Ridgeland-Hardeeville hoops teams look to punch ticket to state title games
Ridgeland-Hardeeville’s basketball teams are looking to make school history Saturday.
The Jaguar boys and girls each will play for Class 3A Lower State championships at the Florence Civic Center. The R-H girls face Swansea while the boys face region foe Wade Hampton.
“It is an honor and a blessing to have both the Ridgeland-Hardeeville Jaguar teams competing in the Lower State playoffs,” Ridgeland-Hardeeville coach Jeremiah Faber said. “The RHHS family and the entire Jasper County population are very proud of our student-athletes. The RHHS name can be added to that elite group of schools that have achieved this goal.”
Both teams enter the games ranked No. 2 in latest S.C. Basketball Coaches polls. The R-H girls knocked off four-time champion Bishop England in the third round Monday.
Region 7-3A Player of the Year Quanajia Drayton leads the R-H attack. Drayton averages 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals per game. Jamee Mack is second on the team at 13 points per contest.
Swansea features Class 3A Player of the Year Danae McNeal and is playing its first state semifinal since 1995.
The boys’ matchup is the third of the season between the Jaguars and Red Devils. Wade Hampton handed Ridgeland-Hardeeville its only loss, 59-55, on Feb. 2. Since then, R-H won four consecutive games.
The Jaguars are averaging 68.8 points per game and shooting 45.4 percent from the field. Rashamel Butler leads the team at 19.8 points per game while Devin Butler is averaging 11.5.
Swansea vs. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 2 p.m. at Florence Civic Center
Swansea (19-8)
Coach: Tamara McNeal-Perdue (6th year)
SC Coaches Poll ranking: 5
Projected starters: Danae McNeal (24.2 ppg, 11 rpg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 spg, 3.7 bpg), Lauryn Robinson (10.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Zharia Gillings (7.3 ppg), Jasmine Lowman (7.8 ppg), Brittany Hampton (3.3 ppg)
Key reserves: Kelsha Sloan, Mya Edmond
Ridgeland-Hardeeville (17-3)
Coach: Frederick Toomer
SC Coaches Poll ranking: 2
Projected starters: Quanajia Drayton (20 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg, 6 spg), Jamee Mack (13 ppg, 2 apg), Timothea Green (9 ppg, 5 rpg, 7 spg), Marlaysia Wesbrook (7 ppg, 9 rpg), Lenasia Singletary (5 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 spg)
Wade Hampton (H) vs. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 3:30 p.m. at Florence Civic Center
Wade Hampton (16-5)
Coach: Roman Gray
SC Coaches Poll ranking: 6
Projected starters: Samuel Gray, Marquelle Griffin, Deondre Terry, Trent Terry, Rashane Duncan
Ridgeland-Hardeeville (22-1)
Coach: Jeremiah Faber, Sr. (34th year, 534 victories)
SC Coaches Poll ranking: 2
Projected starters: Rashamel Butler (19.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Diamonte Robinson (8 ppg), Devin Butler (11.5 ppg), Jabari Williams (9.5 ppg), Myles Pinckney (2.5 ppg)
Key reserves: Sameel Ford, Jertaveon Smalls, Emanuelle Hardrove, William Westbrook, De'Monta Pusha, Dequandre Hamilton
Lower State Championships
At Florence Civic Center
Saturday
Class 2A Girls
Marion vs. Mullins, 11 a.m.
Class 2A Boys
Marion vs. Carvers Bay, 12:30 p.m.
Class 3A Girls
Swansea vs. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 2 p.m.
Class 3A Boys
Ridgeland-Hardeeville vs. Wade Hampton (H), 3:30 p.m.
Class 5A Girls
Spring Valley vs. Goose Creek, 5 p.m.
Class 5A Boys
Blythewood vs. Irmo, 6:30 p.m.
This story was originally published February 23, 2018 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Ridgeland-Hardeeville hoops teams look to punch ticket to state title games."