I reviewed just the schedule and results of each team. Rankings or talent had nothing to do with this bracket.
Upper State
#1-Batesburg-Leesville
#16-Columbia
#8-Woodruff
#9-Gilbert
#5-Pendleton
#12-Swansea
#4-Saluda
#13-Ninety Six
#3-Emerald
#14-Mid Carolina
#6-Walhalla
#11-West-Oak
#7-Broome
#10-Palmetto
#2-Carolina Academy
#15-Chapman
Lower State
#1-Bishop England
#16-Burke
#8-Jasper County
#9-Silver Bluff
#5-Wade Hampton
#12-Aynor
#4-Barnwell
#13-Loris
#3-Andrew Jackson
#14-Garrett Tech
#6-Hanahan
#11-Andrews
#7-Edisto
#10-Cheraw
#2-Waccamaw
#15-Mullins
Hanahan beat Wade Hampton last night 2-1.
Class 2-A Breakdown (As Of 4/26):
Seeding; Overall W-L; Region W-L; Team; Vs. 2-A Top Ten; Goal Differential; Strength of Schedule
UPPER STATE:
(1) 15-2; 9-1; Batesburg-Leesville; 3-1; +41; -28
(2) 13-4; 7-1; Carolina Academy; 0-0; +20; -17
(3) 8-7; 7-2; Emerald; 2-3; +24; +30
(4) 14-5; 8-3; Saluda; 1-3; +28, -10
(5) 9-7; 5-0; Pendleton; 2-1; +3; +6
(6) 15-7; 6-2; Walhalla; 0-2; +42; -1
(7) 9-8-1; 4-0; Gilbert; 0-0; +10, -22
(8) 11-4; 6-2; Broome; 1-1; +16; -31
(9) 7-11-1; 4-4; Palmetto; 1-5; -23; +8
(10) 8-11; 3-5; Woodruff; 0-2; -15; -43
(11) 7-7; 2-4; West Oak; 0-4; +12, -26
(12) 4-12; 1-2; Swansea; 0-0; -53; -26
(13) 2-6; 2-5; Ninety Six; 0-5; -19; +6
(14) 3-10; 0-5; Abbeville; 0-3; -61; -1
(15) 2-18-1; 1-10; Mid-Carolina; 0-8; -61; -13
(16) 1-12; 1-7; Newberry; 0-6; -57; -2
LOWER STATE:
(1) 15-5-1; 8-0; Bishop England; 0-0; +67; +56
(2) 13-5-3; 6-0; Waccamaw; 2-0-1; +41; +18
(3) 14-6-1; 2-00; Andrew Jackson; 0-0-1; +26; +44
(4) 10-7; 6-2; Barnwell; 2-2; +13; +8
(5) 12-7; 5-3; Wade Hampton; 0-0; +50, -2
(6) 7-12; 6-2; Hanahan; 0-5; -5; +43
(7) 10-6; 3-4; Edisto; 0-3; +10; -12
(8) 5-3; 5-3; Jasper County; 1-1; +4; +13
(9) 8-11; 4-4; Andrews; 0-4; -12; -8
(10) 10-9; 0-7; Silver Bluff; 0-3; +19; -13
(11) 6-10; 4-2; Aynor; 0-2; -14; -19
(12) 6-10; 0-2; Cheraw; 0-2; -2; +18
(13) 3-10; 0-3; Loris; 0-2; -41; +32
(14) 0-4; 0-4; Mullins; 0-2; -32; +4
(15) 0-6; 0-6; Burke; 0-2; -44; +2
(16) 0-10; 0-6; Garrett Tech; 0-2; -91; +22
2-A Bracket Projection:
UPPER STATE:
(1) Batesburg-Leesville
(16) Newberry
(8) Broome
(9) Palmetto
(5) Pendleton
(12) Swansea
(4) Saluda
(13) Ninety Six
(3) Emerald
(14) Abbeville
(6) Walhalla
(11) West Oak
(7) Gilbert
(10) Woodruff
(2) Carolina Academy
(15) Mid-Carolina
LOWER STATE:
(1) Bishop-England
(16) Garrett Tech
(8) Jasper County
(9) Andrews
(5) Wade Hampton
(12) Cheraw
(4) Barnwell
(13) Loris
(3) Andrew Jackson
(14) Mullins
(6) Hanahan
(11) Aynor
(7) Edisto
(10) Silver Bluff
(2) Waccamaw
(15) Burke
In my opinion only - based on information gathered.
