"It's unfortunate, but these guys are high school kids and we've got to remember that families are involved and older family members and younger family members, we've got to keep everybody safe."”

Lexington boys' basketball coach Ellott Pope said.

A sense of finality hovered over Friday's Region 5-5A boys' basketball contest between Lexington and White Knoll.
The Wildcats rolled past the Timberwolves 62-39 to improve to 6-1 overall, 2-1 in the region. Zavier Measter and freshman Cam Scott, who surpassed 500 career points, each had 16 points and Amari Davis had 10 as Lexington used a 17-2 run to rally from a 9-point 2nd quarter deficit and outscored White Knoll 17-2 in the 3rd quarter to take control of the game. Devin Stone finished with 15 points and LJ Curry added 10, including a halfcourt shot to end the 1st half for White Knoll. 
It was learned that the game was not only the the final 1 in 2020 for both programs. 
Following Saturday's Class 5A competitive cheer finals involving Lexington and River Bluff, there will be no more athletic contests involving Lexington School District 1 teams until the new year.
The district announced it was cancelling all athletic competitions starting Monday through Januaray 8. 
"Since returning to school from Thanksgiving break, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 among students nearly quadrupled, and student quarantines tripled," District superintendent Gregory Little said in a statement. "The number of staff quarantined and positive cases more than doubled.
"The second week after Thanksgiving was the beginning of the most significant increase we have experienced so far. After talking with health care professionals, we expect the magnitude of Winter Break to be even greater.
"The surge we expect led to our decision to shift to e-learning during the second week after Christmas. Our goal is to slow the exposure of our staff and students to the disease so we can return to a safe and stable learning environment."
Lexington head coach Elliott Pope said the changes mean his team will not return to action until Jan. 9 at home against Dutch Fork. 
"It's unfortunate, but these guys are high school kids and we've got to remember that families are involved and older family members and younger family members, we've got to keep everybody safe," he said. "This is the decision the district made and we're going to support it 100 percent."
Pope created the leadership of athletics director Perry Woolbright and David Bennett for encouraging the coaches to "stay positive" and "locked in" to keeping the student-athletics encouraged. He wants the players for now to "enjoy opening up some Christmas presents and enjoy being around family" and return with a "hunger" to finish out region play strong.

(GIRLS)

Irmo 49, Airport 42

Maliyiah Mason scored 18 points and Michaela Fairwell added 9 as the Lady Yellow Jackets improved to 5-0.

THURSDAY'S GAMES
(GIRLS)
Airport 56, Midland Valley 41
Jayla Jamison scored 25 points and Ja'Sia Booth and Bre Lester each had 11 to lead the Lady Eagles (4-2, 2-0). 

(BOYS)
Midland Valley 49, Airport 46
Jeremiah Harris had a game-high 17 points in a losing effort by the Eagles.