Chico, you are right about the upsets and the surprising strength of the non-traditional 3A teams. Eastside and Riverside are always strong, JL Mann played great this weekend, Dreher is gutty and you like Airport.
I'll go out on a limb and take Hilton Head Island to win the 3A state championship. Although their region is not as competitive and they won't get tested as much as the others during the regular season, they are a very, very good team.
Hilton Head did not have the same energy on Saturday morning that they displayed in their victory Friday night, but they still dominated the game against Byrnes. They made the mistake of letting Byrnes hang around a little too long and paid the price, falling on PK's. HHI's Stephanie Sosa was the best player I saw this weekend (although I didn't see any Lex games where Kira Campbell piled up a bunch of goals and assists).
Early season COY candidates: JL Mann's Gwynne Armstrong (a proven winner) and Kingsley Emerson of Byrnes. They both did a fantastic job getting their teams into the Final 4.
Bracket D: Loaded with preseason favorites Dutch Fork, Mauldin, Fort Mill and Hilton Head Island....and the two teams that played for the group championship were Dreher and Byrnes! Has parity arrived? The Dorman girls basketball team has won the 4A upper state championship six years in a row! How many different upperstate schools have made it to the 4A state girls soccer state championship game in the last six years? I'm glad it's wide open in our game.
Having said that, this afternoon we could be looking at the "same old same old". Two 4A heavyweights, #1 Wando and #2 Lexington battling it out for the Viking Cup title.
Good tournament.
Kids play sports because they find it fun. Eliminate the fun and soon you eliminate the kid.
