The Raiders and Red Devils, girls and boys, varsity and junior, have all played each twice and may now go about their merry way against other schools, many of whom play in their regions.

The mythical Laurens County championship is in play, and this year the Clinton boys won it and the girls’ teams split.

In Laurens on Friday night, the visiting Red Devils won both varsity games, but the home school took some consolation in victories by the Raiders in both JV games.

Clinton seized the boys’ game in the final quarter to win, 58-47. M.J. Henderson scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, which began with Laurens ahead, 38-33.

The game was razor-tight until the Red Devils’ 25-point fourth quarter.

The game’s high scorer was the Raiders’ Martinez Shaw with 20 points.

Tushawan Richardson (15) and Keleja Byrd (10) also scored in double digits for Clinton (3-1). Devin Swindler added eight, Emarion Jones six and Nyterian Smith one.

For Laurens (2-6), TyJ Jones scored nine, K.J. Singleton seven, Tylan Fowler and Zee Simpson four each, Nigere Brown three and Nick Danciu one.

Clinton (4-2) atoned for an earlier loss in the girls’ game between the two. The Red Devils limited Laurens’ Zoe Young to seven points and won a defensively dominated 29-23 decision.

A 9-2 third quarter keyed the Clinton win, as did Bryanna Belton’s 14 points. Faith Jackson led Laurens (4-4) with 11.

Rounding out the Red Devils were Mylayja Thompson with six points, McKenzie Clark four, Saniya White three, and Zakalia Redd two.

Shaniya Chinn had three and Ty Jones two for the Raiders.

Laurens won JV girls, 29-28 in overtime, and JV boys, 35-27.

Clinton played at home on Monday against Greenwood, and Laurens visited Fountain Inn.

Braydon Burke scored 15 points, leading Laurens Academy (4-3, 3-0 Region 1-A) past King (0-3, 0-3), 52-30, on Friday night at LA.

No girls’ varsity game was played because the Knights are not fielding a team.

The Crusaders led wire to wire as Jared Willard joined Burke in double figures with 11 points.

The game’s leading scorer was King’s Spencer McCormick with 19.

Also tickling the nets in various manners for Laurens Academy were Hector Rubion (8), Garrett Murphy (6), Garrison Vaughn (4), John Walters (4), Evan Asalone (2) and Tristan Bates (2).

Laurens Academy’s varsity teams are in action on Tuesday against Our Lady of the Rosary (of Greenville) at home, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

According to MaxPreps, Ware Shoals won its boys’ game at Thornwell Charter, 72-15, and the girls’ game, 53-13.

WSPA-TV’s Todd Summers is the guest speaker at Wednesday night’s Laurens Touchdown Club Banquet, which gets underway at 7 p.m. at The Ridge in Laurens.

The county’s Player of the Year is to be announced and all-county and FCA award recipients honored.

Tickets are available at the door for $20.

Presbyterian College made almost as short a work as possible when Huntingdon College of Montgomery, Ala., paid a women’s wrestling visit to Clinton.

The Blue Hose won, 47-0. At one point, four consecutive pins took less than a minute, 10 seconds.

Head coach David Williams released the PC softball schedule last week. The Blue Hose play 26 of their 53 games at home.

Take a look at the full schedule here.

The great majority of the site’s advertising is in Laurens County. The great majority of contributions is from Furman fans. I would love to get more donations from the county and more advertising from Furman.

But, amazingly, it is what it is.

Thanks so much for the recent contributions.

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.