The halftime message was simple Tuesday for the Irmo High School boys basketball team: Just play better.

The third-ranked Yellow Jackets responded with a dominating second half to turn a one-point deficit into a 77-56 rout of previously-undefeated Lexington in The Temple of Doom.

Preseason Top senior selection Dylan Williams scored a game-high 32 points, 14 coming in the second half. Juice Keitt and Brandon Crawford each scored 14 points, which included a pair of crowd-pleasing slam dunks. 

“I think even though we’ve got some seniors, it’s a situation where because of the pandemic ... nothing’s easy right now,” said Irmo head coach Tim Whipple. “We’re still learning even though we have an experienced team. So it was very good to see us settle down in the second half and execute well and really play some good defense.”

Lexington (3-1) found success from three-point range in the first half. Coulter Bell continued his hot shooting from behind the arc as he and Cam Scott, who had 20 points, carried the Lexington offense in the first half.

The two teams exchanged the lead several times in the second quarter before a three-pointer by Bell as time expired gave the Wildcats a 34-33 lead. He finished with 14 points, including four three-pointers. 

Irmo quickly turned the game in its favor with an 11-0 run to open the second half. Crawford had six points in the third quarter and was a force defensively with blocked shots. 

“Brandon is a really good shot blocker and he’s starting to have a good time out on the floor and realize he can have fun and still play hard and do those little things well,” Whipple said. “He was huge tonight. He changed a lot of shots, got some rebounds and, of course, scored some points.”

Irmo (3-1) outscored Lexington 44-22 in the second half. Williams did the same by himself in the fourth quarter alone, ending the game with a 3-pointer to put the finishing touches on the victory. 
 

Great Falls 60, White Knoll 58

Kaleb Evans had 23 points, Treyvon Maddox added 12 and Seth Sims finished with 11 in the close loss by the Timberwolves.

Up next is a non-region matchup with A.C. Flora Friday.
 

Dreher 47 Dutch Fork 44 

Girls Basketball

Lexington 64, Irmo 35 

The sixth-ranked Lady Wildcats moved head coach Molly Goodrich to within two victories of 100 in her tenure. 

Jumping out to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, Lexington (2-1) held the Lady Yellow Jackets to three points in the second quarter. 

The Lady Yellow Jackets led by as many as 32 points in the second haf. Jenna Yanity had a game-high 23 points, preseason Top Senior selection Alexis Sexton had 19 and Lindsey Garner added 11. 

Andrea Collins led Irmo with 18 points and Alani Martinez-Liriano added 12.  Goodrich can reach the milestone this weekend in Blythewood during the two-night Queen of the Castle basketball event at Westwood High School. The Lady Wildcats face Winston-Salem Christian National at 5:30 p.m. Friday and the host school at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
 

Hammond School 68, Northside Christian 41

Drea Pringle scored 14 points and Lauren Reynolds added 11 for the Lady Crusaders.