Lexington overpowers Byrnes for SCHSL 5-A boys basketball state title
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA – Lexington felt like it should have won the SCHSL Class 5-A boys basketball state championship last season.
That stung and given another chance, the Wildcats left no doubt.
Cam Scott scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Jaxon Prunty put up a team-high 23 points as the Wildcats pulled away in the second half to trounce James F. Byrnes 67-48 to win the state championship on Friday at the Florence Center.
Lexington guard Cam Scott, who had 21-points and 12 rebounds, leads a fast break during the 2024 SCHSL Class 5-A Boys Basketball State Championship Game. (3/1/2024)
Photo by Mike Duprez
“It’s just a great feeling to get here,” said Lexington coach Elliott Pope. “I’m incredibly blessed with a great group of guys. And my family at home. You can’t do this without all the pieces.”
Kaleb Evans added 12 points for the Wildcats, who finished their banner season with a 28-2 record. The Wildcats were undefeated against South Carolina teams.
It was Lexington’s first championship since 2000.
Lexington boys basketball coach Elliott Pope watches intently as his team competes in the 2024 SCHSL Class 5-A Boys Basketball State Championship Game (3/1/2024)
Photo by Mike Duprez
Byrnes guard Will Fowler produced a game-high 26 points, with 20 coming in the first half as he practically single-handedly kept his team in the game.
The taller Wildcats held a dominating 46-29 edge on the boards. Caleb Campbell, a 6-foot-8 forward, matched the Texas-bound Scott with 12 rebounds.
Scott gave Lexington the lead for good on a 3-point play late in the first quarter.
When it looked like the Wildcats were going to pull away in the second quarter, Fowler converted a three-point play and went for a layup off a turnover, cutting Lexington’s lead to 29-22 right before halftime.
Lexington forward Caleb Campbell (24) secures one of his 12 rebounds during the 2024 SCHSL Class 5-A Boys Basketball State Championship Game. (3/1/2024)
Photo by Mike Duprez
Scott erupted for 12 of his points in the third period as Lexington asserted control of the game, something Pope has seen previously.
“We’ve had this thing with him since the eighth grade,” Pope said. “It’s time to go. That’s what I told him.”
By the time Scott connected on a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, Lexington held a comfortable 46-32 lead.
“We just did what coach Pope said,” Evans said. “The shots we took, they had to be good shots.”
And when Scott roared in uncontested for a highlight reel dunk, there was a sense of inevitability in the arena.
The 6-foot-6 Scott added a windmill dunk for good measure with just over a minute remaining and the celebration was moments away.
“It’s great to finish at the top,” Scott said. "We felt like we had the best team last year and we were second in the [Upper State] playoffs. So that motivated us toward the end of the year.”
The Wildcats, who came out of their locker room roaring, were ready.
There was an extensive celebration right after Seth Adams drove in for a dunk that didn’t count but drove home the point.
“We worked hard all week,” Evans said. “That’s really all it is. We worked hard in practice and it carried over to the game.”
