Second-Round Primetime Playoff Performers: Guards

Round two of this year's South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Playoffs is in the books. A mere 48 teams remain – eight for each of the six classifications.    We are right around the corner from crowning champions for the Lower State and Upper State regions – and right around the corner from previewing which teams will vie for the big state prize early next month.    Many a team managed to punch its ticket to the Lower State or Upper State semifinals because of stellar play from its backcourt beasts. Without further ado, we recognize those sensational shooting guards and playmaking point guards.     The Wildcats got its portion of the 3A tournament started with a dominant victory over North Charleston. Thanks to a 27-point performance from Dillon's star junior guard, the Wildcats earned a berth in the Lower State semifinals as they defeated Orangeburg-Wilkinson by a final tally of 69-53. McKinnon has had herself an excellent playoffs as she also scored 23 in the victory over North Charleston. She has averaged 18.7, six rebounds, 5.4 steals and 4.6 assists per game this season. On Tuesday, Dillon will travel to Keenan for a berth in the 3A Lower State final at the Florence Center.      Following a regular season where Dorman was perfect against Region 2-AAAAA foes to win said region, the Cavaliers were one of the eight teams to earn byes to the second round of the 5A Division 1 tournament. Dorman displayed exactly why as it defended its plush home court against intra-city rival Spartanburg. Wallace gave the Cavaliers 24 points en route to an 80-50 victory over the Vikings. Dorman has won nine consecutive games and she has averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game. She and her Cavs have a chance to make a massive statement in the Upper State semifinals as they host defending champion Blythewood on Monday.      Any conversation regarding breakout seventh graders throughout the Palmetto State has to include Beatty. She has engineered one of the most emphatic turnarounds in South Carolina and continued that with a 23-point outburst against Ridge Spring-Monetta en route to a 41-31 win. The Red Devils have won five consecutive games and will face off against North this Monday in the 1A Upper State semifinals. In 21 games that she has played, Beatty has averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.6 steals per contest. Beatty's 23-point performance follows up the 28 points she dropped in the first round in a 64-25 victory over Dixie. Her play earned Great Falls a ranking of third in the most recent 1A coaches' poll – only behind North and 1A defending champion Military Magnet.      The Vikings of 1A Latta were given everything they can handle – and then some – in its second-round contest against Lake View which won the 1A state championship two years ago. Latta prevailed over the Wild Gators by a final score of 45-42 and it needed every one of the 23 points Herman placed on the scoreboard. Herman's stellar game also included nine rebounds, putting her one shy of a double-double. She also collected five steals and dished out four assists. Herman looks to continue Latta's winning ways as the Vikings will travel to Denmark-Olar on Monday for a berth in the 1A Lower State final.      Landrum struggled early in its second-round contest at Saluda in the 2A tournament. With a 22-point performance, the Cardinals managed to prevail over the Tigers by a final score of 54-42. On Tuesday, the Cardinals will travel to top-ranked Clinton to vie for a berth in the 2A Upper State championship. Caldwell's addition has been a massive boost to Landrum which was ranked fifth in the most recent 2A coaches' poll. The star Cards sophomore has been the team's leader in points, rebounds, steals and assists. She has averaged 20.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, five steals and 3.7 assists in 27 matchups.     Stellar backcourt play is a major reason why 4A South Pointe is one of the teams to beat in that classification. As evidenced by the Stallions' blowout victory over Wren in the second round of the 4A state tournament, that will continue to be the case. Rowan – an eighth grader – concluded her contest against the Hurricanes with 21 points en route to an 84-38 victory. In the 26 games that Rowan has played for South Pointe, she has averaged 9.1 points and 2.1 steals per game. Up next for Rowan and her Stallions – who still have yet to drop a contest against an in-state foe -  is a 4A Upper State semifinal clash on Monday at Daniel.      Lake Marion's 2A state playoffs commenced with a 15-point, 69-54 victory over East Clarendon. The Gators' run in the tournament continued in the second round following a victory over Burke where Davis contributed 20 points. The margin of victory was 18 points and the final score was 74-56. She also dished out a team-leading nine assists and collected five steals. For the season, Davis is averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 steals and 3.6 assists per contest for the Gators who were ranked ninth in the most recent 2A coaches' poll. On Tuesday, the Gators will travel to Atlantic Collegiate with a berth in the 2A Lower State championship up for grabs.      