Well done breaking things down TTS. I don't know that I agree with your brackets but we'll all find out Friday/Saturday I guess. I would like to see fewer opening round matches between teams in the same region and I think many coaches would agree on this.
I'm curious about a couple points with your ranking. Why is Carolina so high? Was it a matter of going off of the top 10 rankings? I have publicly come out in support of Carolina as a dangerous team before they were even ranked but I would hesitate to give them the #2 seed after looking at a 0-0 record against top 10 teams and a strength of schedule as low. I think we'll likely see them more around the 4 or 5 seed but I still consider them dangerous. I also could see Saluda sliding one more spot since it's unlikely 3 of the top 4 seeds will go to the same region. They have a terrific goals against differential but there only win against a top ten team came against Emerald early in the season before they reverted back to the Emerald of old. No matter what happens I think the seedings are less important this year as compared to recent years. The upstate at least appears to be more wide open than in any time in the last 5 years. Good luck to all.
Just helping out with some possible brackets. Mid-Carolina will not be participating this season.
Sorry to hear that Sean, thanks for the heads up. Do you know anything about Newberry's participation?
Thanks Cap'n - for the kudos -
I have seen Carolina play several times this year. They play a great style of soccer and are very well-coached. They also beat Palmetto twice and split with Broome who were both ranked top ten at times this year.
I agree with Saluda sliding and moving Pendleton up. I did not take into account teacms from the same region.
All in all - should be a good year in upper state. It is open and any of 5-6 teams could win it.
I still think both Bishop-England and Waccamaw in Lower State are too much for any Upper State team.
If Mid-Carolina will not participate, then I feel that puts Chapman in at 16 and moves the bottom two teams up a spot. I don't think it really matters. Other than Palmetto at #9, I don't see any lower seeds advancing past the first round.
Captain...from what I gathered last night, Newberry will not participate as well.
TTS
Woodruff beat palmetto when they were rank #8 top ten so they should have a 1-2 record vs top ten losing to carolina twice.
and when Hanahan beat Barnwell they were #10 and last night Wade Hampton was #10
That's exactly why that stat doesn't really matter. It also doesn't take in to account the 1A, 3A and 4A games that were played.
True. Lincoln, Academic Magnet, West Ashely, Bluffton, Senneca, and Fort were all ranked when Hanahan played them.
BE will win at least 3 state championships in a row w/ the players they have now...'05,'06,'07 AA teams can't compete w/ the talent there this year and next
I did take into account when I did my "unofficial" rankings the games against 1A, 3A, and 4A teams. I had my own little +3, +4 think going on for wins. That is why some of the teams are ranked a little higher, (IMO) even though they may have lower records.
Also - the records against top ten teams are considering teams that are presently ranked in the top ten. I started to consider the rankings when the game was actually played, but that was WAY too much work to go back and get the rankings every week.
Just trying to have a little fun with the break down and predictions. We will all see the seedings on Friday or Saturday as they are worked out.
To answer the main question of the thread - - -
I feel that there are 5-6 teams (B-L, Emerald, Carolina, Pendleton, Walhalla, and possibly saluda) who can win Upper State.
There are really two main teams in Lower State (Bishop England and Waccamaw).
In the end - either Lower State team can take any of the Upper State teams.
Just My Opinion - but would love to know what you all think?
Taketheshot, I know this stuff is time consuming, but how does Walhalla have a -1 strength of schedule when they've played three 3A games and six 4A games?
How do you figure out strength of schedule? Also, I do not know much about the uppper part of the state, does Andrew Jackson play anyone who is any good?
Strength of Scedule is simply taking the over/under number of games won or lost of their opponents. I know there is much more that goes into strength of schedule. But this isn't computer rankings.
Walhalla has played a number of 3A and 4A teams, but most of these teams were average or below average teams. If you remove one game against Greenville, The combined records of the other games against 3A and 4A competition is below .500 at 67-69.
