Standing in the way of the Lexington boys’ first appearance in the state final since 2012 was a Dorman team coached by a former Wildcat.

Under head coach Thomas Ryan, the Cavaliers have established a dynasty with four state titles in the past seven years. Its title run was interrupted by a 2021 finals’ loss to River Bluff and a buzzer-beating defeat last year to Mauldin in the third round.

Facing those motivating factors from a Cavalier team effective from 3-point range proved difficult to overcome for Lexington. The Wildcats fell 60-52 to Dorman in the Class 5A Upper State final at Bob Jones University.

Cam Scott led Lexington with 17 points despite foul trouble. Senior Jose Figueroa had 10 points and Jaxon Prunty finished with nine.

Lexington had an early 10-5 lead until Dorman stormed back with a 11-4 run. Terry Leonard led the charge with nine of his game-high 20 points in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer in the final seconds to put the Cavaliers up 16-14.

Leonard accounted for four of Dorman’s seven, 3-pointers.

Dorman would not trail again as it stretched its lead to eight points in the second quarter. Making things even more uphill for Lexington was Scott picking up his second personal foul, both on charging fouls.

After Scott left the game with his third personal foul in the third quarter, the Cavaliers scored five straight points to take their biggest lead at 39-23.

Baskets by Coulter Bell and Prunty helped bring Lexington within eight points again. However, Bell was whistled for a technical foul for knocking Christian Andrews to the floor while following Prunty’s layup.

Andrews, who finished with 11 points, made 1-2 free throws to put Dorman up 40-31. Scott returned to the game and had four straight points in the fourth quarter to bring the Wildcats within six points.

Lexington got no closer than five points the rest of the way. The Cavaliers scored 13 of their 17 fourth-quarter point from the free throw line to close out the victory.  

Dorman will face Goose Creek in the Class 5A final on March 4 at the University of South Carolina-Aiken Convocation Center. 

Lexington finished the season with a 20-7 record.