The Region 5-4A boys basketball title was claimed in dominant fashion by Irmo High School.

The sixth-ranked Yellow Jackets routed host team Lugoff-Elgin 80-49 to clinch the top seed. They will have homecourt advantage through the first three rounds of the Class 4A playoffs which begins for them Feb. 15 against an at-large opponent.

Unlike the first meeting won by the Demons 56-50 on Jan. 24 in Irmo, senior Brandon Crawford was available for the Yellow Jackets. He wasted little time making an impact with nine of his 10 blocks in the first half and he finished with six points.

“His influence on the defensive floor actually makes us a good halfcourt defensive team,” Irmo head coach Tim Whipple said.

Irmo jumped out to a 12-2 lead, only for Lugoff-Elgin to score nine unanswered points. The Demons’ momentum stopped after they were whistled for a fragrant foul on Crawford.

He made 1-2 free throws, but it kicked off a 17-4 run to end the first half for the Yellow Jackets. Te’Andre Summons put a punctuation mark to the rally with a long-distance 3-pointer from the right key as time expired to put Irmo ahead 29-15.

Summons led Irmo with a game-high 21 points, followed by Madden Collins with 19.

The second half opened with an alley-oop slam dunk by Crawford to kick off an 11-4 run to open the second half. Irmo also found its 3-point range with four in the third quarter, two by Jonathan White who finished with 10 points.  

Irmo (21-5, 7-3) stretched its lead as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter. Even with Ridge View’s win with A.C. Flora clinching the region title outright, the Yellow Jackets held the tiebreaker after sweeping both the Falcons and Blazers.

Given the competitive nature of both the region and non-region schedule, Whipple believes he has a battle-tested team after 26 games.

“We’ve played some really good competition non-conference this year,” Whipple said. “We went to Charlotte and played a couple of games against two really, really good teams and we had the opportunity in region to go to war every single night. (Tonight’s win) didn’t happen many games in region.

“Yeah, I would think we are battle-tested. But once you get to the playoffs, I don’t know that it matters. It just matters whether you’re ready to play to the best of your ability and that’s what I’m hoping for.”

Palmetto Christian Academy 79, Northside Christian 58

The Crusaders saw their 6-game winning streak halted as they looked to clinch the SCISAA Region 4-3A title.

Dane Sundell scored 18 points and Sullie Crider had 11 in the loss.

Northside Christian is now tied with Orangeburg Prep for first place and the two teams meet Feb. 13 in Lexington for the title.

Girls Basketball

Chapin 37, White Knoll 23

The Lady Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak to claim the final playoff berth out of Region 4-5A.

It was a one-game playoff which took place at River Bluff High School.

They will open the Class 5A Upper State playoffs Feb. 16 at Mauldin.

Irmo 52, Lugoff-Elgin 27

Abby Livington scored 19 points, Andrea Collins had 13 and Claire Howard finished with 10 for the Yellow Jackets, who placed fourth in their region.

They will open the Class 4A Lower State playoffs at Wilson.