another hot start when it ran off 22 of the first 27 points in the first half. After the Warriors eventually got within 12, 43-31, through three quarters the Raiders held Riverside to 2-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter and forced five turnovers.

LDHS boys: Laurens lost its second straight game at the Clover Holiday Tournament when it fell against Newberry, 63-58.

Laurens will play in a consolation game Saturday.

Christian Anderson led three Raiders in double figures, scoring 22 points. Leonard Williams and Shamare Dendy had 11 points each.

Clinton girls: The Clinton Red Devil girls advanced to the championship game of the Carolina Invitational, picking up a 44-34 victory. Clinton will play Cane Bay in Saturday’s final of the Atlantic Division.

De’Shanti Watts had 17 points and Tinique Austin had 13 points.

Clinton boys: Clinton picked up third place in the Emerald Tournament with a 62-59 (OT) victory over Emerald.

LA girls: The Crusaders struggled on offense against Fort Mill, turning the ball over 29 times in a 41-18 loss in the semifinals of the Lowe’s Roundball Classic in Chesnee.

Ruthie Moore had nine points in the loss for LA.