LDHS boys pushed to the brink
The Laurens Raiders are in what amounts to a must-win situation entering Friday’s regular-season finale at Greenwood after a rough home finale against T.L. Hanna Tuesday.
Laurens got 27 points from Dee Foster, but a 21-3 Hanna run from the middle of the second quarter through most of the third quarter helped give the Yellow Jackets a 58-54 victory. The result sent the Raiders to 10-15 overall, 5-8 in Region 1-5A, and into a tie with both J.L. Mann and Greenwood for fourth place. The top five spots are guaranteed state tournament bids from Region 1-5A.
Laurens will play at Greenwood in Friday’s regular-season finale, while Mann will take on Wade Hampton. If Laurens wins it will be in the tournament no matter what Mann does. A loss, and a Mann upset of Wade Hampton, would likely mean the Raiders miss the tournament.
LDHS girls: The Laurens girls got 10 points from Qua Fortson, but the Raiders did not find any consistent offense until the game was well out of reach as they lost 56-37 to the Yellow Jackets. Laurens fell to 6-17 overall, 2-11 in the region.
Laurens trailed 14-9 early in the second quarter before the Yellow Jackets went on a 20-5 run and put the away. Laurens did not rail by less than 17 points the remainder of the game.
LA boys: The Laurens Academy Crusaders opened Region 2-A Tournament play Tuesday night with a laugher, rolling past Palmetto with a 61-22 victory in Newberry. The victory sends the Crusaders to the semifinals Friday night.
Noah Moore had 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to boost the Crusaders. Dawson Foster added 14 points and Diamonte Grant had 10.
The Crusaders will face Anderson Christian at 5:30 p.m., in the semifinal round. The game will be played at Greenwood Christian, and will be preceded by the LA girls against either King or Cambridge.
Clinton: The Clinton boys wrapped the regular season with a 67-57 victory over Woodruff, clinching fourth place in Region 3-3A. The victory means Clinton will open state tournament play next Tuesday at Chapman.
Ahmari Bates had 24 points, J.D. Payne added 20, and Clinton built a 17-point lead at the half.
Clinton’s girls suffered a 55-39 loss to Woodruff in their last game of the season. The loss means Clinton will open state tournament play Monday night at Southside.
De’Shanti Watts had 13 points to lead Clinton, while Savanna Campbell and Terriauna Bennett each scored 11 points.
PC women: The Blue Hose got 27 points from Kacie Hall, including a school-record seven 3-pointers, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent a 79-62 loss at Hampton.
Hall went 8-for-14 shooting, including 7-of-9 from 3-point range, and had both five boards and three assists to go with it. Salina Virola added 12 points and six boards.
Laurens Vanarsdale had 23 points to lead Hampton.
PC (4-17 overall, 2-8 Big South) hosts Winthrop Saturday at 2 p.m. It is the opening game of a doubleheader with the men’s team.
