HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Five Chronicle Country teams and three All-State players were among those recognized by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association preseason Top 10 and top seniors’ list. Defending Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate was the top choice in its classification. Point guard Tommy Bruner was also chosen to the association’s Elite Top 10 boys. Bruner stepped up last season during the post-season following the loss of point guard Khalil Robinson due to injury. With the departure of 2-time SCBCA Class 2A Player of the Year Juwan Gray, he’s expected to further carry the team load. The War Eagles will open play in the Turkey Shootout on Monday and are scheduled to compete in the Bojangles Bash on Dec. 7th and 8th. The girls’ poll saw Batesburg-Leesville selected 5th after back-to-back region titles. In Class 3A, Swansea was ranked 3rd after reaching the Lower State final. Senior guard and newest Clemson University commitment Danae McNeal made the Elite Top 10 girls. The USA Today South Carolina, SCBCA Class 3A and Chronicle Country Player of the Year, McNeal averaged 24.2 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3 steals per game in leading the Lady Tigers to the Region 5-3A title and Lower State final. “Everybody has to work hard and play together,” said Mc-Neal after reaching the state title. River Bluff and Irmo were ranked 9th and 10th, respectively, in the preseason Class 5A boys’ rankings. The Gators posted a school-best 17 wins last season, while the Yellow Jackets played for their second state title in three years. Lexington and University of South Carolina commitment Olivia Thompson was selected as a Top Five senior in Class 5A girls. Thompson is on pace to become the school’s all-time leading scorer, male or female, and is “very excited” to play near her hometown. On Saturday, Thompson scored 21 points in a 56-46 win over Airport in the A.C. Flora Tipoff.

SCBCA PRESEASON TOP 10 POLLS

(BOYS) CLASS 5A

1. Dorman, 2. Nation Ford, 3. Blythewood, 4. Sumter, 5. Westside, 6. Berkeley, 7. Riverside, 8. Rock Hill, 9. River Bluff, 10. Irmo

CLASS 2A

1. Gray Collegiate, 2. Carvers Bay, 3. Christ Church, 4. Greenville Tech, 5. Lee Central, 6. Silver Bluff, 7. Oceanside Collegiate, 8. Lewisville, 9. North Charleston, 10. Calhoun County

(GIRLS) CLASS 3A

1. Newberry, 2. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 3. Swansea, 4. Seneca, 5. Bishop England, 6. Pendleton, 7. Dillon, 8. Emerald, 9. Battery Creek, 10. Strom Thurmond

CLASS 2A

1. Mullins, 2. Christ Church, 3. Woodland, 4. Landrum,

5. Batesburg-Leesville, 6. Burke, 7. Saluda, 8. Lee Central,

9. Andrew Jackson, 10. Barnwell