The balls have stopped bouncing momentarily for many girls basketball teams in Lexington County as the holiday season arrives. 

A few teams will play in various tournaments and friendly matchups, but for most of the area’s teams, the holidays are a well-earned break after a grueling out-of-region slate. 

When teams take the court again in the new year, all the focus will be on those crucial conference games that will determine playoff seeding. 

Last week was solid for the local teams. Many of the top teams from early this season continued their successful play and added wins to their record. 

Lexington remains as the only undefeated team left in the county, beginning this week (10-0). Close behind are teams like Dutch Fork and Irmo, who have had great starts but slipped once or twice. 

Entering the week, the Wildcats concluded their play in the She’s Got Next Christmas Classic. The annual tournament is hosted by Lexington and features some of the state’s top girls basketball programs. 

The Wildcats earned a one-point win versus Richland Northeast in their first game of the tournament and played Mauldin in their bracket’s championship game. 

Dutch Fork also participated in the Christmas Classic, winning its first game over Hammond before playing North Augusta for their bracket championship. 

The Silver Foxes, Chapin and Gilbert also sent their JV squads to play and get some experience. Chapin beat Gilbert and Dutch Fork beat Hammond to set up an all-county bracket championship. 

For the rest of this week, there is not much action. Most teams will enjoy the time to rest and spend time away from the court. 

A few, including Lexigton, will pick back up right away and fit in a few more non-region games before the new year. 

Once 2025 becomes 2026, everyone will be back in action and playing for their playoff lives. 

Upcoming games to watch

Lexington vs. Berkeley - Dec. 27

Northside Christian vs. Loveland - Dec. 29

Lexington vs. Oceanside- Dec. 30

Chapin vs. St. Joseph’s - Dec. 30

Last week’s top performances

Chaelyn Tifre scored 24 points and added nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in River Bluff’s win versus Lugoff-Elgin. 

Kaleigh Howell scored 18 points as Northside Christian beat the Providence Athletic Club. 

JaIona Williams-Toatley had seven points and 13 steals on the defensive end in Irmo’s win against Spring Valley.

Kiley Freeman finished with 19 points for Gray Collegiate in a victory versus Socastee. 

Last week’s scores 

Chapin - Blythewood (60-16, L), Myrtle Beach (55-29, W), Lake City (52-36, W)

Irmo - Lower Richland (46-45, L), Spring Valley (58-31, W), T.L. Hana (54-41, W)

Lexington - Catawba Ridge (59-13, W), Spring Valley (62-18, W), Richland Northeast (37-36, W)

River Bluff - Lugoff-Elgin (65-59, W), A.C. Flora (53-50, L)

White Knoll - Laurent, (37-34, L) Brookland-Cayce (48-30, W)

Airport - South Aiken (34-30, L), C3 Concord (59-16, L)

Brookland-Cayce - Midland Valley (61-38, L), Fort Dorchester (53-26, L), White Knoll (48-30, L)

Gilbert - Aiken (31-28, L), North (66-51, L), Bethune-Bowman (52-40, W), Great Falls (42-41, L)

Gray Collegiate - North Augusta (51-37, L), Socastee (63-53, W), Fort Dorchester (57-28, W)

Swansea - Columbia (37-33, L), Blackville-Hilda (40-35, W)

American Leadership - Ben Lippen (40-9, W), Cardinal Newman (30-21, W), Silver Bluff (29-9, W)

Batesburg-Leesville - Silver Bluff (41-37)

Pelion - Kings Academy (51-34, W), Whitmire 40-31, W)

Northside Christian - Providence Athletic Club (57-18, W), Laurence Manning (51-40, L), Westminster School (57-35, L)