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MLK Bash returns with rivalries, statement wins. Five things that stood out in Columbia

The sixth annual Crescent Construction MLK Bash returned after a year’s absence because of the coronavirus.

Brookland-Cayce High School hosted the event for the first time, and it featured some of the top-ranked teams from the Columbia area and across the state. Here are five things we learned from the day of action:

Gray, Keenan never disappoints

The final game of the night featured Gray Collegiate and Keenan, one of the best rivalries in the area.

The latest chapter didn’t disappoint and went down to the final minute, with Gray winning, 54-50. Calvin Hall hit two big free throws with five seconds left to seal the win.

The two programs hadn’t faced each other since the 2018 MLK Bash, when Keenan won, 62-57. The two teams will go back to playing each other twice a year next week as they will both be Region 2A as part of the 2022-24 SC High School League realignment.

Keenan has been in Class 3A the past two seasons but will be moving back down next year.

“I told (Keenan coach) Zach Norris before the game we will give them a preview on what they will see the next two years,” Gray coach Dion Bethea said. “We bring out the best in each other. It was a great game.”

Statement win for York Prep

Kory Davis said York Prep wanted to make a statement at the MLK Bash, and he made sure they did just that.

Davis, the son of South Carolina great Larry Davis, hit the game-winner at the buzzer to lift York Prep over Irmo, 45-43. The win improves York Prep to 16-0 on the season. YP is the top-ranked team in Class 2A and got a nice win on the resume against Irmo, which was ranked No. 1 in Class 4A last week.

“Coming into Columbia, we wanted to send a message,” Kory Davis said. “A lot of people think we are a small school and overlook us. Beating Irmo was a good challenge and sent a message throughout the story.”

York Prep is in its second year of being a full-fledged member in the SC High School League after being an independent. York was first eligible for the playoffs last season after a two-year waiting period imposed by the SCHSL.

Larry Davis is York Prep’s head coach and has the program in a strong position since taking over in 2018. Davis is hoping to win his second championship as a coach. He also won one at Lewisville in 2013.

Big week on tap for GG Jackson

Ridge View five-star junior prospect GG Jackson turned in another solid performance with a 20-point, 19-rebound showing in the 53-45 win over AC Flora in the marquee matchup of the event.

This will be a big week for Jackson, who takes an official visit to Duke over the weekend for the Blue Devils’ game against Syracuse. This will be Jackson’s third official visit. He also has visited North Carolina and Georgetown.

“I definitely want to get in the locker room before the game and see what motivates them and how they get ready to be in the spotlight every night,” Jackson said.

Jackson said his last official visit will be with hometown South Carolina and another might be to either Auburn or possibly Virginia Tech.

South Carolina has been in heavy pursuit of Jackson. USC assistant coach Chuck Martin has a group chat with Jackson, his mom and dad, and says he is “constant communication.” Jackson has already been on campus several times.

Stock rising for Crawford, Murray-Boyles

AC Flora’s Collin Murray-Boyles and Irmo’s Brandon Crawford continue to show why they are two of the top post players in the Midlands.

The juniors each had double-doubles in their games Monday. Murray-Boyles, who scored 30 in Friday’s win over Irmo, followed that up with a 17-point, 17-rebound effort in the 53-45 loss to Ridge View.

Crawford had his double-double in the first half of the contest against York Prep and finished 15 points and 17 rebounds in the 45-43 loss to York Prep.

New coaches adjusting at Spring Valley, Dreher

AJ Caldwell and Cyphus Bunton seem to be settling nicely into their new coaching positions.

Caldwell is in his first year as head coach at Dreher while Bunton, a former South Carolina assistant, is in his first year at Spring Valley.

Both Dreher and Spring Valley have shown improvement in their first seasons and each won on Monday. Dreher defeated Cardinal Newman, while Spring Valley knocked off Lexington, 51-36.

“Today was a pretty good win against a very good Cardinal Newman team,” Caldwell said. “Things are going good. It’s all about relationships, not only with the kids but the parents. … We are doing good with building relationships and getting what I need to get out of them.”

“We are still learning how to win, play hard and compete. We are such a young group,” Bunton said. “We are starting to figure it out and that is the best time to figure it out in region play.”

Crescent Construction MLK Bash Results

Dreher 56, Cardinal Newman 48

CN: White 6, Shelby 9, Jordan Frazier 14, Gerald Gary 10, Carter 9. D: Smith-Brown 7, Tucker 2, Hires 9, Ryan Lominack 15, Joshua Elliott 11, Miller 3, Adams 2, Dixon 2, Moss 5.

Sumter 70, Blythewood 65

S: Lane-Owens 7, Ahmari Samuel 11, Caleb Jenkins 12, Bledsoe 1, Nakeem Isaac 20, Gamble 5, Quattlebaum 6, Pollard 3, Benbow 5. B: Randy Kelly 11, Jermaine Nelson 12, Isaiah Williams 19, Olden 2, Samaad Wright 15, Pack 4, Ricks 2.

Spring Valley 51, Lexington 36

L: Maxwell 2, Figueroa 8, Washington 1, Bell 5, Cam Scott 19, Missick-Rivas 2, Molloohan 2, Farmer 2. SV: Bailey 6, CJ Rich 13, Cooke 5, Williams 6, Skelton 9, Temoney 8, Nelson 7, Johnson 2.

Ridge View 53, AC Flora 45

RV: Brice Cohen 12, Powers 6, GG Jackson 20, Donovan Rivers 13, Letthand 2. ACF: McDaniel 4, Wiley 6, CP Parker 16, Collin Murray-Boyles Higgins 2.

York Prep 45, Irmo 43

YP: K. Davis 3, Barksdale 4, Kory Davis 12, Elliott 2, Ji’meion 13, Ladarian Mcrea 11. I: Dylan Williams 11, Green 2, Kiett 6, Summons 2, Brandon Crawford 14, White 2, Collins 6.

Gray Collegiate 54, Keenan 50

GC: White 9, Jalen Jefferson 11, Hall 7, Parker 5, Kelly 8, Johnson 5, Britt 9. K: Williams 4, Chrisean Oree 12, Semajeh Echols 19, Robinson 3, Olyn Knox 12.