Andrew Jackson has played a fairly tough schedule. It included North Myrtle beach (3A #3) and West Ashley (4A #11). But also included Lancaster at 3-16 and several 1A teams.
It all works out in the wash - - -
The Barnwell/Hanahan game has been cancelled. Don't know how, or if, this is going to affect the seedings.
It shouldn't affect the seedings much if any. Hanahan stands to lose the most because they may have moved up a spot or two if they defeated Wade Hampton and Barnwell in the last week of season.
Taking into account that Mid-Carolina and Newberry will not be participating in the playoffs,
AND
Considering that administrators and coaches do not want first round games within conferences,
Here's a new guess at playoff picture for 2A:
UPPER STATE
(1) Batesburg-Leesville vs. (16) Chapman
(8) Gilbert vs. (9) Palmetto
(5) Pendleton vs. (12) Swansea
(4) Saluda vs. (13) Abbeville
(3) Emerald vs. (14) Columbia
(6) Walhalla vs. (11) Woodruff
(7) Broome vs. (10) West Oak
(2) Carolina vs. (15) Ninety Six
LOWER STATE
(1) Bishop England vs. (16) Mullins
(8) Jasper County vs. (9) Andrews
(5) Wade Hampton vs. (12) Cheraw
(4) Barnwell vs. (13) Loris
(3) Andrew Jackson vs. (14) Burke
(6) Hanahan vs. (11) Silver Bluff
(7) Edisto vs. (10) Aynor
(2) Waccamaw vs. (15) Garrett Tech
why doescarolina keep ending up as a 2 seed? once they play someone half decent they will lose and they will have to wait for next year so the can suck again
I like those seeds, but Hanahan is better than Barnwell and Wade Hampton, but being from Hanahan I would much much rather have the 6th seed, because we have a much better chance of getting by Waccamaw than B.E.
You are probably right about Hanahan. They could very easily move up to a 4 or 5 seed. Their schedule is tough and they are playing great in the month of April.
Thanks for the credit but im fine with a 6. Opposite side of B.E. is fine for us no matter what seed we are.
I understand completely -
Lower State must run through them eventually though!
Fairly accurate TTS. Largest change from yours is Saluda falling to the 6 seed after the loss this week. Columbia and Ninety-Six opted out.
Well DJ21 - you didn't get your wish - - -
Hanahan did move up to a 4 seed which gets them a bye in the first round, but most likely a third round matchup with Bishop England if all holds.
Good Luck!
Columbia, Ninety-Six, Chapman, Newberry, and Mid-Carolina all opted out which gives three upper state teams byes.
Emerald deservedly gets a two seed and Carolina falls to a three. If all holds as seeded - they will play each other anyway to get the right to face Batesburg-Leesville.
My upset pick - - - watch out for Broome going to Upper State finals!
yea thanks taketheshot, but im just going to focus on trying to get by Barnwell before i even think about B.E.
so much for broome being your upset
2006 AA Bracket BE-Hanahan (if they both make it) will be I believe Saturday night at BE, not sure what time yet... It was quite a game last year, I expect Hanahan to play their best as they usually do against us. Good luck to both (more to BE).
Yea... well BE will def. be there like they always are there is no chance that they wont be. Hanahan however may not be there. We came out flat against Loris and barely beat them, so if we dont come with a better effort Barnwell will be in that BE game instead of us.
ok so these are the AA scores so far for lower state
Barnwell 3 - 0 Aynor
Wade Hampton 1 - 0 Cheraw
Silver Bluff 2 - 0 Edisto
uknown scores
Hanahan vs Loris
Jasper vs. Andrews
so this is how it's looking right now
Andrew Jackson vs Wade Hampton
Silver Bluff vs Waccamaw
Barnwell vs Hanahan
Bishop England vs ( Jasper / Andrews )
Sorry i read the previous post and Hanahan apparently won, what was the score ?
umm 3-2 in ot for the Hanahan Loris game
According to scoreboard Jasper 2 Andrews 1
Barnwell 3 - 0 Aynor
Wade Hampton 1 - 0 Cheraw
Silver Bluff 2 - 0 Edisto
Hanahan 3 - 2 Loris
Jasper 2 - 1 Andrews
so this is how it's looking right now
Upper Bracket
Bishop England vs Jasper
Barnwell vs Hanahan
Lower Bracket
Andrew Jackson vs Wade Hampton
Silver Bluff vs Waccamaw
Ouch - Broome didn't come through. Woodruff must have played a great game. Will have to really play above their heads against Emerald.
