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Laurence Manning head coach Austin Floyd, left, coaches the Swampcats during their 48-42 playoff win over Ben Lippen on Friday. Floyd's passion for his players is one of the key reasons the 25-year-old has led LMA to an 11-1 season and an appearance in the state championship game this weekend.

For love of the players: Floyd’s passion for his team helps catapult LMA to state title game

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Local Sports

Carldrelle Cooper (3) is the only returning starter for Sumter High School from last year's boys basketball team. The Gamecocks will be under the tutelage of former Lakewood head coach Bryan Brown.

A very fresh start: Former Lakewood coach Brown prepares for Sumter debut with one returning starter

At this time last season, the Sumter High School boys basketball team was ranked No. 4 in 5A. The Gamecocks were coming off a successful 2017-18 season that saw them finish with an 18-7 record and advance to the quarterfinals of the state …

Sumter High School wing player Tamerah Brown, right, and her Lady Gamecock teammates will be playing host to the FTC Lady Gamecock Tip-Off Classic beginning on Friday at the SHS gymnasium.

Sumter High girls, Scott's Branch to host tournaments this weekend

Sumter and Summerton are the places to be this weekend if you love high school basketball. Sumter and Scott's Branch are both hosting first-year tournaments this weekend to tip off the 2019-20 high school basketball season in the area. The …

Laurence Manning running back Wyatt Rowland (22) carries the ball behind a lead block from Nolan Osteen (5) during their 48-42 win over Ben Lippen on Friday. . LMA will take on Hammond on Saturday in Columbia beginning at 3:30 p.m. for the state title.

LMA, Hammond to play at 3:30 p.m. for 3A title

Laurence Manning Academy will be trying to avenge its only loss of the season in the SCISA 3A football state championship game on Saturday at Benedict College's Charlie W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia. The Swampcats will be going up against 2-time …

Abby Hoshour signs to swim at Wingate University.

Sumter's Hoshour signs to swim at Wingate

When Abby Hoshour went on to a visit to Wingate University, she knew she had found the college that met her needs both as an athlete and as a student. "Their swim program is one of the top 10 in the nation in (NCAA) Division II, and the nursing …

LMA running back Wyatt Rowland, center, scampers into the end zone for a two-point conversion against Ben Lippen on Friday night. Rowland rushed for 237 yards in the Swampcats' 48-42 victory to advance to the state championship next week against Hammond.

LMA holds off Ben Lippen 48-42, faces Hammond for SCISA 3A title

MANNING -- Laurence Manning Academy is headed to the SCISA 3A football state championship game to face a familiar foe. The Swampcats dispensed of Ben Lippen 48-42 on a cold, wet Friday night at Billy Chitwood Field to set up a rematch with the …

From the Wire

Clemson's Trevor Lawrence scrambles out of the pocket during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Clemson, S.C.

No. 3 Tigers playing powerhouse football headed into bye

CLEMSON - Clemson's week off in early October was filled with questions and a fall from No. 1 in the rankings. Six weeks later the third-ranked Tigers feel they are in a much better place, prepping for the College Football Playoffs. Clemson …

FTC Lady Gamecock Tip-Off Classic begins Friday at SHS

The inaugural FTC Lady Gamecock Tip-Off Classic will be held Friday, Saturday and Monday at the Sumter High School gymnasiums. Including the Lady Gamecocks, Goose Creek, James Island, Dutch and Carolina Forest are ranked in the top 10 in the 5A …

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.

Tepper says no decision yet on future of quarterback Newton

CHARLOTTE - Cam Newton's future in Carolina will depend on how well he recovers from a foot injury. Panthers owner David Tepper said in a meeting with reporters Monday the organization won't decide on Newton's long-term future until after they …

Kyle Busch, front left, celebrates with teammates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

NASCAR bullish on future after promising rebound

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - The freefall is over, rock bottom hit more than a year ago, the restart button officially activated. Just how cool is NASCAR these days? Michael Jordan said before Sunday's championship race he sets his clock to watch every …

Louisiana State, shown celebrating a victory, maintained its top ranking in the College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday.

LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia remain atop CFP rankings

The College Football Playoff rankings were unchanged at the top this week, with LSU first followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia. The selection committee's third weekly rankings had little movement in the top 10, with Alabama fifth followed …

Prep Sports

TSA volleyball falls to Palmetto Christian on Senior Night

Thomas Sumter Academy’s varsity volleyball team fell to Palmetto Christian Academy 3-0 (25-10, 25-23, 25-17) in their regular season finale on Tuesday night.

Sumter Sports Week in Review (9/29/19)

Click the link below to check out our weekly digest of all the latest local sports news.Link - Sumter Item Sports Week in Review

Gamecocks swept by Blythewood

Sumter varsity volleyball was swept by Blythewood 3-0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-17) on Tuesday night.

Robert E. Lee varsity volleyball downs Dillon Christian 3-1

BISHOPVILLE -- Robert E. Lee’s varsity volleyball team improved their record to 3-3 in region play with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-7, 25-15, 26-24) victory over Dillon Christian on Monday night.

