The early season schedule for defending Class 2A boys’ basketball champion Gray Collegiate has seen it run the gauntlet facing formidable out-of-state opponents.

Undefeated Combine Academy out of Lincolnton, N.C. was the latest team to face the War Eagles. The Dec. 15 matchup kicked off The Bash at Ridge View High School and saw a late rally by Gray Collegiate come up short to the Goats 54-52.

Montraivis White scored 14 points, including the last seven points for the War Eagles to bring them within two points. After getting the ball back with 9.7 seconds left, Gray Collegiate missed on two attempts to either take the lead or tie the game.

“Like I told them in the huddle, man ‘let’s go ahead and win it’,” War Eagles’ head coach Dion Bethea said. “We put it in the hands of the best player on the floor You know, we put it in the best player of the floor’s hands. He just missed a shot. So, you know, it goes like that, but it's something that we’re going to take with us down the road.”

Gray Collegiate (6-3) had a 21-13 lead before the Goats (16-0) ended the second quarter with a 16-2 run. Silas Demery scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half.

“That second quarter hurt us,” he said. “We only scored like 10 points. But the thing is they didn’t lay down. They kept fighting and I’m super proud of them.”

Ellis Graham rebounded with a quiet first half with 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half. He also had 11 rebounds as Combine Academy stretched its lead to nine points.

Down 52-45, White connected on two straight jumpers and followed two free throws by Demery with a three-pointer with 29 seconds left It was the final points of the game.

“Just getting more chemistry,” said Bethea about the benefits of such high-profile games. “You know, I've seen a lot of growth, you know, Avantae Parker didn't have a good first half, but the guys they weren’t down on him. They wanted to keep giving him a basketball. He picked it up in the second half for us, so little things like that, that’s what championship teams, they get to help us in the region and making another run at a title.”

Gray Collegiate looks to snap a two-game losing streak Dec. 17 at the Bash against Oak Hill Academy. The Warriors defeated Ridge View 64-51 in a matchup featuring the return of the host team’s former head coach Yerrick Stoneman.

Oak Hill returns to action Dec. 16 at 6:45 p.m. to face Dorman with head coach and Lexington High School alumnus Thomas Ryan.

Boys Basketball

Pelion 60, Horse Creek 52

Jayden Gunnells scored 15 points, Noah Pegues had 13 and Luke New finished with 10 for the Panthers.

Wednesday’s Game

Dutch Fork 62, Brookland-Cayce 56 (OT)

Bryson Taylor scored 22 points, including five, three-pointers, K.J. Smith finished with 12 and Elijah Sessions and Jayden Toney each had 10 for the Silver Foxes in the non-region win over the ninth-ranked Bearcats.

Will Young and Jadyn Johnson, who had 13 rebounds and four assists, led Brookland-Cayce with 14 points each and B.J. Etheridge finished with 11.

Both teams face archrivals Dec. 16. The Bearcats travel to Airport, while Dutch Fork plays host to Irmo.

Girls Basketball

Pelion 35, Horse Creek 27

Camron Fields finished with eight points and Sierra Wood and Kalani Tolen each had six for the Lady Panthers.