Category Archives: Sports
Pickens downs Catawba Ridge for Upper State crown, plays for state title Saturday
The Lady Blue Flame readies to storm the court in celebration as the team captures the Upper State Championship Tuesday in Fort Mill
FORT MILL — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame volleyball team captured its fifth straight Upper State Championship on Tuesday night against Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill and will meet Aiken High School in the state title match Saturday at Dreher High School in Columbia.
“This was an important win as we were not on our home court,” said Lady Blue Flame Head Coach Rikki Owens. “Saturday will be a very special day as many of these young ladies have played together for years. They
On The Cusp
The volleyball teams at both Pickens and Liberty high schools picked up big wins on the court last
week to move to within one win of a state championship appearance this week. Pickens traveled to Catawba Ridge for the Class 4A Upper State crown on Tuesday night, the same night Liberty hit the road to Greenville to take on St. Joseph’s with a trip to the 2A state championship on the line. Results from both Upper State matches were unavailable at press time, but to read more about last week’s victories for both squads. Above, Lady Blue Flame players Faith Clarkson, left, and Caroline Lucas set up a double block against Westwood on Thursday in the third round of the playoffs. Inset, Liberty girls celebrate a point during their win over Landrum in the third round Thursday.
Photos by Robert Bradley and Jessica Mackey
Liberty edges out Landrum to advance to Upper State for first time since 2014
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — Two sets into its third-round playoff match against Landrum, the Liberty Red Devil volleyball team seemed poised to advance to the Upper State finals.
The Red Devils (18-1, 11-1 Region I-2A), were up 2-0 after taking the opening sets 25-17 and 25-19, before the Cardinals stormed back to even
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Pickens playing for fifth straight Upper State championship
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — After earning a well-deserved bye in the first round of the playoffs due to a 35-3 regular-season record and an unbeaten run through Region I-4A, the Pickens High School volleyball team took down the South Pointe Stallions and the Westwood Redhawks in the second and third rounds of the Class 4A state volleyball playoffs, advancing to meet
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Lions clinch region title, wrap up unbeaten regular season
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
BELTON — With their third consecutive region title and undefeated regular season on the line, the Daniel Lions 
traveled to Belton on Friday night to face the Belton-Honea Path Bears.
Behind a strong defensive effort and a standout game from senior quarterback and Mr. Football finalist Trent Pearman, the Lions achieved both in a 35-7 win.
“It’s a great win,” Pearman said. “It gives us some good momentum going into the playoffs, and it will really help us. It’s not easy to win this back to back.”
Senior defensive end Jahiem Lawson was a force early, picking up 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack as the Daniel offense stalled out for most of the first quarter. Even as the offense picked things up later in the game, the defense was the highlight of the night.
At just about every opportunity, the Lions’ defense did what it needed to do, including a
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Green Wave top Travelers Rest to secure home playoff game
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — A lot was on the line Friday night when Easley hosted Region I-4A foe Travelers Rest at Bill Carr Stadium.
Second place in the region was at stake, which meant a home playoff game in the first round.
A win would also give Easley a winning record for the season.
It was mission accomplished for the Green Wave, as they held off the Devildogs, 29-17.
“We’re extremely proud,” Easley coach Jordan Durrah said. “It wasn’t our best tonight. It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, we won the game and we met our goals. I’m proud of this team, of these coaches, the community and this administration. The future is bright.”
Travelers Rest got the ball first, but was forced to punt. Joey Plummer tackled TR quarterback Caleb Mills for a two-yard loss.
Easley took over at the 4-yard line and four plays later hit the big play. Easley shifted
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Devils’ season comes to a close with loss
By Clay Hamlett
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
IVA — It was approximately 10 p.m. on Friday night and the Liberty Red Devils football team — having just been dealt a lopsided 50-7 loss at Crescent in their final game of the season — huddled together on the 30-yard line.
At the center of the group stood a coaching staff that has poured their heart and soul into the young men, teaching 
them everything from on-the-field improvements to the importance of maintaining values like character and discipline.
Moments later, Red Devils coach Paul Sutherland highlighted the special coach-player
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Rams dominate Pickens in return to Bruce Field for regular-season finale
PICKENS — In what felt like an echo of years gone by, the Pickens Blue Flame put on their pads, donned their all-
blue uniforms and marched down the hill at the legendary Bruce Field for the first time in many years to face the Westside Rams for the final game of the 2021 season on Friday night.
The excitement was magnified by the fans sitting in a familiar spot to see the Blue Flame play on the historic field.
“I didn’t think how much it would mean to me until we 
were actually out here and the game started,” Pickens head coach Chad Smith said after the game.
Smith, a former Blue Flame player himself, played many a game on Bruce Field.
“I had all kinds of memories rush back to me when we came down the hill,” Smith said. “It was special. It was really cool. I didn’t think I was going to have that reaction to it, but I did.”
Pickens was forced to play its final game at Bruce Field, now owned by the city of Pickens, because of water issues on the home turf at Pickens High School.
However, what started out as a dream at the old stadium soon turned into a nightmare
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Pickens eyeing 4A state title as playoff run begins
PICKENS — The Pickens High School Lady Blue Flame volleyball team downed Travelers Rest and Westside to complete a clean slate of region wins and now turns its attention to the state playoffs.
“The Lady Blue Flame had a strong finish to the regular season this week as they beat both Travelers Rest and Westside in three straight sets,” Pickens coach Rikki Owens said. “While hosting Travelers Rest, we honored our eight seniors, who have each contributed to
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Liberty downs Greer Middle College to open Class 2A volleyball playoffs
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
LIBERTY — One year removed from winning a region title before falling in the first round of the playoffs, the Liberty Red Devil volleyball team entered their first-round matchup with Greer Middle College last Thursday 
hoping to avoid a similar outcome.
The back-to-back region champion Red Devils did just that, taking care of business in the first round by sweeping the Blazers by scores of 25-21, 25-20 and 25-22.
“Last year was tough,” Liberty head coach Carla Simpson
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