Saturday, October 23, 2021

Crestwood's Jaunesha McCray plays a shot during the Lady Knights' 3-0 loss to Academic Magnet in the first round of the SCHSL 3A playoffs on Thursday.

Strong season comes to disappointing end for Crestood volleyball team

Talaysia Cooper on stage with her parents Letessa Porter and Travis Cooper after announcing she signed to play basketball at the University of South Carolina on Saturday in the East Clarendon gym.

East Clarendon star Cooper signs with South Carolina

Scott's Branch running back Tyler Kind, right, carries during a 51-0 loss to C.E. Murray on Friday.

C.E. Murray hammers Scott's Branch 51-0

Sumter celebrates a touchdown during their 24-7 win over St. James on Friday.

Sumter cruises past St. James 24-7 for region crown

Sharks, Jasaan Faulkner, being taken down by Gamecocks defense. The Sumter High School, Gamecocks, take down St. James, Sharks, in a final score of 24-7 in Friday night's game on Oct. 22, 2021.

PHOTOS: Sumter wins region title with win over St. James

Sumter, Lee get key region wins

Today

SUMTER 24 ST. JAMES 7 Sumter clinched the Region VI-5A title with a 24-7 win over St. James on Friday. The Gamecocks wrap up regular season play against Conway next week. LAURENCE MANNING …

Matchups between Lee, Thomas Sumter and Wilson Hall, Laurence Manning highlight 5 Things to Watch This Week

Today

1. TSA HOSTS LEE, WH HOSTS LMAThe Thomas Sumter and Lee Academy football teams face off on Friday in a matchup that will have major playoff implications. The winner will secure at least a home …

East Clarendon volleyball opens 1A playoffs with win

Yesterday at 6:00 AM

The East Clarendon volleyball team opened the 1A playoffs with a three set sweep of Charleston Math & Science on Wednesday. They advance to play Branchville on Monday. "I was very happy with how the game went," said head coach Jennifer Parker. …

Sumter looks to claim another region title against St. James

Yesterday at 6:00 AM

As has been the case just about every season under head coach Mark Barnes, Sumter High is on the verge of claiming a region title. A win over St. James would seal the crown for the Gamecocks, who are unbeaten against their Region VI-5A …

Lakewood's Croskey, Crestwood's Coard, Lee Central's Harry named to Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl

Yesterday at 6:00 AM

The Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, formerly known as the North-South Game, released its rosters for the 2021 edition of the game this week with three local athletes earning a spot on the squad. Lee Central's Kwantre Harry, Lakewood's Tre …

More Public High School News

Scott's Branch hosts C.E. Murray with playoff seeding on the line

Scott's Branch hosts C.E. Murray tonight in a matchup that will help determine playoff seeding in Region IV-1A. While the Eagles can't play themselves into a home playoff game, they can change the overall seeding. C.E. Murray comes into the …

Crestwood's Cowell rumbles through Lake City's defense on way to Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week

Ryan Cowell has been the bell cow of Crestwood's backfield all season long. He continued that on Friday with a dominant performance against Lake City that helped carry the Knights to a 24-6 region victory. His performance was also enough to win …

Sumter continues climb in 5A football poll; up to No. 6

The Sumter football team is continuing to climb up the South Carolina Prep Football Media Poll, which was released on Tuesday. After sitting in seventh last week, the Gamecocks jumped up to sixth this week. Sumter moved up in the rankings after …

Sumter Touchdown Club Players of the Week: Manning gets first win of the season behind big performances from McFadden, Butler

The Manning football team has been grinding all season in search of their first win of the season. That hard work finally culminated in a victory on Friday, as they took down Marlboro County 44-22 on Friday. The victory was full of great …

Volleyball playoffs and local football highlights 5 Things to Watch This Week

1. SUMTER VS. ST. JAMES TAKE 2Sumter will face St. James for the second time this season, hosting the Sharks for their final regular season home game. The Gamecocks took round one 33-14. Other local …

PHOTOS: East Clarendon outlasts Scott's Branch for Homecoming win

East Clarendon hosted Scott's Branch for their annual rivalry game on Friday night. The Wolverines came away with a dramatic 14-8 Homecoming victory. Here's a look at the action courtesy of The …

East Clarendon outlasts Scott's Branch in Homecoming slug-fest 14-8

East Clarendon's Homecoming game was the chosen site for a battle of the lineman. The Wolverines; opponent for the special event was their bitter rival Scott's Branch, who made the 29 mile drive to have a game full of flags, a lot of tackles behind …

Lee Central seals second seed in region with 36-7 rout of Latta

BISHOPVILLE -- Playing in the friendly confines of Stallion Stadium for the second consecutive week, Lee Central High School's varsity football team proved that it could be just as lethal on a …

PHOTOS: Lee Central takes down Latta

Lee Central hosted Latta for Senior Night on Friday, coming away with a 36-7 win to clinch the second seed in Region VII-2A. Here's a look at the victory courtesy of Item contributor Nich Pitts.