Interesting that the 9 and 10 seeds in Upper and Lower state pulled off wins. Everyone else held to expectations.
Second ROund Matchups to watch:
Walhalla at Pendleton ( battle of Region foes that Pendlton took in regular season. watch out for Walhalla to pull the upset.)
Barnwell at Hanahan (if Hanahan doesn't play better than they did against Loris - could be a win by Barnwell.)
swansea lost to pendleton 3-0
i made some crazy predictions for the second round, but for the first round i picked every team to go through except the broom and woodruff, that disappointed me !!!!! i was like nOOOO!!!! oh well, tomorrow will say a lot, jasper at bishop england should be pretty interesting lol !!!
Good predictions Star 11 -
I agree the Woodruff win surprised a lot of people. Woodruff has been inconsistent this year but has the talent to play with anyone when they put it all together. They will have to have a great game against Emerald.
PICKS:
Upper State -
Batesburg Leesville over Palmetto
Walhalla over Pendleton
Carolina over Saluda
Emerald over Woodruff
Lower State -
B-E over Jasper
Hanahan over Barnwell
Andrew Jackson over wade Hampton
Waccamaw over Silver Bluff
All picks are correct - - -
Upper State Semifinals
Batesburg-Leesville vs. Walhalla
Carolina vs. Emerald
Lower State Semifinals
Bishop England vs. Hanahan
Andrew Jackson vs. Waccamaw
PICKS:
B-L, Emerald, B-E, and Waccamaw
I was really surprised at what palmetto brought to the field today. They played very well and very hard ..good game guys!
Barnwell defeated Hanahan tonight 2-0
Good luck to Emerald as they finish their season in 2a, we (Woodruff) gave it our best effort last night and had some opportunities but just couldn't finish. Their Sweeper (Cpt) was solid all night, Coach Nickles is correct in is High praise for him. The game Between Emerald and Carolina should be a great game to watch. Emerald-1 , Woodruff 0
Sorry - I had heard wrongly that Hanahan had won. In stead it will be Bishop-England vs. Barnwell.
I still pick B-E in quarterfinals. Don't think it really matters who they play!
I know that it is a moot point in some respects but -
Palmetto has to be considered for the 9 or 10 spot in final 2A standings. They beat a Region winner (Gilbert) resoundingly in first round and played the #2 team in state to second ten minutes of overtime. BOTH on the road - BOTH after travelling over 2 hours!
Other considerations for spots 9-10 would be Woodruff and Pendleton - Both finished out the season strongly and played well in playoffs.
I agree with taketheshot. Palmetto definitely deserves the 9 or 10 spot; they were way underrated coming into the playoffs. One of the players told me that they were only graduating 1 senior, so next season they should be strong again.
Thanks, B-L1.
It is true that Palmetto only had one senior on this year's team. In the tournament, the team started 1 Senior, 4 Juniors, 4 Sophomores, and 2 Freshmen (including goalie).
Palmetto plays in a tough region and plays other top teams in class 2A. Their record certainly was not an indicator of their talent.
I just wanna give props to Jasper for having a great year and makin a great run, especially last nite with holding B-E scoreless till bout 15 min. left in the second half
As well for Woodruff 1 goal scored in the last minutes of 1st half then scorless through second vs emerald.
Congrats to both Jasper and Woodruff. The exciting thing is that 2-A soccer is growing with more and more competitive teams each year. Look forward to what should be much more parity and great season next year!
Walhalla 3 Batesburg 0
Walhalla played an excellent game and deserves the win. Well played guys and good luck in the next round.
Excellent year batesburg. You guys really made a name for your program this year with several big wins over ranked opponents.
Thanks...this was definitely a defining year for us.
emerald 3-0 over carolina academy
any word of the bishop england or waccamaw scores
Waccamaw won 3-2 last night against Andrew Jackson.
