The 400 career win club for S.C. High School League girls’ basketball coaches welcomed its newest member Friday at the Temple of Doom.

Monica Williams entered that elite group following her 3rd ranked Lady Yellow Jackets’ 65-31 victory over Dutch Fork in the “Battle of Irmo”. 

Irmo took control from the outset, jumping out to a 18-6 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. It would increase to 40-13 at halftime as Ehrial Wagstaff and Maliyiah Mason nearly individually outscored the Lady Silver Foxes in the 1st half.

Both finished with 17 points to lead the Lady Yellow Jackets (15-3, 3-0) to their 5th straight win.

By the end of the 3rd quarter, fans and former players began passing out ‘400’ flyers in the stands. Once the game ended, Williams and the team posed with a special poster commemorating the achievement and Lexington-Richland District 5 officials presented her an encased game ball.

“I had no clue,” said Williams about whether she thought about reaching 400 career wins when she took over the Irmo program 20 years ago. “No. I did not. Twenty-three years have been coaching and this one is special for sure. I’m going to enjoy it.”

Williams quickly turned her attention to Tuesday’s critical Region 4-5A road game at 5th ranked Sumter. The 2 teams are tied for 1st place in the lost column.

“That’s going to be a tough 1 for us,” she said. “So, hopefully we’ll carry a lot of momentum from this game to Tuesday night.”

Precious Hall had 9 points to lead Dutch Fork (7-10, 1-2) who visit White Knoll on Tuesday.

Airport 47, South Aiken 40

Jayla Jamison scored 23 points and India Candelario and Amea Ziegler both had 8 points each for the Lady Eagles (13-6, 3-1). 

Up next is a home game against archrival Brookland-Cayce. 

Lexington 78, Chapin 32

The Lady Wildcats (10-8, 2-1) outscored the Lady Eagles 25-5 in the 2nd quarter enroute to their 2nd straight Region 5-5A contest.

The win by sets up for a Tuesday showdown at River Bluff for 1st place.

Mackenzie Lott scored 11 points and Malina Washington had 8 for Chapin (3-12, 0-4). It returns to action Jan. 31 against Dutch Fork.

Strom Thurmond 39, Pelion 36 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Irmo 55, Dutch Fork 44

Dylan Williams scored 6 of his game-high 23 points as part of a game-ending 13-2 run to lead the 4th ranked Yellow Jackets over the 7th ranked Silver Foxes.

Williams opened the 1st quarter with 13 points in helping Irmo jump out to a 16-4 advantage. After Dutch Fork answered with an 8-0 run, the Yellow Jackets scored 6 unanswered points capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Williams to close out the 1st quarter up 22-12.

Irmo extended its lead as many as 13 points in the 1st half.

The 2nd half saw the Silver Foxes mount a comeback. They outscored Irmo 15-5 in the 3rd quarter and took a 39-36 lead into the 3rd quarter.

Irmo scored the 1st 4 points of the 4th quarter to take the lead for good. The team was tied at 42-42 when Dylan Williams connected on a 3-pointer and he and C.J. Washington, who along with Xavier Forest, had 10 points each, scored back-to-back layups to put the game out of reach.

It was the 773rd career win for Irmo head coach Tim Whipple. He is the active SCHSL leader in victories and 2nd all-time behind Great Falls’ John Smith. 

Lugoff-Elgin 62, Airport 47 

Xavier Ford-Belton scored 17 points and Jeremiah Harris had 15 to lead the Eagles (10-10, 1-3). 

Lexington 62, Chapin 55

The Wildcats (12-8, 2-1) moved into a 3-way tie for 1st place in Region 5-5A with the win over the Eagles.

Up next is a road trip to The Swamp to face River Bluff. 

Aiken 54, Brookland-Cayce 38