Dutch Fork, Irmo Hoops Teams Move Up in Rankings

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By Thomas Grant Jr.

Much like their football programs, Dutch Fork and Irmo basketball teams are shining a spotlight on their small towns.

All four programs moved up in the latest S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Class 5A rankings released Tuesday, with three of the four teams also earning victories during the week.

Both Dutch Fork teams remained undefeated after sweeping Dreher on the road. The No. 6-ranked Lady Silver Foxes routed the Lady Blue Devils 58–13 to improve to 6–0, while the No. 3-ranked Dutch Fork boys rolled to a 63–29 victory to move to 7–0.

Abby Livingston

At the “Temple of Doom,” the No. 8-ranked Irmo boys defeated last year’s Class 5A Division I champion Blythewood 60–45. Christian Brown led the Yellow Jackets with a game-high 23 points and five steals, pacing the team on both ends of the floor.

The win marked the third straight victory for Irmo (4–2), which traveled to Spring Valley on Wednesday.

The lone setback by an Irmo-based team came from the Lady Yellow Jackets, who are ranked No. 3 in Class 5A Division II. They fell 73–53 to defending Class 5A Division I champion Blythewood. Lailah Singletary scored 22 of her 28 points in the first half, while Abby Livingston provided strong defensive pressure in the second half, creating multiple steals and closing in on the 1,000-point career milestone.

Livingston finished with 17 points, leaving her 22 points shy of reaching 1,000. She is also nearing a triple-double average this season in points, rebounds and assists.

S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Top 10 Rankings

Class 5A – Girls (Division I)

  1. Spartanburg
  2. J.L. Mann
  3. Lexington
  4. Mauldin
  5. J.F. Byrnes
  6. Dutch Fork
  7. Wando
  8. Cane Bay
  9. Dorman
  10. West Ashley

Class 5A – Girls (Division II)

  1. Goose Creek
  2. Gaffney
  3. Irmo
  4. North Myrtle Beach
  5. Greenville
  6. Berkeley
  7. Westwood
  8. Myrtle Beach
  9. Catawba Ridge
  10. Greenwood

Class 5A – Boys (Division I)

  1. Ridge View
  2. Dorman
  3. Dutch Fork
  4. J.F. Byrnes
  5. Sumter
  6. Cane Bay
  7. Ashley Ridge
  8. Clover
  9. Mauldin
  10. Boiling Springs

Class 5A – Boys (Division II)

  1. Greenville
  2. Riverside
  3. Goose Creek
  4. Fort Mill
  5. T.L. Hanna
  6. Westwood
  7. St. James
  8. Irmo
  9. Conway
  10. Berkeley

(Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.)