Clinton High School has played its sports in Class 3A for more than half a century.

No more, apparently.

Under the preliminary realignment released on Tuesday by the S.C. High School League, Clinton is to be the fourth largest school in 2A, measured by enrollment. The smallest school is perennial power Abbeville.

Goodbye, Daniel. Hello, Abbeville, not to mention Strom Thurmond, where former Red Devils head coach Andrew Webb is now, and Ninety Six, where former Clinton line coach Mathew Bennett resides.

Laurens remains in Class 4A.

The SCHSL intends to apply a “multiplier” for athletes who reside outside their school’s area to address a competitive advantage of private and charter schools. Essentially, athletes transferring from other areas count as three students under the multiplier. A noticeable example is in the case of Greenville’s Christ Church Episcopal, which won the Class A state championship in football by a score of 67-21 over tiny Johnsonville. The Cavaliers are now headed to 4A, pending appeal.

As schools are “multiplied up,” others necessarily decline because of lack of multiplication. In a nutshell, that’s why the Red Devils are moving down. Clinton’s chief Region 4-3A football opposition last season, Chester, is, too.

Newberry moves up to 3A, Emerald to 4A, Daniel to 4A and Greenwood to 5A, among many other changes.

Thornwell Charter is placed in about the middle of Class A.

Another major change is the split of Class 5A into two championship groups, similar to the old Class 4A Divisions I and II. Supposedly, that was the problem the creation of 5A  cured.

Three state football champions – heretofore 3A Daniel, A Christ Church and 4A Westside – are slated for 4A, as is 2A runner-up Gray Collegiate. The 2A champion, Oceanside Collegiate, is in 3A.

The release isn’t final because it gives schools until January – hearings are scheduled on Jan. 16-17 – to appeal their assignments. The reshuffling won’t be final until Feb. 22. In a change from the past, region assignments will not be made until after appeals run their course. The SCHSL cited multiplication as the reason.

It’s not outside the realm of possibility that the General Assembly will rear its ugly head in the appeals process. It has happened before.

Laurens played impressively in Lexington High School’s Christmas Classic, following up a 56-34 girls’ basketball victory over Northside Christian on Saturday, with a forfeit over Keenan due to the other Raiders’ flu outbreak and, on Tuesday night, a 39-36 decision over South Aiken.

Zoe Dial led Laurens (7-5) with 20 points. She scored 10 of the Raiders 13 fourth-quarter points after leading the team with 21 against Northside.

Also producing points for LDHS were Nyri Allen (8), Taliyah Ballard (8), Ty Jones (2) and Destiny Anderson (1).

Laurens hosts Fountain Inn in both girls’ and boys’ basketball on Friday. Junior varsity games are to open the proceedings. The girls’ varsity is likely to take the floor at about 6:30 p.m.

Merry Christmas. I’m thankful for your support, whether by advertising, contributing or reading.

Thanks so much for the recent contributions. My goal is to provide unique coverage of local sports. I’m aware that folks appreciate what I do, particularly the kids, coaches, parents and fans.

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 contribution 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.