An exciting week of basketball has passed as Lexington County teams continue to fight for wins and better positioning in the standings. 

It was a critical slate of games for many teams as region play continued, and a holiday weekend invited more friendly competition between non-conference teams. 

Pelion began last week as the only undefeated team left in the county. The Panthers started the year (13-0), but picked up two losses against Ninety Six and Saluda to start conference play.

The team can bounce back this week with a pair of tough region games against Strom Thurmond and Batesburg-Leesville. 

Batesburg-Leesville, the reigning region champions, have hovered around 0.500 all year and began this week (1-1) in region games. The Panthers earned a win over Ninety Six and suffered a close loss to Strom Thurmond. 

The team also played a non-conference game against Hunter-Kinard-Tyler over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. 

Batesburg-Leesville was not the only team on the floor during MLK weekend. Gray Collegiate, Irmo and Lexington were also in action, participating in the annual MLK Bash. 

It was the first year the MLK Bash was held at C.A. Johnson High School. Lexington County went (1-2) in their games, with only Gray Collegiate winning. 

The War Eagles were matched up with longtime 2A rival Keenan. Gray and Keenan used to be in the same 2A region and played each other in the 2024 2A title game. 

Gray won the game 80-64 behind a balanced offensive explosion. Luis Echieverra led the team with 20 points. 

The War Eagles began this week (14-2) in the first year of Dion Bethea’s return. 

Gray continues to be in the region driver’s seat with a (6-0) record and games against Gilbert and Midland Valley this week. 

Brookland-Cayce is not far behind Gray with a (13-4) overall record and (4-2) in region. Only North Augusta sits between the two cross-county rivals. 

Airport and Gilbert are still at the bottom of the conference with a (1-11) combined region record. Airport has the only win after beating Gilbert in their game last week, 61-59.   

In the local 5A region, Dutch Fork is starting to make separation after picking up big wins over White Knoll and Lexington. 

The Silver Foxes began this week (16-2) on the year with a perfect region record. 

Chapin is one slot behind Dutch Fork at (2-1) in the region. The Eagles earned a hard-fought win over Lexington last week after outscoring the Wildcats by 11 in overtime. The team also beat River Bluff. 

The Eagles have games against Irmo and White Knoll this week, and a pair of wins would greatly help them stay on pace with the Silver Foxes. 

Under Chapin, all four other local teams are tied with a (1-2) region record. Lexington, Irmo, River Bluff and White Knoll will be fighting for positioning down the stretch. 

They will all have to play each other, which should lead to some exciting basketball late in the season. 

Upcoming games to watch

White Knoll vs. Chapin - Jan. 23

Pelion vs. Batesburg-Leesville - Jan. 23

Northside Christian at Augusta Christian - Jan. 27

Gray Collegiate at North Augusta - Jan. 27

Brookland-Cayce at Midland Valley - Jan. 27

Last week’s top performances 

Luis Echieverra scored 20 points during Gray Collegiate’s win over Keenan at the MLK Bash.

Braxton Redding finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and five blocks as American Leadership defeated Saluda. 

Alex Kirylo had 19 points and nine rebounds in River Bluff’s win against Irmo. 

Samajae Govan recorded 22 points, five assists and six steals during Dutch Fork’s win against White Knoll. 

Last week’s scores

Chapin - Lexington (72-61, OT W), River Bluff (73-61, W)

Dutch Fork - White Knoll (70-55, W), Lexington (82-24, W)

Irmo - River Bluff (61-59, L), White Knoll (48-46, W), C.A. Johnson (72-49, L)

Lexington - Chapin (72-61, OT L), Dutch Fork (82-24, L), Sumter (60-40, L)

River Bluff - Irmo (61-59, W), Chapin (73-61, L)

White Knoll - Dutch Fork (70-55, L), Irmo (48-46, L)

Airport - North Augusta (74-21, L), Richland Northeast (41-32, L), Gilbert (61-59, W)

Brookland-Cayce - Gilbert (62-14, W), North Augusta (68-39, L)

Gilbert - Brookland-Cayce (62-14, L), Airport (61-59, L)

Gray Collegiate - South Aiken (102-47, W), Aiken (90-50, W), Keenan (80-64, W)

Swansea - Keenan (91-18, L), Barnwell (61-55, L)

American Leadership - Saluda (58-49, W), Strom Thurmond (49-42, L)

Batesburg-Leesville - Strom Thurmond (62-53, L), Ninety Six (72-68, W), Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (74-63, L)

Pelion - Ninety Six (56-51, L), Saluda (58-46, L)

Northside Christian - Ben Lippen (82-66, L), Cardinal Newman (62-58, W)