By Randy Laney
Record Sports Writer

The opening week of local high school basketball draws to a close this weekend with nine games involving area squads on schedule.

Two games will be staged in town tonight and one Saturday as the other preps want to take to the road in search of early-season pictures. Eau Claire, After an opening loss, 47-45, to A. C. Flora Tuesday night, host Airport Friday in the Eagles’ opener and Camden Military test the potent Blythewood attack. Columbia’s Caps welcome Orangeburg in a Saturday night battle.

Area squads traveling Friday night include Irmo at Mid-Carolina, Lower Richland at Saluda, Brooklyn-Cacey at Orangeburg, Cardinal Newman at Orangeburg, Gilbert at Hollywood and Lexington at St. Matthews.

Tommy Frick, the leading scorer in the Columbia area last season, leads Blythewood’s Indians against the Cadets. THe 6-5 senior tossed in 32 points in Tuesday’s opener against Blaney.

Forward Bob Thompson is the only letterman returning for Coach Bob Hamptons Eagles who face and improved shamrock squad led by Lytle Pressley and Preston Helms. New coach Dick Sheridan has expressed optimism for an improved season at Eau Claire.

It is the only local high school game played Thursday night, Coach Bobby Giles, Olympia squad rebounded from an opening 40-39 loss to Irmo by jolting Chapin, 84-35. Jerry Martin totaled 37 points for the Red Devils after pumping in 14 in the opening quarter.

Irmo, paced by 6-5 center Ray Carr and 6-3 forward Steve Dietzel along with Wayne Ducote, a transfer from Univeristy High, seeks its second win of the season after the squeaker over Olympia. Coach Dan Hallman tabs this year’s club the best he has coached during his service at the Yellow Jacket helm.

Lower Richland opends defense of its Class-A championship with four of five starters returning from last year’s squad that won 20 of 25 games. The battle with Saluda is the opener for Coach Larry Boswell’s Diamond-Hornets.