An all-Region 5-5A matchup between 2 head coaches who played at Lexington High School is set for Tuesday at their alma mater. 

Both Dutch Fork and River Bluff pulled off road victories Friday to set up a SC High School League Class 5A Lower State final clash. 

This will be the rubber match between the two schools. Dutch Fork won the 1st meeting 59-55 in Irmo Jan. 26 and River Bluff returned the favor 3 nights later in The Swamp 50-38. 

Fittingly, the game will take place inside the gymnasium where both Silver Foxes' head coach Brett Jones and the Gators' Benjamin Lee suited up for longtime head coach Bailey Harris. The winner all but guarantees a 5th straight year a Lexington High graduate who played under Harris will coach in the SCHSL final. 

For the 2nd straight year, another “Harris Classic” could take place Friday in the final at the University of South Carolina-Aiken Convocation Center if 4-time defending champion Dorman defeats Riverside in the Upper State final.

The Cavaliers advanced following a 60-51 victory over Ridge View in Columbia. It was their 22nd consecutive post-season victory. Dorman defeated Dutch Fork in last year’s state final. 

Dutch Fork 57, Goose Creek 51

Houston Jones scored 18 points and Jarvis Green added 12 as the defending Lower State champions held off a late rally to hand the Gators their 1st loss of the season.

Jones scored Dutch Fork’s 1st 8 points to help it take a 15-13 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.  He then scored 5 straight points during an 8-0 run to extend the Silver Foxes’ lead to 27-15 in the 2nd quarter. They would take a 32-21 lead into the lockerroom.

A basket by Green gave Dutch Fork its biggest lead at 34-21 to open the 2nd half. After the Gators scored 5 straight points to get within 36-29, Green connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to 13 points.

Dutch Fork maintained a double-digit lead late into the 4th quarter. Goose Creek (11-1) mounted a late comeback by hitting 3, 3-pointers to get within 56-51 with less than 2 minutes left.

Missed scoring opportunities and a free throw by Trace Danley, who had 6 of his 8 points in the 4th quarter, sealed the win for the Silver Foxes (11-2). 

Yaturi Bolton had 14 points in a losing effort for Goose Creek.

River Bluff 63, Carolina Forest 35

A 2nd straight dominating post-season performance has the Gators in the Class 5A Lower State final for the 1st time in school history.

In avenging last year’s playoff loss to the Panthers, River Bluff (12-4) matched its 1st round 1st half effort by outsourcing the host team 38-11 in the 1st half. The Gators extended their lead to 55-20 through 3 quarters before Carolina Forest went on a 3-point shooting barrage to outscore River Bluff 33-16 in the 4th quarter.

Malachi Reeves and Grayson Renner each had 11 points, Landon Stills had 9 points and Myles Jenkins and Preston Heard each finished with 8 for River Bluff. 

Corbin Pack had a game-high 17 points and Jonah Nesmith added 15 for the Panthers (16-5).