Initial indications suggest improvement in the basketball prospects of Laurens County schools.

Clinton’s girls’ and boys’ teams swept the games in Prosperity against Mid-Carolina. Laurens fell to Hillcrest, but the improvement over last year is evident. Laurens Academy swept Spartanburg Christian.

John Gardner’s Clinton girls improved to 3-0, holding the Rebels scoreless in the fourth quarter of a 48-26 victory.

The Red Devils outscored Mid-Carolina in each quarter. Bryanna Belton was the only Clinton player scoring in double figures with 12 points. Ry’Daijia Mars, McKenzie Clark and Zakalia Redd each scored eight points for the Red Devils, and Symiah Floyd finished with seven.

Dontavius Glenn won his debut as boys’ head coach, soundly throttling Mid-Carolina, 53-33. Clinton broke loose in the second quarter, outpointing the Rebels, 19-4.

Tushawan Richardson led the Red Devils with 20 points. Keleja Byrd and Kadon Crawford each scored six points. K.J. Vance and Devin Swindler each scored five, and M.J. Henderson and Nyterian Smith each scored four, and Jalin Massey had three.

Laurens (1-3) led most of the way against Hillcrest before falling 39-37 in the girls game. Laurens took a 28-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Faith Jackson led the Raiders with 14 points, and Zoe Dial added 11. Destiny Anderson  and Keyoric Yeargin each score four.

The boys’ team had a second-half comeback fall short as Hillcrest won, 52-49. The Raiders trailed, 31-19, at the half, but pulled within three points after three quarters .Laurens (1-3) actually tied the game at 48 but never led.

TyJ Jones and Martinez Shaw led Laurens with 11 points apiece. Zakarion Simpson scored nine, Jaylen Simpson eight, Tylan Fowler six and Nick Danciu four.

Laurens Academy’s girls improved to 2-1 with a 48-35 victory over Spartanburg Christian. The Crusaders dominated the second quarter, 18-5, to take a 27-15 lead at half.

Olivia Huck led the Crusaders in scoring with 21 points… Rylee Ballard scored eight,  Hanna Erwin seven, Madisyn Graham six, and Sadie Bruyere four.

The LA boys (1-2) led pretty much wire-to-wire in a 54-28 victory over the Warriors.

Brayden Burke led the Crusaders with 15 points, followed by Jared Willard with 12. Hector Rubio scored nine, Garrison Vaughn seven, Garrett Murphy six and Buddy Baker five.

It is uncommon for SCHSL Class 4A Laurens to play the same school as SCISA Class A Laurens Academy, but last week the Raiders played in Spartanburg Christian’s tournament and defeated the Warriors, 61-36.

Clear Dot Charter of Columbia took on Thornwell and defeated the Saints, 75-33, in boys’ play.

Three Presbyterian College football players – wide receiver Dominic Kibby, linebacker Alex Herriott and tight end Worth Warner – made first-team All-PFL.

Ten other Blue Hose players earned honorable mention: Patch Bennett, Clint Caldwell, J.T. Hill, Malek Horlback, Mack Mikko, Bradley Russ-Martin, Brooks Russ-Martin, Carter Szydlowski, Anthony Thornton and Tyler Wesley.

PC’s Tilda Sjokvist is the Big South women’s basketball Player of the Week.
Sjökvist played a key role in the Blue Hose’ wins over UNC Wilmington and Morehead State.

Combined, Sjökvist totaled 44 points and shot .625 (15/24) from the field and .500 (6/12) from the three-point line. She made all eight of her free throws and added five steals, seven assists and three rebounds.

Some say they intend to make a contribution to keep the site alive. Several have done so recently. I reckon some just don’t get around to it. I used to list an address to send a check (DHK Sports, P.O. Box 768, Clinton, S.C. 29325). I finally got it through my thick head that not that many people write checks nowadays. For example, me. A more convenient means might be sending a reasonable amount to DHK Sports on Venmo.

Support the advertisers, and help keep the site – the game stories, the blogs, the photos – alive by making, if you choose, a monthly donation via Patreon. The Laurens County site is here. The Furman site is here.

Another way I can make a little is if you purchase my books at MonteDutton.net. They’re quite entertaining in spite of the fellow who wrote them. Two of my novels, Cowboys Come Home and Lightning in a Bottle, are available in audio versions. The latest, The Latter Days, is about baseball.

Photo galleries are posted on Instagram @furmanatt and @laurenscountysports.

Support the advertisers, and help keep the site – the game stories, the blogs, the photos – alive by making, if you choose, a monthly donation via Patreon. The Laurens County site is here. The Furman site is here.

Another way I can make a little is if you purchase my books at MonteDutton.net. They’re quite entertaining in spite of the fellow who wrote them. Two of my novels, Cowboys Come Home and Lightning in a Bottle, are available in audio versions. The latest, The Latter Days, is about baseball.

Photo galleries are posted on Instagram @furmanatt and @laurenscountysports.