The decade-long wait for another state boys basketball championship at Irmo High School is over.

The Yellow Jackets defeated Lancaster 58-45 to win the S.C. High School League Class 4A title at the University of South Carolina-Aiken Convocation Center.

It was the sixth state title and first since 2013 for Irmo (26-5), all under head coach Tim Whipple, and capped a postseason run in which the average margin of victory was 24.6 points.

“Coach Whipple, he knew what we had to do,” said A.J. Brand, who finished with 15 points. “He established it early. If we wanted to make this, we had to play hard. That’s what we did.”  

The Yellow Jackets also finished the season with nine consecutive wins. It was a streak preceded by three straight home losses during Region 5-4A play in late January.

“I think that we did not allow that to affect what we needed to do,” Whipple said. “I think under those circumstances, not only losing three games, but three games at home. It would have been easy for them to let down, but they didn’t. It drove them to work harder, focus and start things back on up and I think it’s absolutely incredible.”

No Yellow Jacket personified his role more than senior center and Class 4A Player of the Year Brandon Crawford. His return from illness coincided with the winning streak and he finished his Irmo career with 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots.

More important Crawford’s defensive presence contributed to Lancaster’s woeful 27.1 percent field goal shooting. Having to rely on outside shooting in the school's first-ever state final appearance, Lancaster (27-4) made just 4-22 three-pointers, all in the fourth quarter.

“I have never had a player as dominant on the defensive end on the floor and had more affect on other teams than Brandon Crawford,” Whipple said.

After a putback gave Lancaster a 2-0 lead, the Yellow Jackets did not trail again. All five starters scored at least one field goal in the first quarter as Irmo answered with a 15-2 run to put their lead into double digits.

Both Madden Collins, who finished with 16 points, and A.J. Brand, who had 15, led Irmo with nine points each through intermission, matching Lancaster’s entire points total in the first half. 

While the Yellow Jackets shot 52 percent from the field, Lancaster managed only three field goals on 25 attempts in the first half. The Bruins were also 0-9 from three-point range, with Crawford compounding their offensive problems in the paint with four blocked shots.

It all added up to Lancaster going the final 9:26 of the first half without a field goal, missing 17 straight shots and trailing 32-9 at halftime.

The Bruins’ scoring drought ended with 7:10 left in the second quarter. Despite the efforts of All-State guard Jordan Watford, who finished with a game-high 25 points, they still found themselves only able to reduce Irmo’s lead to 22.

A play with 3:10 left in the third quarter symbolized Irmo’s turnaround since the mid-season losing streak occurred. Xavier Graham attempted a layup, only to have to ball smothered on the backboard by Crawford. In one motion, Crawford turned and threw the outlet pass to Mason Collins, who tossed to brother Madden under the basket for a layup.

“I think Brandon just plays a huge part in how we play,” Brand said. “It’s good to have him back. He just makes such an impact.”

Despite a 23-point lead through three quarters, Whipple remained intense on the sidelines. As Lancaster connected on two three-pointers during a 8-2 run to get within 16 points with 4:43 left, he called for a timeout to settle the team.

“All I know is I sat there that entire game thinking we’re going to be the first team is history that had a 23-point lead and blew it,” Whipple said. “So I stayed worried the entire game until about a minute to go. But, the guys weren’t going to let that happen. Getting that lead was so important because it allowed us to make some mistakes and, that way, they weren’t able to get closer.”

Lancaster outscored Irmo 23-13 in the fourth quarter. It was not enough to stand in the way of Irmo reclaiming its position atop Class 4A.

“This might be the most special group I’ve ever had,” Whipple said. “I’d never dream we’d made it to a state championship. But I think it shows you when everybody has a role on a team, and everybody performs that role to the best of their ability.”