Courts are packed as the girls basketball season gets going in Lexington County. 

Teams have been playing for about two weeks now, giving a first look at what to expect during the 2025-26 season. It should be a fun year of hoops with many notable players and teams to watch. 

Three teams began this week undefeated through multiple games, and they all come from the same region. 

The race for the 5A Region 4 title will be competitive with teams like Lexington, Dutch Fork and Irmo competing against each other. Even the teams that aren’t undefeated are still loaded with talent and can compete. Chapin and River Bluff are off to promising starts, and White Knoll is coming off a third-place finish last season. 

Lexington, Dutch Fork and Irmo are off to a combined (16-0) start, entering this week. Of those 16 games, only one was decided by less than double figures, with Irmo beating Wilson by eight. Other than that, every other game has been a blowout. 

River Bluff and Chapin have also looked good, but taken some bumps and bruises along the way. The pair will look to get into form before jumping into region play against the three currently unbeaten teams. 

White Knoll is the only team really struggling early, coming into this week (1-4). 

When the region season rolls around, many eyes will be on Dutch Fork and Lexington. The pair have competed against each other for the region championship for multiple seasons now. 

The Silver Foxes have won the last two. Lexington ruled for a few years before that. Neither team can afford to get distracted because the entire region has gained good ground, and anyone can make a run. 

Outside of the area’s signature region, many other teams are starting the year off right. 

Gilbert, Gray Collegiate and Northside Christian are a few games above 0.500 and playing well. 

For Gilbert and Gray, these early games are crucial in getting prepared for region play, which starts this month.

While most teams wait until January, the eight teams in the 4A Region 4 conference start early to make sure they can play all their matches. This means Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Gilbert and Gray all have less time to play non-region games and work through their early mistakes. 

For all the other teams in Lexington County, there are still many games to be played before conference season. That gives them more opportunities to figure out rotations, more chances to establish an identity and more time to get better. 

Last week’s big performances 

Abby Livingston had a triple-double in Irmo’s win over Lancaster, recording 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals. 

Ella Townsend finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks as Northside Christian blew out Spartanburg Day. 

Chaelyn Tifre had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in River Bluff’s win over Brookland-Cayce. 

Trinity Crumlin had 18 points and 21 rebounds for Dutch Fork in a win versus A.C. Flora. 

Blythe Price scored 22  points and added four rebounds, seven assists and nine steals to help Gilbert beat Horse Creek Academy. 

Aneya Britt recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds and three steals for Gray Collegiate against Legacy Early College.

Upcoming games to watch

Gilbert at North Augusta - Dec. 12

River Bluff at A.C. Flora - Dec. 12

Northside Christian vs. Wilson Hall - Dec. 13

Irmo at Lower Richland - Dec. 16

Lexington at Catawba Ridge - Dec. 16

Gray Collegiate vs. North Augusta - Dec. 16

Team records after the early season 

Chapin - (2-2)

Dutch Fork - (5-0)

Irmo - (5-0)

Lexington - (6-0)

River Bluff - (4-3)

White Knoll - (1-4)

Airport - (1-2)

Brookland-Cayce - (2-4)

Gilbert - (3-1)

Gray Collegiate - (3-2)

Swansea - (1-1)

American Leadership - (1-0)

Batesburg-Leesville - (1-3)

Pelion - (1-2)

Northside Christian - (4-1)