Class 4A Playoff Roundup: Ridge View outlasts Lucy Beckham

On Wednesday, the SCHSL girls playoff tipped off with the 1A, 2A and 5A classifications taking to the court. The following day, it would be the turn of 3A and 4A girls teams to take to the court for first-round playoff contests.    One of those first-round playoff matchups emanated from the Midlands as Lowcountry-based Lucy Beckham made the trek up Interstates 26 and 77 to meet up with Ridge View.    An entertaining contest that could have gone either way went the direction of the homestanding Blazers as they dispatched the Bengals by a final score of 54-47.    “With this group, I think everybody on this group except for one or two, this is their first playoff win,” Ridge View coach Terrence Gibson says. “So … there's a lot of them where it's their first playoff experience … so we had to settle our nerves down.”   Ridge View's opponent in the second round will be South Florence following its 59-33 victory over Midland Valley.    “We're excited for the opportunity,” Gibson says. “(When you win) playoff games, you're blessed to have one more day of practice.”   How Things Progressed   It was the first time the two teams have met given Lucy Beckham is one of the state's newer schools. It began in auspicious fashion for the Bengals as they tallied the first six points of the game. Things then turned around for the Blazers and the home team concluded the first half leading 14-10.    Points came at more of a premium in the second quarter than in the opening stanza, but it saw Lucy Beckham trim its deficit to one. As both teams went into halftime, Ridge View's lead was 20-19.    It was in the third quarter where the Blazers' path to victory became clearer – or so it seemed. Ridge View outscored the Bengals by a margin of 22-10 and assumed a 42-29 advantage following three frames.    Lucy Beckham embarked on a furious comeback effort in the fourth quarter as a 12-3 run trimmed the Bengals' deficit to 45-41 at one point. It would not be enough and the Blazers earned a berth to the second round.   “Keeping composure. Our leadership,” Gibson says on what was key for the Blazers to weather Lucy Beckham's fourth quarter storm. “Our players banded together, (were) strong together and believe in each other.”   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_1692-crop-3071x2017-1676657689.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-599887" width="333" height="218" /></figure>   With 16 points, [player_tooltip player_id='358290' first='Lucia' last='Bailey'] was integral in leading the way to victory for the Blazers – particularly in the third quarter when they put plenty of distance between themselves and the Bengals. Bailey is an effective point runner and had three of the team's five 3-pointers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_1695-crop-3226x2118-1676657757.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-599889" width="335" height="219" /></figure>   While Bailey got the job done in the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='323653' first='Anasia' last='Harvey'] did the same for Ridge View in the frontcourt. She concluded her evening with 11 points. The 5-foot-11 sophomore is every bit as effective a rebounder as she is a scorer.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_1583-crop-2141x1406-1676657836.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-599891" width="333" height="218" /></figure>   Leading all point-getters was [player_tooltip player_id='378101' first='Logan' last='Collins'] who finished her evening with a 21-point effort. Collins is a multi-talented guard who can find her way around a defense to deliver effective mid-range jump shots. She will also connect on 3-point attempts.   So Long, Seniors   The Bengals are graduating two seniors from this year's team – Maggie James and Kayla Fergus.   Other 4A Playoff Scores   Pickens def. South Aiken 68-36   Westwood def. West Florence 59-28   Riverside def. Lancaster 80-69 ([player_tooltip player_id='371196' first='Kyndal' last='Haroski'] 26 pts)   Hartsville def. Hilton Head Island 63-51 ([player_tooltip player_id='175350' first='Jasmine' last='Frierson'] 40 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='355170' first='Tatiana' last='Fisher'] 10 pts)   South Pointe def. Greer 84-52    Wilson def. Irmo 48-37 ([player_tooltip player_id='444359' first='Janiya' last='Swinton'] 15 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='576593' first='Zoey' last='Miller'] 11 pts)   North Augusta def. Westside 47-28 ([player_tooltip player_id='577618' first='Kenedi' last='Wright'] 12 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='444371' first='Ashley' last='Walker'] 9 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='172178' first='Peris' last='Smith'] 8 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='350281' first='Celena' last='Grant'] 8 pts)   James Island def. York 38-15   Easley def. Airport 55-25 (Mattison Hayes 16 pts)   A.C. Flora def. North Myrtle Beach 50-25 ([player_tooltip player_id='171787' first='Trinity' last='Delaney'] 17 pts, Terriana Gray 15 pts)   Wade Hampton def. Northwestern 58-51   Bluffton def. Greenwood 60-37 ([player_tooltip player_id='185221' first='Tacoya' last='Heyward'] 30 pts)   Aiken def. Greenville 36-31    Eastside def. Catawba Ridge 51-44   South Florence def. Midland Valley 59-33 ([player_tooltip player_id='172192' first='Jazmyne' last='Lyde'] 14 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='239707' first='Ariana' last='Johnson'] 11 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='175309' first='Jaida' last='Cameron'] 10 pts)

On Wednesday, the SCHSL girls playoff tipped off with the 1A, 2A and 5A classifications taking to the court. The following day, it would be the turn of 3A and 4A girls teams to take to the court for first-round playoff contests.