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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
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Local Sports

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

The homecoming season of 2021 kept going strong with a heated fight between the Scott's Branch Eagles and the War Eagles of C.E. Murray on Friday. The War Eagles got out to a hot start and never …

Laurence Manning quarterback Tyler June (1) attempts to throw out of a sack during the Swampcats' 24-0 loss to Trinity Collegiate on Friday.

Swampcats can't find end zone in 24-0 loss to Trinity

MANNING -- With a chance to claim the SCISA Region II-3A title and potentially two home state playoff games, Laurence Manning Academy ran into a buzzsaw Friday against Trinity Collegiate, falling …

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

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

Sumter faced off against St. James with a chance to win the Region VI-5A title on Friday. They took total control of the Sharks winning by a commanding final score of 24-7 to secure a No. 1 seed in …

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 secured the top spot in Region VI-5A with a 24-7 win over St. James on Friday. Here's a look at the action courtesy of The Item's Cal Cary.

The Wilson Hall volleyball team advanced to the second day of the SCISA 3A state tournament with a pair of wins on Friday.

Wilson Hall advances to 2nd day of state tournament

The Wilson Hall volleyball team won twice on Friday to advance to the second day of the SCISA 3A state tournament. The Lady Barons beat Northwood 2-1 before outlasting Ben Lippen for a 2-1 win. They …

From the Wire

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) passes during the Tigers' 27-17 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Uiagalelei benched as Clemson falls to Pitt

PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett is well-versed in how it goes when you play for Pittsburgh. You flirt with great expectations. You pull off an unlikely win or two. Then when things get tight, things …

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman and the Braves are looking to avoid a repeat of 2020, as they carry a 3-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series into the weekend.

Braves want to avoid 2020 NLCS storyline against Dodgers

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves know what happened last October and want to avoid a repeat. The Los Angeles Dodgers plan on an encore.Atlanta held 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the NL Championship Series …

Thomas Sumter's Jamari Harris and the Generals host Lee Academy for a key region matchup on Friday

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

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 …

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson has struggled since signing an extension earlier this year.

Panthers' Anderson struggling since signing contact extension

CHARLOTTE - When the Carolina Panthers rewarded Robby Anderson with a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension this offseason, they figured he would be an important and productive part of the offense this season. But Year 2 in Carolina has …

South Carolina head coach Frank Martin wants to see the Gamecocks get more physical this season.

South Carolina, Martin want to be physical hoops team again

COLUMBIA - South Carolina coach Frank Martin has bounced back from the worst season of his career. He believes his Gamecocks are ready to do the same thing on the court. Martin had COVID-19 twice, including a stretch in January during the …

Prep Sports

Sumter's Genesis Johnson (17) and the Gamecocks beat St. James 24-7 on Friday.

Sumter, Lee get key region wins

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 …

East Clarendon volleyball opens 1A playoffs with win

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. …

Laurence Manning's Bryson Smith (14) and the Swampcats will host Trinity Collegiate to determine the winner of SCISA Region II-3A on Friday.

Laurence Manning hunts for region title against Trinity Collegiate

Laurence Manning and Trinity Collegiate will meet at Billy Chitwood Field on Friday with a lot on the line. The winner of Friday's matchup will take home the SCISA Region II-3A crown, earning a chance to play at home twice in the playoffs along …

Sumter running back Keion Brown (3) and the Gamecocks will host St. James as they attempt to claim the Region VI-5A crown on Friday.

Sumter looks to claim another region title against St. James

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 …

Crestwood's Ja'mori Coard was named to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl game this week.

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

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 …

CLEMSON

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell looks to build on the momentum from last season, where the Tigers made their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past four years.

Clemson looks to keep basketball momentum going

CLEMSON - Clemson's Brad Brownell acknowledged the water took a lot longer to boil on his men's basketball program than he would've liked. These days, Brownell believes the Tigers have a rising basketball brand that stands strong in the …

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and the Tigers will look to take a step closer to returning to The Associated Press Top 25 when they face Pitt on Saturday.

