Tensions arise in postgame handshake in Gray Collegiate-Keenan basketball matchup

The anticipated Gray Collegiate-Keenan playoff basketball game Saturday lacked fireworks on the court but made up for it after the game.

Keenan coach Zach Norris blew off War Eagles coach Dion Bethea in the postgame handshake line following Gray Collegiate’s 45-38 win in the Class 2A semifinal at Florence Center.

Gray Collegiate advances to the state championship against Hampton County/Oceanside Collegiate at 4 p.m. Friday. The War Eagles are seeking their sixth championship in the last eight seasons.

“I ain’t even going to put my energy into that. We won the game and advanced,” Bethea said. “.... Sportsmanship is real big and things could have easily escalated. We don’t teach that at Gray Collegiate Academy. We won the game, walked through the line as we are supposed to do. Like I said, we got class.”

Bethea extended his hand to Norris when they walked by each other but Norris pulled his hand back over his head.

After the non-handshake, some words were exchanged between the teams’ assistant coaches and players, but nothing more happened. Some Keenan fans had words for Bethea as he headed back to the locker room.

“We run 2A,” Bethea could be heard saying as he left the court.

Norris said the incident stemmed from an all-state coaches’ meeting a few weeks ago. Gray Collegiate ended up with three players on the 2A all-state team despite having one only (Braylhan Thomas) ranked in the top three from Region 4-2A. Normally, the top two players from each region make the all-state team in each classification. Keenan’s Brian Sumpter was one of the two players and made it, but a player from Columbia High didn’t.

Coaches from Region 4-2A didn’t vote Gray players in the top two because they said they didn’t see them play this season. There was a reason for that: All teams from Region 4-2A forfeited all games against Gray Collegiate as a way of taking a stand on fair play and competitive balance concerns regarding charter and private schools that are S.C. High School League members.

“You mess over kids. It was wrong what was done,” Norris said. “But when you mess over a kid that is in his senior year, that is wrong. Not when honors are concerned.

“Gray has a good team, but it isn’t hard to play when you got them from all over the state and other states. ... But they stayed focused and I will give my props to them.”

Saturday’s game was the last meeting between the teams in 2A, with Gray Collegiate moving up to Class 4A because of SC High School League realignment and Keenan to 3A.

Bethea said he wouldn’t be opposed to scheduling Keenan again, but Norris isn’t sure. He said he would play them in a showcase or tournament but not as part of the Raiders’ non-conference schedule.

Gray Collegiate led wire to wire but had to hold off a couple of Keenan runs, including one in the fourth quarter. Nyheim McNeil’s 3-pointer helped Keenan cut Gray’s lead to 33-29.

But Gray’s LJ Britt answered with a 3-pointer to make it 36-29. Then Justin Pauling hit a basket and Keenan’s Tyheim McNeil got a technical for pushing Pauling. Trey Maddox hit two free throws to put Gray up 40-30.

Maddox finished with a game-high 14 points; Thomas, 12.

“The guys held it together. Of course, we got to get better shooting free throws,” Bethea said. “But outside of that, I am proud of the kids and proud of the staff.”

GCA: Treyvon Maddox 14, Braylhan Thomas 12, McDuffie 6, Pauling 5, Britt 4, Graham 2, Carr 2. K: Sumpter 9, Tyheim McNeil 9, Anderson 7, Nyheim McNeil 7, Simmons 5, McCullough 1

Girls

Landrum 31, Gray Collegiate 26

Savannah Brown scored 11 points and Kylie Fortner had 10 points as Landrum knocked off defending Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate to earn a spot in the state championship.

It’s the Cardinals’ first state championship trip since 1975. Landrum knocked off two storied programs to do it.

The Cardinals defeated Keenan on Tuesday and then the War Eagles on Saturday.

“There are certain teams, you know, there is almost like destiny to them,” Landrum coach Jared St. Charles said. “And we are just going to keep riding it out and playing hard. We got seniors and they find a way and they did today.”

Both teams struggled shooting in the second half and combined for just seven points in the third quarter.

Landrum found a little offense in the fourth and Brown hit two free throws to put Landrum ahead 23-22 with 6:40 left.

Landrum’s lead was 27-24 and Gray opted not to call a timeout, but had several wide-open looks and couldn’t hit a shot. Then Fortner broke free for an open layup to put Landrum up 29-24.

“We missed a gang of layups around the basket, which is uncharacteristic of our post players,” Gray coach Brandon Wallace said. “Sometimes that happens like that, man. The shots didn’t fall tonight. Landrum deserved to win the game.”

Kadence Walker-Lee led Gray with 12 points and Karlee Phelps had 11.

L: Savannah Brown 11, Kylie Fortner 10, Price 8, Cortez 2. GCA: Kadence Walker-Lee 12, Karlee Phelps 11, Mintz 2, Tatum 1