The defending 5A Division 1 champions were another one of the teams that earned a bye to the second round of this year's tournament. The Bengals began said playoffs with a 56-39 victory over Clover – one where Thomas tallied 20 points. Thomas has averaged a double-double of 22.1 points and 11.5 rebounds plus 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals per contest and will embark on her collegiate journey at South Carolina State following this season. The Bengals' title defense will face one of its stiffest tests yet as Blythewood will travel to Dorman with a berth in the 5A Division 1 Upper State championship on the line.      Greenville was one of three teams from its region that earned first-round byes in its respective 5A tournaments. The Red Raiders – 5A Division 2 Upper State finalists from last season – commenced this year's tournament with an emphatic 66-33 victory over Riverside. Jaminet concluded the matchup with 19 points. In the 26 games that Jaminet has played, she has averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. This Tuesday, Greenville – which was ranked third in the most recent 5A Division 2 coaches' poll – will host another team that was ranked in that same poll – Eastside (ranked eighth).      The first two games that Westside has played in this year's 4A state tournament have resulted in flat-out Rams dominance. The latest of which occurred against Travelers Rest where Marshall led the charge with 19 points. Westside began the tournament with a 73-12 thrashing of Bluffton. The star freshman Rams guard has been one of the team's leaders in virtually every major statistical category. Marshall has averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, three steals, 2.8 assists and just under a block per contest. A berth in the 4A Upper State finals will be up for grabs on Monday when Westside hosts Camden.      Dutch Fork's contest in the second round of the 5A Division 1 tournament against Byrnes can be considered one of the signature contests of said round – regardless of classification. The Silver Foxes earned the 55-52 victory over the Rebels in large part thanks to the 18 points placed on the scoreboard by Dutch Fork's junior standout guard. Through the 22 games that Gerald has played this season with the Silver Foxes, she has averaged 10 points, six assists, 4.8 steals and 4.3 rebounds per contest. Gerald leads Dutch Fork in assists and steals. Up next for the Silver Foxes is a Monday Upper State semifinal get-together at Mauldin.      Woodruff getting big performances from Means means the Wolverines will get into the win column. This year's 3A state tournament for the Wolverines began with a 36-25 victory over Powdersville. Woodruff then traveled to West-Oak where it earned a 40-35 victory that saw Means place 16 points on the scoreboard. Means also contributed seven points, three rebounds, three steals and one block in the earlier win over Powdersville. Means and her Wolverines will face a tough task in the 3A Upper State semifinals as they will travel on Tuesday to match up with fourth-ranked St. Joseph's Catholic. She is a two-sport athlete who also excels as a volleyball standout.     Calloway is completing her sophomore season with 1A North. As she has played at the varsity level since she was a seventh grader, Calloway has more experience than the average 2028. Calloway contributed 12 points to the Eagles' second-round 1A tournament win against Abbeville. She has played in 25 games this season and has averaged 7.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.7 assists per season. She is the lone sophomore on this season's North assembling. Calloway and her Eagles – ranked second in the most recent 1A coaches' poll - will resume play on Monday in the Lower State semifinals as North will host Great Falls.      Coach Nathaniel Taylor's 1A defending champion Military Magnet assembling is in the throes of a nine-game winning streak. The latest of those victories for his Eagles occurred this past Friday as the Eagles hosted the Red Raiders of Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Brown contributed 10 points to the Military Magnet cause. Her game also included eight assists, seven steals and four rebounds. She also put together an eight-rebound, eight-assist, seven-point, six-steal outing in the Eagles' 89-4 rout of Johnsonville in the first round of this year's tournament. Military Magnet will return to the court on Monday to take on Bethune-Bowman in the 1A Lower State semifinals.     It's not how you start, it's how you finish. That proverb applies to sport and life. Goodrich was kept off the scoreboard for the first three quarters of Lexington's 5A Division 1 second round contest against River Bluff. The Gators nearly pulled off what some would call an upset but Goodrich made clutch plays on both defense and offense in the fourth quarter to keep the Wildcats' season intact. Late in the fourth quarter, River Bluff led Lexington by a margin of 45-44 before Goodrich made four consecutive free throws to seal the victory for Lexington on its home hardwood. The junior guard's ability to step up in the fourth quarter would ensure the Wildcats would earn a date with Carolina Forest in the 5A Division 1 Lower State semifinals.

Round two of this year's South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Playoffs is in the books. A mere 48 teams remain – eight for each of the six classifications.