Clinton boys pull upset of Chapman

The Clinton Red Devils boys’ basketball team pulled off a first-round upset in the SCHSL Class 3A Tournament Tuesday night, advancing to the second round of the state tournament for the second consecutive year.

Clinton got 32 points from Ahmari Bates, including the final 12 points of the game for the Red Devils, sparking a 67-61 victory over top-seeded Chapman in a match-up of former Region 3-3A foes. The victory sends Clinton to Friday night’s second-round game at Seneca, which advanced with a victory over Camden.

J.D. Payne, who scored 19 points for Clinton, fouled out with 2 minutes, 47 seconds left and Clinton up 58-51, but Chapman surged bacck into the lead with eight straight points in a span of 1:17. Bates then hit a basket and two free throws to get Clinton up 62-59 with 40.5 seconds to go, with the free throws proving to be the winning points.

Clinton hit 10 3-point shots in the game, with Bates and Payne each hitting four.