Here are 5 storylines for Upstate boys basketball teams in playoffs including Byrnes, Wren
Here are five intriguing storylines to follow with Upstate boys basketball teams in the high school playoffs.
Is Byrnes story of father and sons too good to come true?
Layne Fowler coached Byrnes to a state championship eight years ago, when his young sons were just glad to be tagging along. Now they are crucial pieces to the team as the Rebels (22-4) embark on what they hope is another title. Will Fowler (18.1 points per game) is the senior leader. Colt Fowler is just a freshman but has shown he has poise to lead the way as starting point guard.
The Rebels also have big-time upperclassmen talents in Kayzzin McDowell and Evan Enos. Byrnes won a region with powers Dorman and Gaffney by three games.
After winning first state title, could Wren keep dream alive?
When the preseason coaches’ poll came out, Class AAA defending state champion Wren had already been supplanted at No. 1 by Powdersville, a team from its own region. Wren had won its first state title, a supposed career highlight for coach Fran Campbell in his 39th year. Campbell is not done. Neither is Wren.
The Hurricanes (21-5) won the region again and a No. 1 seed in playoffs. Powdersville, though, is no slouch at 20-6. The Patriots have a tougher road to a potential showdown and would likely first need to beat a couple of No. 1 seeds.
Which of three teams from Region 2-AAAA is really best?
Not many regions across the state have three teams that could win a state championship. In the Greenville area, Region 2-AAAA is exactly that. Riverside (21-4), Greer (21-5) and Eastside (18-5) traded bragging rights for the entire regular season. It still feels like nothing is settled.
Riverside finally ended up on top with a No. 1 seed. Eastside, which beat Riverside during the last two weeks of the regular season, will actually have to start the playoffs on the road. It’s an Upstate-loaded division with Greenville and Westside, but any of these three could win it all.
Can two-sport stars lead Greenville, Westside to another showdown?
Region I-AAAA rivals Greenville and Westside in successful football seasons met in the Upper State championship, with Westside winning that as well as the state title. Their basketball teams could be on a similar collision course. Both teams went 9-1 in league play and featured some of those same stars. For Greenville (20-4), it’s quarterback Bryson Drummond and defensive back Ramani Bruton. For Westside (16-9), it’s wide receiver Josh William and defensive back Zeke Marshall. If they see each other again, it would be in another Upper State title game.
BOYS SUPER 25: Final regular-season rankings of high school basketball teams in Upstate
Will Greer Middle College or Landrum emerge in Class AA?
These region rivals met twice last week, including an extra postseason game as a tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed, and Greer Middle College won both. They are the only Upper State teams ranked among the top 10 in the most recent coaches’ poll. Greer Middle (21-5) won those two games even without one of its best players, Musa Muriithi, who suffered a recent injury to end his season. GMC still has plenty of star power with Jack Pfister and Braylen Silver. Landrum (21-6) is led by Franklin Davis (18.6 points) and junior Benett Edwards (14.6).
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC high school boys basketball: 5 intriguing storylines in Upstate
