Varsity basketball was back Saturday at Wildcat Gymnasium. 

Both Lexington High School teams returned to action after a nearly monthlong hiatus. Their respective seasons were placed on hold by Lexington School District 1 as a result of increased covid-19 numbers.

The same was true at least for 1 of the visiting teams as well. The Dutch Fork girls’ basketball team experienced team quarantines which resulted in several postponed contests. 

Saturday’s Region 5-5A doubleheader was a split outcome. The 8th ranked Lady Wildcats earned a 58-47 victory over the Lady Silver Foxes, while the 6th ranked Silver Foxes defeated Lexington 58-53 to remain undefeated on the season.

The 2 teams meet again Tuesday in Irmo. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lexington 58

Dutch Fork 47 

It was a matchup of 2 teams coming off a 31-day layoff.

Through 3 quarters, the Lady Silver Foxes managed to hold a 1-point lead. Sparked by Jenna Yanity’s 8 4th quarter points and 6 each from Alexis Sexton and Lindsey Garner, the Lady Wildcats pulled away to improve to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in Region 5-5A.

Sexton led Lexington with a game-high 21 points, followed by Yanity with 15 and Garner with 10. The Lady Wildcats’ center made her return after an extended absence for health reasons.

“It was a long break,” Lexington girls’ head coach Molly Goodrich said. “A lot of days off, a lot of (covid-19) restrictions. No ball. Lindsey’s been out for about 6-7 weeks. It was a definitely a 1st game for us.”

Both teams displayed signs of rustiness through the 1st half. Dutch Fork had a 24-23 lead led by Hillary Offing, who finished with 13 points. 

The Lady Wildcats opened a 31-26 lead in the 3rd quarter, only for the Lady Silver Foxes to answer with a 11-2 run to reclaim the lead. Antoinet Cheeseboro hit consecutive 3-pointers in finishing with a team-high 16 points. 

A 3-pointer by Sexton brought Lexington within a point at the end of the 3rd quarter. Yanity opened the 4th quarter with a 3-pointer to put the Lady Wildcats ahead for good.

It sparked a 9-1 run to put them ahead 45-38 with 6:57 left in the game.

Dutch Fork (2-3, 0-2) got no closer than 6 points the rest of the way. 

“She (Yanity)really did step up,” Goodrich said. “We just telling them ‘attack the basket, attack the basket’. There were holes everywhere. They’re a very athletic team and we just kept trying to go back to what we know which was drive and dish, drive and dish.” 

Goodrich acknowledged the challenges of remaining consistent during this forced inactivity. She admitted it’s “frustrating” having to essentially coach a new team almost on a daily basis and is optimistic her team will continue to gell with more games. 

Dutch Fork 58

Lexington 53

While playing just its 4th game of the season, the undefeated Silver Foxes had the advantage as the more active team.

This was the team’s 2nd game in 4 days and it showed as it took control of the game in the 2nd half to hand the Wildcats their 2nd loss of the season.

Jarvis Green, who finished with 12, scored the game’s 1st 5 points. The Wildcats (6-2, 1-2) answered back with a 11-2 run led by Cam Scott, who finished with 13 points. 

A jumper by Zavier Measmer, who had 21 points, as time expired in the 1st quarter gave Lexington a 18-13 advantage. Dutch Fork rallied to take a 29-27 halftime lead and increased it to 45-39 entering the 4th quarter. 

Houston Jones scored 9 of his game-high 24 points in the 3rd quarter. 

The Silver Foxes’ Octavius Smith had a slam dunk and layup down the stretch to help Dutch Fork (4-0, 2-0) maintain its lead. 

FRIDAY’S GAMES

(BOYS)

Gray Collegiate 92, Batesburg-Leesville 50

Timothy Barnes scored 17 points, Chase McDuffie had 16 and Tre White added 13 to lead the 3-time defending Class 2A champions.

Up next for the War Eagles (11-4, 3-0) is a road trip to Columbia. 

(GIRLS)

Gray Collegiate 44

Batesburg-Leesville 26

Adrian Frye had 18 points and Emme Buzhardt finished with 12 to lead the Lady Eagles (5-3, 2-0).