With the regular season winding down postseason paths are coming into focus.
SCISA 4A
All four Columbia-area SCISA schools have clinched playoff berths. As has become the norm, Hammond sits atop the standings with a 7-2 overall record and a 5-0 region record. The Skyhawks’ path to the playoffs is simple, win at Heathwood Hall next week, a feat they’ve accomplished every year since 2009, and they’ll lock up the No. 1 seed and home field advantage.
Heathwood Hall, 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the region, has Wilson Hall to worry about before its annual rivalry tilt. Head coach Danny Lewis feels his team will probably end up as the No. 4 seed.
One surprise in SCISA has been the Ben Lippen Falcons. Under first-year head coach Bennett Weigle, the Falcons have posted a 6-2 overall record and are 3-1 in the region. A win over either Augusta Christian or Camden Military Academy locks up the No. 3 seed and a home playoff game in the first round. Ben Lippen could get the No. 2 spot and home field advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs if it wins its last two and Laurence Manning loses one of its final two.
Another team having a resurgent season is Cardinal Newman. Under first-year head coach Cory Helms, Cardinal Newman stands at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the region. The Cardinals have already clinched a spot, however the next two games against Porter-Gaud and Augusta Christian are important for seeding. If Cardinal Newman wins out, it could lock up the No. 5 seed.
Class A
The C.A. Johnson Green Hornets are enjoying another solid season, standing at 5-4 overall and 2-1 in Region 3-A. If the Green Hornets defeat Whitmire in their regular season finale, they will finish second in the region and host the No. 4 seed from Region 4-A. If they lose, they will drop to a No. 3 seed. In either scenario, the Green Hornets will host a first round playoff game according to head coach Scotty Dean.
Class AA
Region 4-2A could have one of the crazier finishes of the season. The Gray Collegiate War Eagles, Fairfield Central Griffins, and Keenan Raiders all are within a game of one another.
Gray has already defeated Fairfield Central and will host Keenan in the season finale.
Keenan lost to the Griffins earlier this year.
Before things get too interesting, Fairfield Central and Keenan have to take care of business this Friday with games against Newberry and Mid-Carolina, respectively.
If both teams win out, it could set up a three-way tie for the region championship. It has yet to be determined what the finishing order would be in that scenario.
Should Gray defeat Keenan, the War Eagles would win the region.
The Raiders have a chance to win the region if they win out and Fairfield Central loses one of its final two games.
Class AAA
Region 5-3A has three Columbia area teams jockeying for playoff seedings. With its 42-13 win over Dreher, Brookland-Cayce locked up a top 2 seed. The Bearcats game against Gilbert on October 28 will determine the region championship.
There is currently a three-way tie for the No. 3 seed between Dreher, Lower Richland, and Orangeburg-Wilkinson. The Blue Devils need to win one of their next two games against Gilbert or Lower Richland to clinch a playoff berth.
Should Lower Richland win this Friday against O-W, the Diamond Hornets will clinch a playoff berth with a chance to secure the No. 3 seed the following week should they beat Dreher.
Class AAAA
Region 5-4A has shaped up to be a two-team showdown as A.C. Flora and Ridge View have separated themselves from the field. Wins this week over Lugoff-Elgin and Richland Northeast, respectively, will lock up top two seeds for both teams. That will set up a winner-take-all showdown next week when the Blazers travel to Memorial Stadium to take on the Falcons.
The bottom of the division is also competitive with a three-way tie for third place between the Westwood Redhawks, the Lugoff-Elgin Demons, and the Richland Northeast Cavaliers.
For now it appears Richland Northeast may have the toughest road to travel beginning with a trip to Ridge View before hosting Westwood in the season finale. Richland Northeast needs one win in its final two games to clinch a spot.
Lugoff-Elgin‘s remaining schedule isn’t too far off with a visit from A.C. Flora and a trip to Irmo.
Should Westwood win one of its final two games the Redhawks will likely finish fourth. If Westwood is able to win both, it’ll finish third and host a first round playoff game.
Despite sitting at 4-4 overall and 0-3 in the region, Irmo still has a path to the playoffs. However, it has to start by winning both of its last two games.
Class AAAAA
In Region 3-5A, the Blythewood Bengals and Spring Valley Vikings are on course for a region title showdown next week. The Bengals have clinched a playoff berth and can win the region outright with wins in their final two games. A loss to Spring Valley in the regular season finale could open the door for some craziness. Should the Vikings win their final two games, they would share the region championship with Blythewood and possibly Clover.
October 20, 2022 | Columbia Star, The (SC)
Author/Byline: Josh Cruse; joshc@thecolumbiastar.com | Section: Article