The “perfect season” came up a victory short.
The Lexington boys’ basketball team lost 47-42 to Berkeley in the Class 5A Lower State final at the Florence Civic Center last Saturday.
It ended the 2018-19 season with the 1st loss in 30 games for the Wildcats – and the Bailey Harris basketball era.
After 32 seasons and 6 state championships in 2 sports, head coach Harris made the announcement 2 days earlier on his 56th birthday.
“This is my last go-round,” he said. “I will go with the seniors.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever ended a season without crying my eyes out...for the seniors,” he said. 
“I’m a senior this time, too. I just told them I don’t know if I could have picked 14 guys that I would rather go to war with than that bunch right there.
Harris finished his career tied with Chip Atkins as the 6th winningest head coach in SC High School League history with 637 career wins.
The Presbyterian College graduate claimed a 12th region title this season.
Harris claimed Class 4A state titles in boys’ basketball in 1996 and 2000 and was seeking an 11th state title appearance. In addition, Harris has led the boys’ cross-country team to 15 region titles and won 4 consecutive Class 4A titles from 2009-12.
He plans to remain at Lexington High School as the cross-country coach and teacher.

Lady Wildcats fall short
The championship dreams also ended for the Lexington girls’ basketball team in Florence this past Saturday.
The Lady Wildcats fell 43-28 to Goose Creek in the Class 5A Lower State final. It was their first state semifinal appearance since 1979 and their final record was 24-5.
University of South Carolina-bound senior Olivia Thompson finished with 18 points, ending her Lexington career with a school-record 1,937 points.
The lone remaining Chronicle Country team to reach the state final was defending Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate. The War Eagles will face Andrew Jackson at noon Saturday at Colonial Life Arena.
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