Sumter High prepares for rematch with Carolina Forest

For the first time this season, Sumter is running into a repeat opponent. After an early COVID-19 scare kept the Gamecocks from facing Socastee twice, Sumter will have their first dip back into the Region VI-5A pool with a rematch against …

East Clarendon hosts Scott's Branch in a battle of run-heavy offenses

When East Clarendon and Scott's Branch face off in their annual rivalry game on Friday one thing is known for certain. Fans need to be ready to see a whole lot of running as the Wolverines host the Eagles for Homecoming. "It might be the fastest …

Wilson Hall hosts annual Baron Bash

The gymnasiums in the Nash Student Center were packed all day on Saturday as Wilson Hall played host to its annual Baron Bash volleyball tournament. The matches were played in two waves, as 18 teams filled the gym throughout the day. The morning …

Sumter Touchdown Club Players of the Week: Albert runs all over Kingstree in Lee Central's long-awaited Homecoming

Kenneth Albert and the Lee Central football team waited a long time for Friday night. For the first time since 2019, Albert and the Stallions played on their home field. Fittingly, it was also Homecoming. Albert made the most of the occasion, …

PHOTOS: Wilson Hall, Sumter High, Lee Academy, Thomas Sumter play in Baron Bash

Wilson Hall hosted its annual Baron Bash volleyball tournament with Sumter High, Lee Academy and Thomas Sumter among the 18 teams playing on Saturday. Here's a look at the local action courtesy of …

PHOTOS: Manning falls to Lake City

Manning hosted Lake City for a rare Saturday contest, but couldn't hold on to a halftime lead in a 20-8 loss. Here's a look at the action courtesy of The Item's Tim Leible.

Second half sinks Manning in 20-8 loss to Lake City

Manning hosted Lake City for a rare Saturday game this week, as concerns for the weather on Friday night prompted the Monarchs to host Senior Day. At halftime, Manning looked like they were in prime …

PHOTOS: Crestwood takes down Lakewood in Sumter County rivalry game

Crestwood and Lakewood faced off at Sumter High's Memorial Stadium on Friday in the annual matchup between the Sumter County rivals. This year's edition had the added stakes of fighting for a second …

PHOTOS: Lee Central crushes Kingstree on Homecoming

Lee Central defended Stallion Stadium with a 42-6 win over Kingstree on Friday. The game was a literal homecoming for LCHS, who hadn't played a home game since 2019. Here's a look at the action …

Defending their home turf: Stallions smash Kingstree for Homecoming win

BISHOPVILLE -- Lee Central High School celebrated what could only be called the ultimate homecoming on Friday as the Stallions stormed Stallion Stadium for the first time since 2019 and sent the homecoming faithful home happy with a 42-6 romp over …

Sweet second place: Crestwood earns home playoff game after win over Lakewood

A floodlight malfunction at Donald L. Crolley Memorial Stadium wasn't enough to dim the lights on the crosstown rivalry game between the Crestwood Knights and Lakewood Gators in a high stakes edition for the annual game. A venue change was in order, …

Hoping for home field: Crestwood and Lakewood battle with second place in region on the line

Matchups between Crestwood and Lakewood always come with a lot of drama. The two Sumter School District schools that used to stand together as Hillcrest have played some dramatic matchups over the years. Now the Gators and Knights face off with …

Finally coming home: Stallions host Kingstree for long awaited Homecoming

Homecoming happens every year at high schools across the country. A football game is played. A king and queen are crowned. This year at Lee Central, it means a little bit more. For the first time since 2019, LCHS will have a home game in Stallion …

Wilson Hall girls cross country wins Trinity Collegiate meet

The Wilson Hall cross country teams ran in a meet at Trinity Collegiate on Wednesday with the girls team finishing in first place overall and the boys placing fourth. The Lady Barons earned four of the top five finishes on Wednesday en route to …

Wilson Hall to host annual Baron Bash on Saturday

The Wilson Hall volleyball team will welcome 18 teams from around the state to Nash Student Center on Saturday for the annual Baron Bash. Locally, Wilson Hall will be joined by Sumter High, Lee Academy and Thomas Sumter. As always, the tournament …

Sumter stays at No. 8 in latest S.C. Media Polls

The Sumter football team maintained its No. 8 ranking in the latest South Carolina Prep Football Media Polls that were released on Tuesday. Sumter kept its position at No. 8 after defeating Socastee 23-10 for Homecoming and Senior Night on …

Sumter swims in Region IIX-5A meet

The Sumter High swim team hosted the Region IIX-5A meet last week, with the boys earning a third-place finish behind state qualifier Anthony Benenhaley. Benenhaley won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:02.91 and placed second in the 100 …

Sumter Touchdown Club Players of the Week: Burroughs and Johnson lift Lee Central to region victory

When Lee Central needed big plays against Andrews on Friday, the Stallions turned to their senior leaders. Lawrence Burroughs provided a key defensive touchdown, while Jamarion Johnson opened up holes on the offensive line for a bruising rushing …

East Clarendon takes down Hemingway 42-21 for first win of the season

East Clarendon took a few weeks longer than they’d hoped, but the Wolverines have won their first game. Head coach Scott Cook challenged his team to be physical and they accepted the task in a …

Big second half lifts Lee Central over Andrews

The Lee Central football team went into halftime against Andrews needing a spark. The trailed 7-6 at the break and were hungry for a region win on Friday night. After Andrews extended that lead to …

PHOTOS: Sumter holds on for Homecoming win over Socastee

The Sumter football team struggled with penalties, but still pulled out a 23-10 win over Socastee on Friday. Here's a look at the action courtesy of The Item's Micah Green and Tim Leible.