Irmo Loses in Class 4A Upper State Boys Basketball Final

A Valiant Effort

We just ran out of gas. Plain and simple.”

Irmo boys basketball coach Tim Whipple

S.C. High School League State Finals Schedule

Thursday's Games

Summerville vs. Rock Hill 5 p.m.

Ridge View vs. Fort Dorchester 7 p.m.

Friday's Games

Denmark-Olar vs. Military Magnet noon

Calhoun County vs. Scott's Branch 2 p.m.

Camden vs. W.J. Keenan 5:30 p.m.

Orangeburg-Wilkinson vs. Blue Ridge 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's Games

Christ Church vs. Andrew Jackson noon

Gray Collegiate vs. York Prep 2 p.m.

Westside vs. North Augusta 6 p.m.

A.C. Flora vs. Wilson 7:30 p.m.

University of South Carolina-Aiken Convocation Center
2049 Champion Way
Graniteville, SC 29829
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Irmo's quest for an 11th state title appearance ended Monday at Davis Fieldhouse in Greenville.
The top-ranked Yellow Jackets lost 43-37 to Region 4-4A rival A.C. Flora in the Class 4A Upper State final.
Dylan Williams had 18 points before leaving the game with a knee injury with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He was the only scorer in double figures for the Yellow Jackets, who played their second straight game without second-leading scorer Julian "Juice" Kiett.
The All-State guard's absence remained unexplained by team and school officials. Despite Kiett's absence, Irmo led 35-33 after three quarters before getting outscored 10-2 in the fourth quarter.
"We showed a lot of resolve," Whipple said. "We just ran out of gas. Plain and simple. We ran out of gas in the end. It was very physical game and it's hard. It's hard winning in that situation.
"I told them in there and I've said it before. We're not going to let one game to define our season. This was a heck of a year. A heck of an accomplishment to get to an Upper State championship and I'm extremely proud of them."
It was the third meeting this season between the two schools, with the road team splitting the first two contests.
Williams kept Irmo close. He scored seven straight points to give the Yellow Jackets a brief lead. After three lead changes and a tie, the Falcons opened up a 24-21 halftime lead.
A.C. Flora scored the first four points of the third quarter to take a 28-21 lead. Irmo answered with a 7-0 run, five points coming from senior Devin Binyard to tie the game before C.P. Parker's layup regained the lead for the Falcons.
After a C.P. Parker layup, Williams hit a long three-pointer to put Irmo up 31-30. A putback by Devin Binyard gave the Yellow Jackets their biggest lead at 33-30.
A free throw by Parker and jumper by Collin Murray-Boyles tied the game before Crawford's layup gave Irmo a 35-33 lead at the end of the third quarter.
A layup by Adonis McDaniel and 3-pointer by Wallace regained the lead at 38-35 for A.C. Flora with 4:17 left. After a jumper by Williams with 3:35 remaining the Yellow Jackets did not score again.
A.C. Flora managed to run down the clock and hit free throws down the stretch to maintain their lead and stop the Yellow Jackets' 11-game winning streak.
The Falcons (24-6) will face Wilson (22-5) for the Class 4A title at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the University of South Carolina-Aiken Convocation Center. They are seeking the school's sixth state title and second under Staley, who led Orangeburg-Wilkinson girls to three state championship games.
The Tigers defeated in-town rival West Florence 63-50 and are coached by former University of South Carolina forward Carlos Powell. He is one of four former Gamecock men's and women's players who are head coaches of state finalists. The others are Zam Fredrick (Calhoun County), Larry Davis (York Prep) and Natalie Norris (Camden).
Irmo ends the season with a 25-5 record.