After a winter of cancellations, postponements and delays, the 2020-21 basketball regular season has finally reached the closing stages.

The final week of the regular season finds some region races still up for grabs. 

The next 3 days could see Region 5-5A girls wrapped up, with the title settle as soon as Thursday.

Following a 16-day layoff, Lexington returns to action for a 6 pm contest with White Knoll. Ironically, the Lady Timberwolves were the Lady Wildcats’ last opponent on Jan. 26 when they took a 53-52 overtime win at home.

A victory would clinch a 4th region title in 6 years for Lexington (6-3, 5-2). 

This would also create a 3-way tie for 2nd place with White Knoll (4-3, 4-2), River Bluff (6-6, 4-3) and Dutch Fork (7-4, 4-3). The Lady Silver Foxes close out the season Friday at home versus Chapin, while the Lady Timberwolves travel to The Swamp Saturday to face River Bluff. 

In this scenario, Dutch Fork would earn the 2nd playoff berth out of the region based on head-to-head advantage over the Lady Gators. 

A win by White Knoll (4-3, 4-2) could complicate matters in the region. The Lady Timberwolves could claim the region title with victories over Lexington and River Bluff. 

Lexington would then earn the 2nd place playoff berth based on head-to-head with Dutch Fork. 

Should White Knoll beat Lexington and lose to River Bluff and Dutch Fork defeats Chapin, the possibility exists of a 4-way tie for 1st place. 

Things are less complicated the boys’ side in Region 5-5A. Dutch Fork (8-1, 5-1) can clinch the region title with a win Monday at White Knoll or Wednesday at home against Chapin.

The Timberwolves (6-5, 3-3) need a win Saturday at Chapin and against Dutch Fork to tie River Bluff for 2nd place in the region. There is also the possibility of a 3-way tie for 1st place if Dutch Fork loses its final 2 games and White Knoll wins its last 2 games. 

Meanwhile, Brookland-Cayce will open play in its Region 5-3A tournament at home Monday after a 1st round bye. A win sends the Bearcats into Wednesday’s final at a site to be determined for the region title.

Neutral sites for 

state semifinals

For years, the Upper and Lower State basketball finals were played on a neutral court before moving to a centralized location in Greenville and Florence.

The SC High School League Executive Committee agreed to go back to neutral sites as it continues to search for a venue for the state finals set for March 4-6. 

The committee did vote in favor of extending the date of the finals. Colonial Life Arena, which has served as the state finals’ site, is unavailable this year.

In other SCHSL business, the committee voted 15-0 to hold open season for fall sports in the spring as usual. Competitive cheer can start practice April 26 and football, volleyball, swimming and tennis on May 1.

Football can hold 20 practice daties during the spring, something denied to it last year after the spring season was cancelled due to covid-19.