The Bishops won 7-1 against Barnwell and 3 BE players were ejected. It was the ugliest soccer game I have ever witnessed. The Barnwell starting forward was transported to the hospital with a broken foot in the first half. There was a fight/bench clearing brawl in the second half, and there were many cautions handed out for cheap/rough play.
The Bishops will host Waccamaw in the Lower State Championship game and I sincerely hope that it will be a much cleaner game.
The 3 ejected BE players I assume will be ineligible, what kind of effect will that have on the product BE puts out on the field vs. Waccamaw? Were the 3 starters or did they enter the game after it got out of hand?
I've seen coaches pull teams out of the playoffs for less than that. I wasn't at the game, but Ed needs to seriously consider teaching these kids a life lesson if it was as bad as they say it was. Any team that clears the bench to fight is obviously not what we want representing the lower state.
Anyone know how the Emerald-Carolina game went yesterday?
Just for the record, the injury in the BE/Barnwell 1st half was due to an (off side)charge on the keeper that was a 50/50 ball and the keep (Calandra)slid with a clean tackle to catch the ball. The AR said there was absolutely no foul play and he was right there. It was an unfortunate outcome, but a risk of the game.
As for the "bench clearing brawl" that was due to the initial attack and two handed pull down from a Barnwell player to one of the smallest BE sophmore players. Both players were ejected along with another BE player who rec'd a red card and another Barnwell player a yellow.
Early in the game a Barnwell player told a BE player that he "may play in this game, but they won't play in the next;" and the keeper told one of his defenders to "break" one of the BE player's legs the next time they came close to each other in a play....this was all before the unfortunate injury to the Barnwell player. Barnwell (and a group of Waccamaw players who came to support Barnwell) trash talked the entire night. The Barnwell highly touted but ineffective goalkeep had to be frustrated from the relentless BE attack. After the fight, Coach Ed asked the Barnwell Coach to play a fair game despite the poor officiating of the Center ref.
There were 26 on frame shots from BE to 3 from Barnwell. BE even scored 2X with 8 players on the field, 6 of which were nonstarters as Coach Khouri opted to protect his players. The score could have been worse as a goal within the first 2 minutes was called back due to a hand ball in the box and a direct shot again beat the keep at the end of the match but pinged off the crossbar. Barnwell's lone goal came at the 73rd minute.
As for #18's judgement about the game while not even there, Jasper County (who by the way beat Barnwell twice during the regular season) played a tough but clean game against the Bishops in the second round. There were no cautionary cards and few fouls from either side. Jasper County did not even have a shot on goal but their coach and players wished the Bishops the best of luck in their defense of the State Title after the match.
Are the Bishop England players any good?
The ones who got the red cards
Pretty well said mink. I played both teams during the regular season and neither seemed to be inclined to hard fouls or unsportmanlike conduct. I seems to me that the fight was the result of high tensions on both sides and frustration on the part of Barnwell. I read in the paper that those were the first red cards B.E. had received all year.
I was not going to comment on this matter, but I feel it is necessary to defend the character of my players. Mink, obviously you are a BE supporter and so of course your story is going to be one sided. I understand that is human nature. It does not bother me that you do not know all of the facts, or care to tell the entire story of the game. Fact- 3 BE players were red carded to Barnwells 1. BE received more yellow cards than Barnwell did as well. That is all I am going to say about that aspect of the game.
I find it laughable how you are quoting my players here online. It would be funny (you quoting them) if it wasn't such a shame what happened. You are attacking the intergrity of my players and I will not just let you say whatever you want. At NO POINT have I, or any of my players, said anything negative about BE, their coaches, or players. Unfortunetely the same can not be said about the BE program. Coach Khouri was quoted in the paper talking about my players, while I refused to talk about his. I only discussed MY team!! My players did not, and would not, say anything like you are claiming. They are a good group of kids! I feel, as I'm sure everyone does, that what happened yesterday has no part in the game of soccer. I respect the game too much to want to see that happen. I am not telling you to talk about the game or incident, obviously you already have and wil probably continue to do so. I am asking that you do not talk about my players or question their character. If Coach Khouri or BE's AD has a problem with my program, they know the proper way to get in touch with us. Thank you.