East Clarendon’s Rhamey Floyd celebrates after the Lady Wolverines scored a point in their 3-0 victory over Laurence Manning Academy on Wednesday at Bubba Davis Gymnasium.

East Clarendon improves to 7-0, sweeps Laurence Manning Academy

MANNING - East Clarendon’s varsity volleyball team improved to 7-0 on the season with a 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 25-12) sweep of Laurence Manning Academy on Wednesday night.

CLEMSON

Hunter Tyson

Clemson men's hoops takes down Detroit Mercy 87-65

CLEMSON - There's a simple path for Hunter Tyson to get more playing time at Clemson: defend hard and shoot well like he did against Detroit Mercy. The 6-foot-8 Tyson had a career-high 20 points off five 3-pointers to lead the Tigers to …

Clemson safety Tanner Muse (19) sacks Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman during the Tigers' 52-3 win on Saturday in Clemson.

Clemson thumps Wake Forest 52-3

CLEMSON - Trevor Lawrence wasn't going to slow down after clinching the ACC Atlantic a week earlier. No. 3 Clemson didn't, either. Lawrence tied his career high with four touchdowns, three to Tee Higgins, and No. 3 Clemson won its 26th straight …

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and the Tigers remained the top ranked team in the country in this week's AP Poll.

Top three in AP Top 25 gain separation from field

Separation at the top and a few random scheduling quirks has allowed the AP college football poll voters to work a little easier this season than last. No. 1 LSU, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson held their spots in the AP Top 25 presented by …

Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) breaks through against North Carolina State defenders to score during the Tigers' 55-10 win in Raleigh, North Carolina last week. Clemson plays host to Wake Forest on Saturday.

No. 3 Clemson focused heading into final push to playoffs

CLEMSON - No. 3 Clemson is back in playoff position with no plans to give up its foothold after clinching a fifth straight ACC Atlantic Division title. Even some past Tiger stars are helping make sure this group maintains its focus. Clemson …

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs the ball around the block of teammate J.C. Chalk (25) during the Tiger's 55-10 win over North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday.

All-America Watch: Clemson QB Lawrence back in top form

CLEMSON - Praise him or criticize him, Trevor Lawrence doesn't care. Not as long as the quarterback keeps improving and No. 3 Clemson keeps winning. Lawrence and the Tigers have done plenty of both this season. "I really like the way we're …

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USC

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley gestures during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in College Park, Md.

No. 5 USC women roll past App. St.

COLUMBIA - South Carolina coach Dawn Staley knows there's a different, more intense feel at practice - and that's showing in game after game this fall. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan had a season-high 21 points and No. 5 South Carolina used a huge first …

Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond (11) throws a pass as he is pressured by South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw (3) during the Gamecocks' 30-6 loss on Saturday in College Station, Texas.

Mond leads Aggies to 30-6 win over South Carolina

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M has taken care of business in the last month and was feeling confident after a lopsided win over South Carolina on Saturday night. However, the Aggies know that things are about to get much tougher with trips to …

South Carolina's AJ Lawson speaks during the Southeastern Conference NCAA college basketball media day, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, in Birmingham, Ala.

Lawson leads USC past Cleveland State 90-63

COLUMBIA - AJ Lawson had a career-high 28 points and South Carolina opened the second half with an 18-2 burst to roll past Cleveland State 90-63 on Friday night. Lawson, the team's top returning scorer from last season, had a 3-pointer and a …

South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Hoover, Ala.

USC AD Tanner: Muschamp is 'our coach going forward'

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Embattled South Carolina football head coach Will Muschamp will have the public backing of his athletics director when the Gamecocks take on Texas A&M on Saturday.USC athletics director Ray Tanner released a statement on …

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley gestures during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in College Park, Md.

Cooke scores 27 as No. 6 South Carolina beats Dayton 75-49

DAYTON, Ohio - Several of South Carolina's players kicked up their heels in the pregame layup line when "Let's Get Ready to Rumble!" played over the public address system at University of Dayton Arena. They danced, then they dominated. Especially …

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Outdoors

GEDDINGS

Pulling the trigger

The shadows had combined, and darkness was settling into the woods. I was ready to get down from the stand, but something caught my attention out front. It looked like a couple of raccoons at the corn, and I could see something else now. It looked …

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BASSMASTER Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Phoenix Boats founder Gary Clouse of Winchester, Tennessee, offers advice for taking care of your boat once cold temperatures hit.

Tips for winterizing your boat

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Bassmaster Elite Series pro Gary Clouse is not only a prolific tournament angler, but he is also the president and founder of Phoenix Boats. His decades of expertise have given Clouse important insight into proper care and …

Cover your ground, for your plants' sake

Nature abhors bare ground, and so should you. Her response to naked earth is to clothe it, a job at which many weeds excel. Bare soil is too easily blown and washed away by wind and water. Rainfall pounding on it seals pores, making it much …

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