Category Archives: Sports
Easley cheer squad wins first state title
COLUMBIA — Just a year removed from finishing second at the Class 4A state championship, the Easley Green Wave competitive cheer 
team reached their ultimate goal on Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, winning the state title for the first time in school history.
The Green Wave, who finished second behind Catawba Ridge at the Upper State championship on Nov. 14, were able to overcome the Copperheads on their way to winning the title.
Easley scored 304.5 points in the competition to best second-place Lucy Beckham’s 295.5 points and third-place Catawba Ridge’s 295.
Rounding out the top 10 in Class 4A were A.C Flora, Riverside, Airport, Myrtle Beach, Irmo, West Florence and Hilton Head.
The title comes on the heels of the Wave finishing second in the state in 2021, coming up shy of repeat state champion A.C. Flora, as well as a third-place finish in 2020.
This week in Football Frenzy
Powdersville ends Lions’ 36-game win streak with late touchdown, two-point conversion 2B, Clemson defense makes statement in win over Miami
All this and so much more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, exclusively in the Pickens County Courier NOW ON SALE! Get the print edition at a grocery, drug or convenience store near you. LOGIN AND SEE ENTIRE SECTION!
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
County volleyball stars earn statewide honors
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — After an extremely successful season that saw two county volleyball teams advance to the third round of the playoffs and one 
advance all the way to the state championship game, Pickens County has seen seven local players earn statewide honors.
Starting with the Class 2A Upper State champion Liberty Red Devils, two players earned distinct honors. Liberty senior hitter Skyler Clayborn was the lone Red Devil named to the 2A All-State team selected by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women’s Sports (SCCAWS). While not selected to the All-State team, Liberty’s do-it-all senior setter Teagan Owens was named a member of the North
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
County tipoff
Photos by Jessica Mackey/Courier
Pickens County high schools kicked off basketball season last week with the second-annual Pickens County Basketball Jamboree at Liberty High School. All four county schools were represented during the games, with the Easley squads taking on Liberty and Daniel facing off with Pickens. The games were contested in single 20-minute halves with a running clock. Easley took both of the matchups with Liberty, winning 24-2 in the girls’ game and 24-8 in the boys’ matchup. In the other games, the Pickens girls downed Daniel16-4, while the Daniel boys cruised to a 31-13 win over the Blue Flame. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Pickens’ Jayden Harden looking for an outlet while being guarded by Daniel’s Destiny Hoover, Liberty’s Alex Peraza laying in a ball against the outstretched arm of Easley’s Carson Freeze, Daniel’s Tristyn Carrington driving by Pickens’ Tucker Perry on his way to the hoop and Easley’s Olivia Gramblin shooting over the top of the Red Devil defense. The season will get into full swing for all four county teams over the next few weeks.
Powdersville stuns Daniel with late score to halt streak
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
POWDERSVILLE — Hanging on to a 35-28 lead with just 14 seconds left in the game, the Daniel Lions needed just one more stop in Friday night’s third-round playoff battle at Powdersville.
The Daniel defense, which had rounded into one of the state’s best after having to replace eight starters to startthe year, had been battered by 46 Patriot rushes, and on the third-down play from the Lions’ 1-yard line, they were
unable to stop Powdersville quarterback Eli Hudgins from getting to the edge and cutting the lead to 35-34 with 8 seconds remaining.
Luckily for Daniel, the Patriots gave the Lions another chance for a game-winning stop as they elected to try
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Clemson defense makes statement in win over Miami
By Ian Taylor
Courtesy The Journal
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — Clemson will finish the year with at least 10 wins for the 12th time in a row after dismantling Miami 40-10 at home on Saturday.
The No. 9 Tigers (10-1, 8-0 ACC) now have the second-longest active streak of 10-win seasons in the country — only behind Alabama’s streak
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Smith steps down as PHS football coach
PICKENS — Just two weeks removed from the end of its season, the Pickens High School Blue Flame football program is in search of a new head coach after Chad Smith stepped down from the position on Friday.
A PHS graduate and former Blue Flame football standout, Smith guided the program for six seasons, with a 17-41 record and two playoff berths. The Blue Flame finished 4-6 this fall.
“Pickens High School would like to thank Coach Smith for his leadership over the football program for the past six years,” Pickens principal Jeff Duncan said in a statement released by
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY!
LIONS DISTROY WOODRUFF TO SET UP SHOWDOWN WITH POWDERSVILLE 2B, EASLEY SEASON IN REVIEW 3B, LIBERTY SEASON IN REVIEW 4B, PICKENS SEASON IN REVIEW 5B, CLEMSON BOUNCES BACK AGAINST LOUISVILLE 7B
All this and so much more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, exclusively in the Pickens County Courier NOW ON SALE! Get the print edition at a grocery, drug or convenience store near you. LOGIN AND SEE ENTIRE SECTION!
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
Daniel’s Williams wins state XC title
By Eric Sprott
Courtesy The Journal
eric@upstatetoday.com
CENTRAL — The amount of effort that Ashby Williams pours into honing her craft gives her ample reason to go into races with confidence.
But add in a touch of fear, and she’s particularly hard to hang with — something her opposition on Saturday morning in Columbia learned the hard way.
The Daniel High School sophomore was at her very best at Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center, as she captured the individual Class 3A
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
County athletes sign with colleges
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COUNTY — With the fall athletic season nearing its end, the first signing period of the year is here for high school athletes, and students from Pickens and Liberty have already taken advantage by signing to compete at the next level.
Pickens High School hosted the first signing event last week, with Macie Gentry and Cooper O’Sullivan signing to continue their athletic careers next fall.
Gentry, a multi-year starter and 2021 Class 4A state champion on the Pickens volleyball team, will continue her volleyball career at North
You must be logged in to view this content.
Subscribe Today or Login
