Region play is in full effect with the standings starting to shape up just before the beginning of the end of the season. 

With about three weeks of games left, teams around Lexington County are trying to stack wins, so they can finish near the top of the region and qualify for the state tournament. 

It was a great week for both Lexington teams, who went a combined 5-0 last week. The two teams handled White Knoll and Aiken during the week, before the boys’ team traveled to Charlotte for a weekend match against Hopewell. 

For the boys, the win against White Knoll moved the team into sole possession of first place in the region. Cam Scott scored a season-high 43 points in the win. 

The Wildcats’ offense exploded against Aiken, scoring over 100 points for the second time this season. The team scored early and often, never looking back on their way to a 61-point win. 

Scott had a monstrous week for Lexington. After his 43-point performance against White Knoll, he dropped 30 against Aiken and 29 on the road against Hopewell. 

The victory over White Knoll was crucial for the girls team. The win moved Lexington to 3-0 in region competition and tied for first place with Dutch Fork. 

The Silver Foxes picked up two wins against region rivals to improve to 3-0 in the region. The team beat Chapin by 11 before demolishing River Bluff by 47.

The two teams will meet this week for the first of two meetings this year. This match will determine who takes sole possession of the region lead, but the next game could decide the winner, as it is both teams’ final game of the regular season. 

The Brookland-Cayce boys team kept its regional crown hopes alive by picking up a pair of wins against Gilbert and Swansea. The Bearcats are 2-1 in region competition with its only loss coming to first place Lower Richland.

Against Gilbert, Brookland-Cayce took the court and dominated. The team jumped out to a 17-2 first-quarter lead and started the second on a 12-0 run. 

Gilbert eventually found the bottom of the basket and had 11 points at the midway point. But Brookland-Cayce kept rolling in the second half and won the game 60-38. 

Brookland-Cayce had a similar game against Swansea. The defense played lights out and held Swansea to 21 points, while the Bearcat offense scored 67. 

The Bearcats have three games this week and will have an opportunity to improve their region record. 

Another notable game this week was between the Pelion and Batesburg-Leesville girls teams. 

Batesburg-Leesville entered the week 0-12, having lost all but one game by double-figures. Pelion has also struggled this season but entered the contest with a 4-9 record. 

In a low-scoring defensive battle, Batesburg-Leesville captured its first win of the season and snapped its 13-game losing streak. The two teams are set for a rematch on Feb. 6 at Pelion. 

Five big performances 

1. Cam Scott had three massive performances for Lexington this week, scoring 43 points against White Knoll, 30 against Aiken and 29 against Hopewell. 

2. Reagan Haggard led Chapin to a win over White Knoll after recording 24 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks.

3. Ahleira Leaphart dropped 21 points and added five rebounds and three steals to lead Gilbert to a 42-point win over Brookland-Cayce.

4. A.J. Edwards scored 21 points for Brookland-Cayce in the team’s win over Gilbert.

5. Cade McNeil finished with a double-double after securing 19 points and 12 rebounds in Northside Christian’s win over Gilbert. 

Full area scores and schedule

Chapin: Boys (5-12), Girls (9-7) 

Boys last week - Dutch Fork (58-45, W), White Knoll (64-40, L)

Girls last week -  Dutch Fork (48-37, L), White Knoll (53-31, W)

This week - vs. River Bluff (1/23), vs. Lexington (1/26)

Dutch Fork: Boys (8-12), Girls (17-3) 

Boys last week - Chapin (58-45, L), River Bluff (57-46, L)

Girls last week - Chapin (48-37, W), River Bluff (78-31, W)

This week - vs. Lexington (1/23) 

Lexington: Boys (18-2), Girls (9-7)

Boys last week - White Knoll (95-53, W), Aiken (105-44, W), Hopewell (83-79, W)

Girls last week - White Knoll (51-40, W), Aiken (56-47, W)

This week - at Dutch Fork (1/23), at Chapin (1/26)

River Bluff: Boys (12-7), Girls (6-12)

Boys last week - Dutch Fork (57-46, W)

Girls last week - Dutch Fork (78-31, L)

This week - at Chapin (1/23), at White Knoll (1/26)

White Knoll: Boys (11-11), Girls (5-17)

Boys last week - Lexington (95-53, L), Chapin (64-40, W)

Girls last week - Lexington (51-40, L), Chapin (53-31, L)

This week - vs. River Bluff (1/26)

Airport: Boys (7-13), Girls (13-7)

Boys last week - Midland Valley (61-47, L), North Augusta (64-45, L)

Girls last week - Midland Valley (65-52, W), North Augusta (49-16, L)

This week - vs Aiken (1/23), at Midland Valley (1/26)

Irmo: Boys (3-16), Girls (7-8)

Boys last week - Crestwood (56-41, L), A.C. Flora (71-55, L), Westwood (50-39, L)

Girls last week - A.C. Flora (55-30, L), Westwood (34-25, L)

This week - at Lugoff-Elgin (1/23), at Richland Northeast (1/26)

Brookland-Cayce: Boys (10-7), Girls (3-10)

Boys last week - Gilbert (60-38, W), Swansea (67-21, W)

Girls last week - Gilbert (65-23, L), at Swansea (36-22, L)

This week - vs. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1/23), at Dreher (1/25), at Lower Richland (1/26)

Gilbert: Boys (6-11), Girls (12-6)

Boys last week - Brookland-Cayce (60-38, L), Dreher (59-30, W)

Girls last week - Brookland-Cayce (65-23, W), Dreher (59-30, W)

This week - vs Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1/22), at Swansea (1/24), at Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1/26)

Swansea: Boys (0-17), Girls (5-9)

Boys last week - Orangeburg-Wilkinson (81-35, L), Lower Richland (65-24, L), Brookland-Cayce (67-31, L)

Girls last week - Orangeburg-Wilkinson (43-31, L), Lower Richland (50-14, L), Brookland-Cayce (36-22, W)

This week - vs Gilbert

Batesburg-Leesville: Boys (8-6), Girls (1-13)

Boys last week - Fox Creek (56-38, L), Pelion (52-42, W)

Girls last week - Fox Creek (41-15, L), Pelion (23-17, W)

This week - at Silver Bluff (1/22), at Horse Creek Academy (1/24), at Strom Thurmond (1/26)

Pelion: Boys (5-10), Girls (4-10)

Boys last week - Strom Thurmond (61-45, L),  Batesburg-Leesville (52-42, L)

Girls last week - Strom Thurmond (55-19, L),  Batesburg-Leesville (23-17, L)

This week - at Silver Bluff (1/23)

Gray Collegiate: Boys (18-5), Girls (11-7)

Boys last week - Keenan (forfeit W), Keenan (forfeit W) 

Girls last week - Keenan (forfeit W), Keenan (forfeit W) 

This week - vs. Legion Collegiate (1/23), vs Hebron Christian (boys, 1/27)

(Editor’s note: All of Gray’s region games are likely to be forfeit wins)

Northside Christian Academy: Boys (11-4), Girls (10-5)

Boys last week - Orangeburg Prep (69-61, W), Greenwood Christian (60-58, W)

Girls last week - Orangeburg Prep (49-28, L), Greenwood Christian (39-21, W)

This week - vs. Palmetto Christian (1/23), at Thomas Sumter Academy (1/26)