BOYS HOOPS ROUNDUP

Eagles, Dolphins set for playoffs

LowcoSports.com

They’ll have to be road warriors, but Beaufort High and Battery Creek’s boys will get a chance to do battle in the postseason.

The Eagles locked up the No. 3 seed from Region 8-3A with a 48-38 win over Hanahan on Tuesday, finishing with a 4-4 region mark, and they went toe-to-toe with region champion North Charleston in a 69-60 loss Friday.

Beaufort Academy’s Jace Paulk, right, denies Holy Trinity’s Gray Chumney the basket during the fourth quarter of their SCISA Region II-2A basketball game Friday night at Holy Trinity. The Eagles won the game, 74-36, improving their record to 8-11, 7-2 in region play. The Mighty Lions are still looking for their first win of the season. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

The outstanding recent play of big men A.J. Newton and Brandon Blackmon makes the Eagles a tough matchup in the playoffs, along with dependable guards Amani Cleckley and Naiim Pope and electric wing Samari Bonds, who can take over a game at any moment.

The Dolphins will be the No. 4 seed after a 57-38 home loss to Philip Simmons in the season finale Tuesday, splitting the season series with the Iron Horses.

Warriors, Bucs in top 10

A top-10 battle in Class 1A is scheduled Wednesday when No. 7 Whale Branch hosts No. 8 Bridges Prep with the No. 2 seed from Region 7-1A on the line.

The Warriors escaped with a 60-59 win at Bridges on Jan. 22, needing a wild comeback to steal a victory, but Whale Branch’s slip-up against Bamberg-Ehrhardt last week opened the door for the Bucs to claim the second seed with a split of the season series with the Warriors.

Both teams should be well-rested after receiving forfeits last week when region rivals Branchville and Allendale-Fairfax had numerous players suspended for an on-court fight.