The lacrosse playoffs are here as 11 Lexington County teams look to make a run to the state championship game following an extensive regular season. 

The first round of games is slated for Tuesday and Wednesday. A handful of teams hosted their first-round match after earning a higher seed based on regular-season performance.  

There were also two intra-county showdowns in the first round. The River Bluff boys faced the Dutch Fork boys on Tuesday, and Chapn’s girls hosted the White Knolls girls that same day. 

While these teams are familiar with each other, playing in the postseason is a whole new ballgame. The teams have had time to reflect on those previous meetings and adjust their strategy before the faceoff. 

Lexington’s boys, White Knoll’s boys, Gilbert’s boys and Dutch Fork's girls will also take the field in the first round, but against out-of-county competition. The Wildcats will host Carolina Forest, the Silver Foxes travel to Wando, the Timberwolves head to Socastee and the Indians travel to Hilton Head.

In Tuesday night's games, River Bluff's boys defeated Dutch Fork 19-5,  Lexington's boys knocked off Carolina Forest 14-1 and Chapin beat White Knoll 24-3. 

All other first-round games will be played Wednesday night. 

The second round of games will be played at the end of the week, a few days after the first, on April 25 and 26. 

Three local teams earned a first-round bye and already secured their spot and home-field advantage for the second. 

Lexington and River Bluff's girls earned byes after finishing near the top of the division standings. The Wildcats won the conference for the first time in program history after dethroning the reigning state champions from Chapin. River Bluff finished third behind Lexington and Chapin, but since 5A splits its postseason into two different brackets, the Gators earned a bye. 

Chapin was the only area boys team to earn a bye after winning the region title. 

The Lexington girls and Chapin boys could see a Lexington County team in the second round, depending on how the first round plays out. The Wildcats will begin their postseason journey against the winner of Dutch Fork and Wando, and the Eagles play the winner of Socastee and White Knoll. 

Many of the area’s teams will begin their playoff runs well-rested after taking some time off last week for spring break. Five teams played no games last week, and nobody played more than two. 

This extra preparation time could be very beneficial to the teams that begin the playoffs on a losing streak. Only four of the 11 teams to qualify for the playoffs finished the year on a win streak. 

Lexington’s girls have been one of the best all-around teams in the area, ending the season with seven straight wins and a 13-1 overall record. 

River Bluff’s boys ended the season with three straight wins, which was good enough for them to jump Lexington and take second place in the region standings. 

White Knoll and Dutch Fork’s boys teams ended the year with a win, but have had an up-and-down year all around.

The third round of games will be played early next week on April 28 and 29. The championship contests will be on May 2 and 3 at Irmo High School. 

First week playoff schedule

5A Division I boys

Lexington: 14,  Carolina Forest: 1 - round one

River Bluff: 19, Dutch Fork: 5 - round one

Lexington at Wando - round two - April 25

River Bluff at James Island - round two - April 25

5A Division I girls

Dutch Fork at Wando - round one - April 23

Lexington vs. Dutch Fork/Wando - round two - April 26

River Bluff vs. Carolina Forest/Blythewood - round two - April 26

5A Division II boys

White Knoll at Socastee - round one - April 23

Chapin vs. Socastee/White Knoll - round two - April 26

5A Division II girls

 Chapin: 24, White Knoll: 3  - round one

Chapin at  Lucy Beckham - round two - April 25

4A boys

Gilbert at Hilton Head - round one - April 23

4A boys second round - April 26

Last week’s big performances

Izzy Saville scored four times and added an assist in Lexington’s win over Riverside. 

Justice Skeen saved 14 of 17 shots faced as River Bluff defeated Byrnes 12-3. 

Eric Brightbill had three goals and an assist in River Bluff’s win over Byrnes. 

Eddie Wright scored a team-high five goals as the Chapin boys team narrowly lost to Wando 13-12. 

Brooke Holmes finished with six goals for the Chapin girls in a solid effort as the team lost to Wando.

Last week’s scoreboard 

Chapin boys - Clover (13-12, L)

Chapin girls - Wando (18-11, L), Spartanburg (14-3, L)

Lexington boys - Wando (18-2, L)

Lexington girls -  Riverside (15-4, W), Evans (23-4, W)

River Bluff boys - Byrnes (12-3, W)

White Knoll girls - Spring Valley (7-1, W), River Bluff (19-3, L)

Irmo girls - River Bluff (22-3, L), Chapin (21-1, L)