<b>Whale Branch Warriors win second straight Lower State title</b>

Whale Branch captured its second straight Class 1-A Lower State championship on Saturday, defeating Hemingway 69-62 in Florence.

The Warriors will venture to Columbia to face Upper State champion C.A. Johnson for the Class 1-A title on Saturday, March 8.

With the win, Whale Branch improved to 23-4.

Whale Branch led at the end of each quarter. The Warriors outscored Hemingway 12-9 in the opening quarter and led 33-29 at halftime.

Whale Branch clung to a 49-47 lead at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Three Whale Branch players turned in double-digit scoring performances. David Lamb led Whale Branch with a game-high 22 points. Delivering a double-double, Jay Middleton scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Warriors.

Joining Lamb and Middleton in double figures, Justin Rhode added 15 points for Whale Branch in the win.

Inside, Denzel Daniel added 10 rebounds for the Warriors.

Devonta Glover scored six points while Denzel Daniel netted five, Marlon Williams chipped in three and Jay Abney added two.

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<b>Dolphins fall to Bishop England</b>

The Battery Creek girls’ basketball team’s lengthy postseason appearance ended in the third round of the Class 2-A playoffs as the Dolphins fell to host Bishop England 76-38 on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Rejuvenated Battery Creek, however, reached the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

The Dolphins ended the 2013-14 season with a 19-7 record.

<b>BA girls fall to Richard Winn</b>

Beaufort Academy’s postseason run ended with a loss to Richard Winn in the SCISAA Class 2-A girls’ basketball semifinals last Thursday night at the Sumter Civic Center. Richard Winn pulled away to beat the Eagles 63-22.

Beaufort Academy finished its 2013-14 season 18-7. Miranda Weslake, the all-time leading scorer in Beaufort Academy girls’ basketball history, scored 12 points to lead the Eagles.