Raheen Jackson (21) scores in double coverage against Cedar Grove.
The Lady Bengals came within one game away from the finals of the Capital City Classic last week, falling in the semi-finals to Dutch Fork Dec. 28, 53-34 at Keenan.
Aaliyah Keels led the Lady Bengals with 18 points and Breelyn Blanding added 10, but nothing could match Dutch Fork’s Alaina Coates, who knocked down 23 points and hauled in seven rebounds to lead the Silver Foxes to victory.
The Lady Bengals advanced to the semis behind a 20-point performance by Keels in their 68-48 win Dec. 27 over Hephzibah High School (Ga.). Blanding put up 19 points in the rout, while Kierra Brown added 14.
The boys’ squad, meanwhile, made an impressive run in the Breast Cancer Awareness tournament at Fairfield Central High School, dispatching C.A. Johnson in round one, 79-61. Kevin Crawford tallied 18 points for the Bengals in the Dec. 26 opening game, while Same Lake and Kenny McCray had 17 each.
In the second round, the Bengals took Cedar Grove (Ga.) to the wire before finally falling 74-71 on Dec. 27. McCray had 27 points for the Bengals, while David Bell put up 14. The Bengals closed out tournament play with a 76-54 win over Allendale-Fairfax, 76-54 on Dec. 28. McCray had another big night for BHS with 26 points. Blythewood begins region play tonight (Jan. 4) at home against Irmo. First tip is at 6 p.m.
Westwood High School spent the holidays at Heathwood Hall in the Home Pest Control Classic. The boys’ team was edged out in the finals, 59-55, by Cardinal Newman, who scored five points in the final minute to secure the title. Austin Madison and Adonus Lee both had 12 points for the Redhawks.
The Redhawks opened the tournament Dec. 27 with a 64-54 win over First Baptist and advanced to the finals with a 50-41 win over Brookland-Cayce on Dec. 28.
The Lady Redhawks fell in the opening round of the tournament, 45-36, to Hilton Head on Dec. 27, but recovered in the lower bracket Dec. 28 with a 52-42 win over Wilson Hall. Kayla Atkins had 17 points and 17 rebounds in the Wilson Hall win, while Kayla Cohen had 15 points. Westwood finished up tournament play with a 42-37 win over Newberry Dec. 29. Jai Lykes had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Redhawks.
The Redhawks begin region play tonight (Jan. 4) at home against Chapin at 6 p.m.