Dave Anastasia
Barnwell High School
It might have been changed, but I'm pretty sure the High School League rules state that if you have 3 straight reds it is automatic disqualification from the playoffs. This is what happened in the past. (I believe it was Hilcrest)
Mink,
I was sitting with the Waccamaw contingent of players/coaches/parents and they said nothing during the game. All three Waccamaw coaches were with their players and I am sure that if any player even uttered a word, they would have removed that player from the stands. The Waccamaw boys were there to observe the game and learn, and they sat together as far away from the game as possible. The only cheers I heard from the group was when the injured Barnwell player was loaded into the ambulance (as everyone else did) and when Barnwell scored their only goal, late in the game. When the Waccamaw group left the stands, the Barnwell parents and players wished them “Good Luck”, as did a number of Bishop England parents. Unfortunately, the Waccamaw players had to witness sportsmanship at it’s worse and I’m sure that Coach Schoen will convey to his players at practice this week, that behavior like that will not be tolerated.
This is just a terrible thing to happen this time of year for the kids of both teams.
I'm sure that Coach Schoen of Waccamaw will make sure his players are ready to play B.E. clean and hard. We played them (Waccamaw) twice this season, at the season start and again Friday...and both times they played us clean. They played physical, but very fair. Best of luck to all the remaining teams.
R.Jordan Andrew Jackson H.S.
Mink, As the coach from Barnwell stated you are obviously a Bishop England supporter. I have no way of knowing if the Barnwell players made the threats you said they did during the game. I was not on the field,were you? I assume you were probably a parent on the BE side but I know for sure you were not sitting on the Barnwell side because you would not have accused the Waccamaw players of trash talking. It did not happen and would not be tolerated by the Waccamaw coaches. As for who was to blame for the fight I would think both sides should bear some responsibility.
Mink didnt one of BE goalkeepers punch a Barnwell player in the face...what was his motive?
MPSC..no BE keep punched anyone in the face..It was unfortunate that he got a red card he nudged a Barnwell player. As for things being said by Barnwell players things were said by both BE & Barnwell. BE vs. Waccamaw will be a great match and definetly hard fought.
Getting mad and bumping someone with your chest is called taunting. This year, taunting is punishable by a straight red. It is unfortunate, but a valid call by the ref.
Coach Anastasia, sorry but your kids aren't quite as innocent as you think. You clearly can't deny that it was your player who started the fight by pulling down a freshman half his size: that's fact. No mater what was said, he made the first physical contact.
Again, the only punches thrown were in the fight towards the end of the game, not by the keeper.
I can also back up that there was a great deal of trash talk, both teams guilty.
But lets think about the whole issue from a distance.
BE controlled the game with no problem, no significant threats on goal(the one goal scored was a lofty free kick flicked on over Callandra who was off his line way too early). Did BE have any reason to be frustrated?
Barnwell doesn't receive all the blame, but the initial reason that all of this happened was because some of their players took exception to being routed by a far better BE team.
This game has changed my mind about BE's classification, and I now firmly believed that an exception should be made to push the soccer team up to 3A, where the higher level of play deters problems like this from happening.
It' sad to see wat happened at the B-E/Barnwell game. My team(Jasper) played both of these teams and neither seemed to be this aggressive. Its sad cuz its puttin a bad name on our region and class. Although i dont know all the details and dont wanna point the fingers, bot programs should be held responsible and handle this matter accordingly so it wont happen again.
so is BE being thrown out of the playoff for the fight or not? SCHSL has perogative to issue additional reds and extends those issued by the ref.
they won't be thrown out, no. it wasn't a team thing, just 1 kid from each team, and the BE kid(110 pounds?) didn't start it anyway. it was an ugly game but was blown out of proportion, mainly because of an absolutely TERRIBLE center ref. the best result i'd like to see is the firing of whoever he was.
Is it just me noticing a trend with Barnwell? This is the second fight they have had in the past 2 years. Most of you can recall the other fight with Bamberg last year. And players dont talk as clean on the field as most coaches think they do. I can't comment on Bishop England but I know when we played Barnwell in the past some pretty nasty things have been said. I'm not placing the blame on anyone but it seems like a trend is beginning to form with Barnwell? Am i the only one who thinks this?
With sub-par play comes sub-par attitude...
kudos to walhalla for their first-in-10-years win over emerald tonight @ 1-0.