AP College Picks: Clemson, Iowa St. look to redirect seasons

For the first time this season, there are no games on the college football schedule matching two ranked teams. That doesn't mean there aren't some intriguing matchups. In the spotlight are a handful of teams that stumbled early and fell out of …

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) looks to pass during the Tigers' 17-14 win over Syracuse in Syracuse, New York, on Friday.

Clemson holds off Syracuse 17-14 when late FG misses

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — DJ Uiagalelei passed for 181 yards and one touchdown, Kobe Pace rushed for 76 yards and another score, and Clemson held off Syracuse 17-14 on Friday night. Clemson (4-2, 3-1 …

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) and the Tigers travel to New York to face Syracuse on Friday.

Another Friday night thriller? Syracuse hosts Clemson

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Having tripled last season's win total halfway through 2021, the Syracuse Orange have helped their fans largely forget the noncompetitive squad that lost 10 games in the pandemic-plagued 2020 campaign. And that's good for the …

For the first time in a while, Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers are not the team to chase in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

New-look ACC: Teams pursuing Wake Forest, not Clemson

Wake Forest began this season among the large group known as "everybody else" in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the label applied to teams projected to fall in line behind perennial favorite Clemson. Imagining a different scenario would've been a …

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USC

South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty (4) needs to have surgery on his injured foot and will miss the remainder of the season.

South Carolina QB Doty out for the season

COLUMBIA (AP) - South Carolina starting quarterback Luke Doty needs surgery on his injured foot and will miss the rest of the season. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday Doty would have the operation later this week and would not return …

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are the preseason No. 1 in the initial Associated Press Top 25 Poll, which was released on Tuesday.

South Carolina, UConn, Stanford women top preseason Top 25

Dawn Staley and South Carolina are back in a familiar spot: No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll. It's the second consecutive season that the Gamecocks are the preseason favorite. "With who we brought back and who added …

South Carolina quarterback Zeb Noland (8) and head coach Shane Beamer celebrate after beating Vanderbilt 21-20 on Saturday in Columbia.

Noland rallies South Carolina to 21-20 win over Vandy; to start against A&M

COLUMBIA - Zeb Noland's played more than enough football to be ready when called on and cherish the moments of success. The former graduate assistant did both to rally South Carolina to its first Southeastern Conference win in more than …

South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty (4) and the Gamecocks host Vanderbilt this week seeking their first SEC victory under head coach Shane Beamer.

Vanderbilt, South Carolina meet seeking to end losing skids

COLUMBIA - There may be debate over the Southeastern Conference's top team this season. After Saturday, though, there should be little doubt about who's at the bottom when Vanderbilt faces South Carolina. The schools have the two longest league …

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley agreed to a new seven-year contract worth $22.4 million on Friday.

South Carolina awards Staley 7-year, $22.4 million contract

COLUMBIA - Dawn Staley and South Carolina have agreed to a new, seven-year contract that will pay her $2.9 million this season and grow to $3.5 million in the final season. The school's Board of Trustees approved the deal worth $22.4 million on …

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Outdoors

Celebrate Halloween at Lee State Park

BISHOPVILLE - Join park rangers and campers as they celebrate Halloween with Camp-and-Treat at Lee State Park on Saturday, Oct. 30. Trick-or-treating will be held as well as a campsite decoration contest in the park …

Your next doctor's prescription might be to spend time in nature

Dr. Robert Zarr loves to write prescriptions that you don't have to take to the pharmacy. Instead, he sends patients outside to soak in the healing powers of nature, combining the benefits of exercise with the therapeutic effects of fresh air and …

GEDDINGS

Sumter outdoors columnist Dan Geddings: The magical beanfield

Soybeans are a major crop here in the coastal plain of South Carolina. Most beanfields will grow waist high, and some will get nearly shoulder high. The plants are bushy and are usually planted closely enough to close their canopy at the top. The …

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