Single-game varsity basketball contests have become the norm in 2021. 
Friday saw River Bluff travel to White Knoll for a Region 5-4A boys' basketball contest. Meanwhile, the Lady Gators had to reschedule its game with the Lady Timberwolves and instead played host to Westwood in The Swamp.
It was a split outcome for River Bluff. The Lady Gators fell 63-25 to the Lady Redhawks behind 23 points and 11 rebounds by Malayziah Etheredge and 13 points each from Makiah Thompson and Korletta Daniels, who had 11 steals. 
Meanwhile, the River Bluff boys defeated the host team Timberwolves 43-34 led by Myles Jenkins with 16 points and Malachi Reeves with 14. 
It was the 1st game in 31 days for the Gators (7-2, 2-1), who've had as many as 7 contests either rescheduled or cancelled due to covid-19. Needless to say, boys' head coach Benjamin Lee has taken a superstitious approach towards upcoming games.
"I wouldn't let anybody all day talk about tonight's game just in case something happened," Lee said. "Monday, we got done with practice and felt really good about going into the game on Tuesday against Chapin. We got a call right after practice. That wasn't going to work (the game was rescheduled to Jan. 22). So, we don't talk about it until we show up and know what's going to actually happen."
Having played this past Tuesday, the less rusty Timberwolves took a 9-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. Jenkins rallied the Gators with 8 points in the 2nd quarter as they outscored White Knoll 16-6 to take a 23-15 halftime lead.
River Bluff stretched its lead to as many as 12 points before White Knoll rallied in the 4th quarter. Devin Stone scored 5 straight points to bring the Timberwolves to 35-32 with 2:49 left. Jaylen Ray had 14 for White Knoll (3-4, 0-2). 
Reeves scored 5 of River Bluff's last 9 points to help put the game out of reach. 
The 2 teams are scheduled to meet again Tuesday in The Swamp. The Gators look to keep pace with undefeated region leader Dutch Fork heading into their Jan. 22 clash in Irmo.
In the meantime, Lee will look to use practice to keep his team sharp.
"We try to up the ante in practice a little bit knowing that, listen, at any moment, this can be taken away, so we better make what we're doing worth it," he said.

Swansea 51, Fox Creek 30 

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Irmo 53, Dreher 46
For the 2nd time this season, the 5th ranked Lady Yellow Jackets defeated the 7th ranked Lady Blue Devils.
After struggling with foul trouble in the 1st meeting, Maliyiah Mason posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. 8th grader Michaela Fairwell also followed her strong effort in Columbia with 12 points and 4 steals.
Irmo (9-0, 4-0) plays host to AC Flora Tuesday. 

Gray Collegiate 50, Columbia 38 
The boys' game did not take place Friday at Allen University due to a covid-19 positive test for Columbia. 
The 2 schools are scheduled to meet again Tuesday.