Bank of Holly Springs

Behind The Scoreboard

Gamecocks, Lady ’Dogs in Final Four

It’s been a turbulent ride, but the Final Four has been set. And hopefully your bracket is still holding up.

In the national semi-finals this Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, a number three seed, Oregon (the Midwest champ), will face a number one seed, North Carolina.  And South Carolina (a seventh seed) will be in a matchup with Gonzaga (the number one seed from the West Regional).

As far as the Southeastern Conference, South Carolina has made history in the NCAA men’s tournament.

One could easily describe the Elite Eight game Sunday as an all-out SEC war, as the Gamecocks upset the fourth-seeded Florida 77-70 to advance to the Final Four.

It seems as though South Carolina is getting the hang of winning NCAA tournament games. And now, the Gamecocks have earned their first-ever trip to the Final Four.

South Carolina’s defense helped them secure a spot in the national semi-finals. The Gamecocks used their trademark swarming defense and some solid free-throw shooting to beat their fellow SEC foe, the Gators.

The game was as close as expected until the final minute. There were at least 14 lead changes and 10 ties. The last lead change came on two free throws by Sindarius Thornwell with 2:24 left ticking that made it 65-63.

The Florida Gators had led at halftime 40-33.

This was the third straight game the Gamecocks had trailed at the half and rallied to win.

This has been South Carolina’s deepest run in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks defeated number-two-seed Duke in the second round on its way to the Sweet 16, making their first appearance in the regional semi-finals. There, the Gamecocks handed the Baylor Bears their worst tournament loss, 70-50. And then came a berth in the Final Four after topping Florida. South Carolina has added a missing piece to its rich basketball history.

Switching to the NCAA women’s basketball championship for the SEC, Mississippi State’s Lady Bulldogs took care of business Sunday night. The number two seed knocked off top-seeded Baylor 94-85 in overtime to reach the Final Four.

Morgan William scored a career-high of 41 points, a school record for most points in an NCAA tournament game. Victoria Vivians added 24 and Teaira McCowan 10.

This game featured 24 lead changes before the Lady Bulldogs clinched  their first berth in the Final Four.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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