A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE LANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Lancaster boys basketball team captured the state trophy at the state competition held at the Florence Center on Friday, March 7, 2025; and

 

Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Lancaster Bruins defeated a competitive North Augusta High School 69-55 to take the program's first state championship in seventy-five years and to finish the season with a 27-1 record, winning 22 straight games; and

 

Whereas, trailing the North Augusta Yellow Jackets at halftime, the Bruins managed to take a seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter; and

 

Whereas, standout senior for Lancaster, 6 foot 5 combo guard Jordan Watford, posted 19 points in the state win. With an aggressive drive to the basket in the final quarter, he put the Bruins up 15 points. He has been a high scorer in the classroom, as well as on the hardwoods, and will continue his career at Queens University to major in business at the growing Division I university in Charlotte, North Carolina; and

 

Whereas, junior guard Columbus Parker, who suffered two ACL tears in the last two years, also scored 19 points for Lancaster. He knocked down a three-pointer and made a layup late in the final quarter to keep the Bruins ahead with their insurmountable lead. His father is Chris "Green Light" Parker, the all-time leading scorer at Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte. Bruin junior guard Malik Tinsley recorded 15 points; and

 

Whereas, in the 1949-1950 Class A title game, the Lancaster boys basketball team, then nicknamed the Blue Hurricanes, defeated Darlington High School to win the program's only state championship. The week after the 2025 title game, the student-athletes made a plan to take their win to elementary schools in the area to take pictures and talk with younger students who could get a feel for the joy that victory awards to reward hard work; and

 

Whereas, in a sport that demands strength, strategy, and speed, Head Coach Jerron Cauthen and his skilled coaching staff capitalized on their own athletic ability and training to forge a championship team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the courts; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the great pride and recognition that the Lancaster basketball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following the team's continued achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Lancaster High School boys varsity basketball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2025 South Carolina Class AAAA State Championship title.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Rosalyn Mood and Head Coach Jerron Cauthen.

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