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TO CONGRATULATE THE BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR CAPTURING THE 2022 CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND TO HONOR THE TEAM'S EXCEPTIONAL PLAYERS, COACHES, AND STAFF.
Whereas, fully resolved to take home the gold, the Blue Ridge High School boys basketball team crowned a fine season by netting the 2022 Class AAA State Championship title, defeating Orangeburg-Wilkinson 49-42 on Friday, March 4, 2022, at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center; and
Whereas, with the biggest prize in South Carolina high school boys basketball on the line, the Tigers focused all their knowledge, skill, and determination, took to heart their coaches' exhortations, and came through like the champions they are. The result? Their first state title in the school's sixty-eight-year history and only the sixth in any varsity sport at Blue Ridge; and
Whereas, the win capped an already historic season for the Tigers, who won their highest number of games in a single season ever, took home their first region title in boys basketball, and played in their first upper state championship. They concluded the season with an enviable 27-4 record; and
Whereas, early in the title game, the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Bruins stormed out to a 6-2 lead and grew it to a 10-4 lead in the first quarter before Blue Ridge awoke. Blue Ridge continued its slow start in the first half through the early stages of the second. Orangeburg-Wilkinson opened the quarter with four straight points before the Tigers' Campbell Douglas knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 20-14 Bruins with six minutes left in the second; and
Whereas, in the third quarter, senior Braeden Enloe hit his second 3-pointer to give the Tigers their first lead of the game, 26-23, with just over seven minutes left in the third. The lead was one the Tigers would not lose. Zach Skinner sailed for a layup on the baseline with 3:49 left in the third to make it a two possession game. Then Blue Ridge senior Demitre Hall hit a step-in three with 1:51 left in the third to push the Tigers back to five and 38-35 at the end of three; and
Whereas, senior standout Justin Bailey electrified the crowd and took over in the fourth, scoring 17 points in the second half and 10 of the Tigers' 11 fourth-quarter points. Bailey shot 9-of-17 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line in the game. Blue Ridge held on in the fourth, holding the Bruins scoreless in the final 4:14 of the game; and
Whereas, making a sweet victory even sweeter, the Tigers saw Justin Bailey named 3A Player of the Year. The win was, in addition, an especially unforgettable one for Head Coach Richie Stevens and Assistant Coach Keith Cannada, both of whom played for the Tigers while at Blue Ridge in the early 2000s; and
Whereas, the House takes great pleasure in recognizing the young men of the Blue Ridge High School boys basketball team for leading with excellence, both in the classroom and on the court, and expects to hear of continued great achievements in the years ahead. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate the Blue Ridge High School boys basketball team for capturing the 2022 Class AAA State Championship title and honor the team's exceptional players, coaches, and staff.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Reena Watson and Head Coach Richie Stevens of Blue Ridge High School.
This web page was last updated on March 9, 2022 at 1:02 PM