Category Archives: Sports
LHS football coach retires
LIBERTY — Coming off Liberty High School’s season ending loss on Friday night, Liberty head football Paul Sutherland announced his 
retirement on Monday.
Sutherland joined Liberty in 2021, bringing decades of experience and a proven track record. Before his time with the Red Devils, he led programs at Pendleton High School for 17 seasons and at Franklin County HighSchool in Georgia for three years. His overall head coaching record stands at 161-116.
“Coach Sutherland’s impact on
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Pickens sweeps Bishop England for 18th volleyball championship
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — Having dropped just one set on its way to the Class 4A volleyball state championship, the Pickens High School volleyball team prepared for possibly its biggest challenge yet with the title on the line against the Bishop England Battling Bishops on 
Saturday.
The Bishops, the national leader in volleyball state championships according to the South Carolina High School League, failed to provide much of a challenge for Pickens as the Blue Flame swept the Bishops 3-0 in straight sets to secure Pickens’ 18th volleyball state championship in school history.
“I’m just trying to let this soak in and realize what just happened,” Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton said after the win. “We are a solid all-around team and we have grit. Our word for tonight was relentless. I told them to be relentless, and that’s what we came out and did.”
The championship win was the second straight for the Blue Flame — their first back-to-back titles since 2013-14.
“Honestly, I’ve just been praying the whole season that we would make it back,” Pickens senior setter Lily Clarkson said. “We just had to believe and trust in God’s plan, and
Balance key for state champs
Last season, when the Pickens High School volleyball team overcame a year of adversity to secure the 17th state championship in school history, I wrote that if 2024 was a
“down” year for Pickens volleyball, I hoped teams would be ready for what was to come from arguably the state’s top volleyball program.
However, it seemed nobody was ready for the Blue Flame in 2025 as they took down the competition with ease on their way to another state championship on Saturday against Bishop England. The win was
This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
DROUGHT ENDED
Red Devils take down Pelion for first playoff win since 2016
Lions survive Dreher to advance; Easley season in review; Flame fall to westside in round one; Clemson finds footing against FSU all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
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Flame advance to state title game
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — With a trip to the Class 4A state championship on the line, the Pickens High School volleyball team hosted Wren on Tuesday night, looking to return to the state championship after winning it all in 2024.
The Blue Flame took care of business in dominant fashion, sweeping the Hurricanes 3-
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
STILL SUPREME
Lions take down Greer for seventh straight region championship
Greenwood ends Easley’s season; Devils outlast Blacksburg; pickens clinches playoff spot; tiger defense disappoints duke loss all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
TWO IN A ROW
Red Devils take down Landrum for second straight region win
Lions lash Blue Ridge; Yellow Jackets sting Easley; Flame falter against Seneca; Tigers set to host Duke all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
FRESHMAN FORCE
BIBB TIES DANIEL FROSH SCORING RECORD AS LIONS DRUB COUNTY FOE PICKENS
Hillcrest downs Green Wave; Devil defense dominates Chesnee; Blue Flame fall to Daniel; Tigers lose acc title game rematch all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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This week in the PICKENS COUNTY COURIER’s FOOTBALL FRENZY Sponsored by MOUNTAIN VIEW FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS
600
DANIEL PICKS UP 600TH WIN IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH VICTORY OVER TRAVELERS REST
EASLEY FALLS AT MAULDIN; LIBERTY LOOKS TOWARD CHESNEE; PICKENS PREPARES FOR DANIEL; TIGERS BASH BOSTON COLLEGE all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
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Pickens downs Daniel to reclaim Region 2-4A title
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — One year removed from dropping its first region championship in over a decade, the Pickens High School volleyball team looked to reclaim the Region 2-4A championship against Daniel last Thursday.
Despite dropping their first set in the entirety of their unbeaten region run, the Blue Flame were able to take care of business against the Lions pulling out a 3-1 win to secure the region crown.
“It means everything to these players,” Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton said. “This was one of our goals and we just talked about in the huddle after the match, ‘Goal #1 is there’ so now we can add another up to that wall and that banner.”
The Blue Flame came out of the gate strong building an early lead in the opening set. Daniel tried to battle back, but Pickens never gave up its lead as Lily Clarkson (Three kills, five assists, two aces) and Kaci Gillespie (four kills and three assists) put together a masterful set to allow the Flame to take the opener 25-17.
The Lions responded in the second set taking control with a block from All-State middle blocker Zara Russell. This time, it was the Lions who maintained control throughout the set with libero Ava Ross throwing herself all over the floor to showcase her defensive prowess, while outside hitter Anusha Venayagamoorthy found her groove with six kills as the Lions took the set 26-24.
Having dropped their first set in region play, the Blue Flame came back in the third with a dominant effort in the third set, taking it 25-17 to build a 2-1 lead.
“We knew it was going to be a fight,” Clarkson said. “We knew what we had to do and I think we executed really well.”
The Lions found even more trouble to start the fourth set with setter Maleah Gibson going down with an injury early but stayed close by trailing 17-15.
The Blue Flame finished strong with Gillespie picking up a kill as well as two aces to help the Flame get to match point. There, she assisted Clarkson for the final point as the Blue Flame took the set 25-18 to secure the 3-1 win.
While disappointed with the loss, Daniel coach Hayley Hoover was still encouraged by the play of her team in the loss.
“We had a lot of great moments tonight, we just had a really hard time stringing them all together and getting on some runs,” Hoover said. “We’re going to tighten up a few things and focus on finishing region strong next week.”
The Lions were set to finish region play with matchups against Blue Ridge and Greer at home this week, while the Blue Flame hit the road for region matchups against Seneca and Travelers Rest.
The Class 4A state volleyball playoffs are set to begin on Oct. 22.
t to begin on Oct. 22.
