Photo by Joshua Staley
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Fresh off consecutive state basketball titles, Blythewood forward Chase Thomas and Ridge View guard Joshua Staley will have one final opportunity Saturday to shine at the high school level.
The two All-State selections will represent South Carolina against North Carolina in the annual Carolinas Classic, which will be held at Dorman High School near Spartanburg.
The girls game is scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by the boys at 5 p.m. It marks the first time since 2017 that the doubleheader will be played in South Carolina after several years in Wilmington.
Back in familiar territory
Thomas is one of two reigning state champions on the South Carolina roster. She is joined by Dorman guard Morgan White, with whom she shared the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A Co-Player of the Year honor.
Three weeks ago, Thomas and the Lady Bengals traveled to face the Lady Cavaliers, earning a 54-52 victory in the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs. Blythewood went on to defeat Mauldin 60-54 on the road in the Upper State final and Wando 68-44 to capture its second consecutive state title.
The South Carolina State signee averaged 22.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, leading Blythewood to a 24-5 record and back-to-back championships.
One more father-son team-up
Just over a week ago, Staley captured a third straight state title playing under his father, Ridge View head coach Joshua Staley Sr..
He will now have one more chance to share the court with him.
“I get a last game with my dad,” Staley said following the 66-51 win over Ashley Ridge in the Class 5A Division I championship game. “He’s coaching the All-Star team, so I’m looking forward to playing my last game with my dad.”
Staley scored 17 points in Ridge View’s 74-65 comeback victory over Dorman in the third round. In the Upper State final at Rock Hill High School against J.F. Byrnes, he hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 55 seconds remaining to ignite a game-ending 8-0 run in an 84-76 win.