The girls basketball season is entering its final stretch with just two weeks of regular season left before the playoffs start. 

As the season comes to a close, many local teams are still in contention for a region title. The next few games will determine who comes out on top. 

Entering this week, there was a three-way tie for first place in the 5A Region 4 conference. Lexington, White Knoll and Dutch Fork  were all 5-1 and set to play each other one more time this season. 

All three teams were 1-1 against each other. All of the games have been close. Lexington holds a win over Dutch Fork. Dutch Fork beat White Knoll. And White Knoll beat Lexington.

Dutch Fork and White Knoll played Tuesday.  The Silver Foxes won that game, completing the season sweep of the timberwolves. 

Dutch Fork and Lexington play on Friday. Lexington and White Knoll will play again on Feb. 11. 

Chapin, Irmo and River Bluff were all under .500 in the region. Chapin leads the group, starting this week with a 2-4 region record, followed by Irmo at 1-5 and River Bluff at 0-6. 

While not in contention for the region title, these teams can still fight each other for better positioning and a better spot in the playoffs. 

Northside Christian’s girls basketball team was in a position to win its region and be a high seed in the SCISA playoffs. The Crusaders entered this week unbeaten at 20-0 but dropped its first game Monday against undefeated Heathwood Hall. 

Heathwood Hall and Northside played a second game on back-to-back days.  Heathwood Hall won that game as well, clinching the region title. 

Elsewhere around the county, Gray Collegiate is second in its region, sitting two games behind North Augusta. Gray can come back and win the conference, but North Augusta would have to lose at least three of its last four games. 

Airport begins this week sneaking into the top half of the standings at No. 4 and a game above No. 5 South Aiken. The Eagles beat South Aiken and Midland Valley last week to improve its spot. 

The Eagles have a few games left and have a path to improve their spot even more before the playoffs. The team played Gray Collegiate on Tuesday after the Chronicle’s press deadline. Airport still has North Augusta on the schedule and games against Gilbert and Brookland-Cayce. 

Gilbert and Brookland-Cayce have struggled in conference play, sitting in the bottom three. The Indians were 2-7 and the Bearcats have yet to win a game, going 0-10. 

American Leadership, Pelion and Batesburg-Leesville have also struggled and make up the bottom three teams in their conference. The three began the week a combined 2-12 with Batesburg-Leesville going winless. These teams can still improve with games against each other to end the season. 

Big Performances 

Michaela Fairwell had 33 points, nine rebounds and three steals in Dutch Fork’s win over Chapin. 

Izzy Saville scored 25 points and had seven rebounds as Lexington defeated Irmo. 

Emory Waters-Inman had a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds in a White Knoll win over River Bluff. 

Kadence Walker-Lee had 20 points and 14 rebounds in Gray Collegiate’s win against Brookland-Cayce. 

Evie Godfrey scored 21 points as Northside Christian won its 19th consecutive game this season.

Upcoming Games to Watch 

Dutch Fork vs. Lexington - Feb. 7 

Pelion at Strom Thurmond - Feb. 7

Gray Collegiate at Aiken - Feb. 10

Lexington vs. White Knoll - Feb. 11

Last Week’s Scores

Chapin- Irmo (54-45, W), Dutch fork (60-34, L)

Dutch Fork- River Bluff (55-28, W), Chapin (60-34, W)

Irmo- Chapin (54-45, L), Lexington (68-39, L)

Lexington- Irmo (68-39, W)

River Bluff- Dutch Fork (55-28, L), White Knoll (59-22, L), South Pointe (70-19, L)

White Knoll- River Bluff (59-22, W)

Airport- South Aiken (34-24, W), Midland Valley (43-26, W)

Brookland-Cayce- Midland Valley (39-36, L), Gray Collegiate (68-26, L)

Gilbert- Aiken (50-39, L), South Aiken (53-38, L)

Gray Collegiate- North Augusta (42-24, L), Brookland-Cayce (68-26, W)

Swansea - Newberry (47-32, L), Keenan (60-15, L)

American Leadership- Pelion (45-29, W), Saluda (35-33, L)

Batesburg-Leesville- Saluda (68-34, L), Strom Thurmond (48-36, L)

Pelion- American Leadership (45-29, L), Strom Thurmond (37-31, L) Ninety Six (52-31, L)

Northside Christian- Cardinal Newman (65-28, W), Ben Lippen (47-36, W)