By Thomas Grant Jr.
With one week left in the regular season, the Dutch Fork girls’ basketball team is in the driver’s seat for the Region 4-5A title.
The Lady Silver Foxes claimed sole possession of first place with a 49-33 win over defending region champion Lexington. Christyonna Jackson scored a game-high 14 points and Michaela Fairwell had a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals.
Dutch Fork broke the game open in the fourth quarter by outscoring Lexington 18-8. It played host to White Knoll Tuesday and Chapin Friday before closing the season with road game against River Bluff on Feb. 6 and Lexington two nights later.
The Lady Wildcats have won nine of last 11 meetings with Dutch Fork and have won the last four region titles. The Lady Silver Foxes’ last region title was in 2014, the same year they won a second straight state title under Faye Norris and with future University of South Carolina and Las Vegas Aces’ champion Alaina Coates at center.
The Lady Wildcats rebounded three nights later with a 42-25 win at Chapin. Izzy Saville scored 12 points and Sydni Anderson added eight in the win.
Meanwhile, Irmo was tied with Westwood for third place in Region 5-4A after two straight victories over Lugoff-Elgin and Richland Northeast. It played host to first-place Ridge View Tuesday and faces A.C. Flora on the road Friday.
The defending Class 4A champion Irmo boys have also won two straight and are tied with Richland Northeast for the final playoff spot.
Photo by GoFlashwin.com – Irmo center Claire Howard with the pull-up against A.C. Flora
