By CT McDonald
Local high school teams are nearing the end of their winter sports seasons, with many of them playing their final regular season games this week.
Those with region games to make-up will wrap up their seasons soon, while others will complete it in Friday’s games.
DUTCH FORK
The Silver Fox girls varsity basketball team is at 6-4, 3-3 after losing its first three Region 5-5A games back in December, and then winning its last three, in January.
Not recording a game earlier this week, the Silver Foxes look to wrap-up their regular season with back-to-back region games against District Five neighbor, Chapin.
Dutch Fork
Dutch Fork will visit the Eagles Friday at 6 pm, and then play host to Chapin to close the season February 12.
Dutch Fork’s boys varsity basketball team (8-1, 5-1) is currently the leader in Region 5-5A and will play two more region games to complete the regular season.
The Silver Foxes will visit Chapin Friday at 7:30 pm and then finish at White Knoll on February 16 after Tuesday’s game versus the Timberwolves was postponed.
IRMO
Irmo’s girls varsity basketball won 55-20 at Lugoff-Elgin Tuesday, and now the Yellow Jackets will play host to the Demons Friday at 6 pm to complete the regular season.
The Yellow Jackets (11-3, 6-3) have lost only to Region 4-4A opponents (A. C. Flora and Westwood) thus far, and they have just one matchup to go to wrap-up the regular season.
Irmo’s varsity girls are strong contenders for one of the playoff berths in the 4A lower state playoffs.
The Irmo boys varsity team also won at Lugoff-Elgin Tuesday (69-38) to improve to 8-5, 5-1 and will play host to the Demons Friday at 7:30 pm to complete their regular season.
Irmo’s Yellow Jacket boys are also strong contenders for a berth in the 4A lower state playoffs.
CHAPIN
Chapin’s girls varsity basketball team took a 56-21 Region 5-5A loss at River Bluff Tuesday to stand at 3-6, 0-5 as they prepare for their conference game at home against Dutch Fork on Friday at 6 pm.
After that, the Eagles will have two additional region games to complete the regular season: at home versus White Knoll on February 9 and at Dutch Fork on February 12.
Chapin’s boys varsity lost 59-29 at River Bluff Tuesday, and they will play host to Dutch Fork Friday at 7:30 pm. Then, the Eagles (5-6, 1-5) will complete the season when White Knoll visits Chapin February 18 for their final game.
February will be packed with winter sports playoff games. The 4A and 5A wrestling state tournaments begin February 13, and the basketball games are just behind.
Girls 4A basketball playoffs begin February 20, while the boys 4A and Girls 5A begin February 22. Finally, the boys 5A basketball playoffs begin February 23.
Two teams from each region will qualify for the basketball playoffs, with two at-large berths being available in the 4A lower state brackets in addition to the slots available for the three regions there.
