Unprecedented impact player

Brandon, without a doubt, has singlehandedly created à situation where he changes the focus of offenses and I've never had a player do that.”

Irmo head coach Tim Whipple talking about the defensive impact of center Brandon Crawford.

S.C. High School Basketball Playoff Schedule

Feb. 21 Games

Girls

Fairfield Central at Gray Collegiate 6 p.m.

Boys

(SCISA) – At Hammond School

Our Lady of Rosary vs. W.W. King Academy 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 Games

Girls

Lexington at Mauldin 6:30 p.m.

Boys

Eau Claire at Gray Collegiate Academy 6 p.m.

T.L. Hanna at Lexington 6:30 p.m.

River Bluff at Conway 6:30 p.m.

Tim Whipple has coached numerous All-State basketball players over four-plus  decades at Irmo High School.

Following the 59-34 win over Lucy Beckham to advance to the Class 4A Lower State final for the second straight year, the made this rare declaration about senior center Brandon Crawford. The Class 4A Player of the Year had 15 points, 12 coming off six dunks, six rebounds and another game with seven blocked shots.

"Brandon, without a doubt, has singlehandedly created à situation where he changes the focus of offenses and I've never had a player do that,” Whipple said. “It’s a credit to him, but also, he works hard and I think being sick (he missed two weeks due to mononucleosis) and not being out there, he realize how much his does loves basketball and how much he missed it and that’s driven him a little bit here.”

Crawford and the Yellow Jackets’ defensive prowess helped erase a 8-5 deficit with 3:51 left in the third quarter. From that point on, the Bengals were held scoreless the rest of the first half.

Irmo turned its offense into defense. If not setting up scores in the paint for Crawford, guards Madden Collins and Te’Andre Summons, who each had 12 points, and Jonathan White, who finished with 10, were scoring from outside or driving to the basket.

“I think that put us in a good lead and, from there, we were able to play at our pace and capitalize on the mistakes that they were making,” Crawford said.

“That was phenomenal,” said Whipple about his team’s second quarter defense. “You don’t shut teams out in a quarter, especially a team as good offensively as they are and they are a very good team. They play hard and so many good things. So it’s a credit to our guys being willing to maintain the integrity of our defenses and then play them well.”

Foul trouble for Rowan Irlen further hampered Lucy Beckham in the second half. Irmo increased its lead as many as 33 points before the reserves closed out the final minutes.

Irmo now prepares for its third Lower State final in five years. The Yellow Jackets will go from the friendly confines of the “Temple of Doom” to the Florence Civic Center where Pee Dee Region opponent Hartsville will enjoy sizable fan support.

The Red Foxes defeated defending champion Wilson 56-41.

“Bottom line, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing and it doesn’t matter who’s in the stands,” Whipple said. “It’s what you do when you’re on the court and that’s executing offensively and defensively and in playing with poise and playing with purpose. We’ve certainly have done that to this point, and I hope we’ll continue to do that.”  

“I think we’ll keep our heads cool, lock in and play,” Crawford said.

SCISA Girls

Cambridge Academy 25, W.W. King Academy 17