Cross downs Crusaders in SCISA 2A semifinals; LA boys stopped

Cross Schools ended Laurens Academy’s quest for a Class 2A state girls basketball championship for the second straight year, topping the Crusaders 46-39 Thursday night in Sumter.

Last year, Cross defeated LA in the state finals. This year, the loss came in the semifinals at Wilson Hall.

LA got off to a rocky start, hitting only 1 of 12 field-goal attempts in the first quarter as the Stingrays jumped out to a 10-3 lead. The Crusaders cut the lead to 19-15 by halftime and trailed 30-29 going into the fourth quarter.

Sadie Bruyere led LA with 17 points, but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn Senn added 9 on three 3-pointers for the Crusaders (24-3).

Ryan Mayers scored a game-high 22 points for Cross (22-7). Cross will face top-seeded Dorchester Academy (19-5) in Saturday’s championship game.

Cathedral Academy tops LA boys in semis

Laurens Academy’s run through the SCISA 2A state tournament ended Thursday with a 61-37 loss to Cathedral.

Garrison Vaughan led LA with 14 points. Paul Felder led four Cathedral players in double figures with 12 points.

LA ended its season with a 17-11 record. Cathedral (32-10) moves on to Saturday’s 2A championship game against Charleston Collegiate, a 47-44 semifinal winner over Bethesda. Charleston and Cathedral will meet in the finals  Saturday at the Sumter Civic Center.