BE boys’ volleyball battles back to win Lower State title

The Bishop England High School boys’ volleyball team is heading to the Class AAAA state championship. And the Bishops took a difficult path to the showdown.

 

The Bishops traveled to Lucy Beckham Oct. 30 for the Lower State championship and dropped the first two sets of the best-of-five, 25-21, 25-23.

 

But the Bishops showed mettle and plenty of talent, rallying to take the last three sets to reach the Nov. 2 championship game against Catawba Ridge. The match will be held at Dreher High School.

 

The Bishops won their third consecutive match to improve to 17-3. Catawba Ridge advanced with a 3-1 victory over Eastside to improve to 21-8-1 on the season.

 

Bishop England and Beckham played two times in the regular season, with each squad picking up a victory. The third match of the season was a charm for the Bishops.

 

Bishop England, which began tournament play as the No. 4 seed, knocked off Philip Simmons in the first round and upset No. 1 seed Myrtle Beach to set up the showdown against Beckham.

 

The High School League sanctioned boys’ volleyball last season, but did not sponsor last year’s state playoffs, which were organized by the state coaches’ association. Bishop England went undefeated last season and claimed the unofficial state title. The Nov. 2 showdown is the first officially sanctioned championship.

 

Meanwhile, four teams were scheduled to play Oct. 31 for berths in state championship matches, after the paper went to print.

 

The BE girls’ tennis team was playing for its 31st appearance in the state championship with a match against Greer Middle School.

 

The Bishops’ girls’ volleyball team was seeking its 36th Lower State championship. Coach Cindy Baggott’s squad played North Central.

 

Philip Simmons High School also had two teams playing for berths in the Class AAA state championships. The Iron Horse girls’ volleyball team played Camden, while the Iron Horse girls’ tennis team was set to play Camden as well.

 

FOOTBALL

 

It was a weekend of success for the Daniel Island high school football teams.

 

Philip Simmons matched its best regular-season record, finishing with a 9-1 record after defeating Region 8-AAA foe Battery Creek, 43-14, on the road. The Iron Horses, who were 3-1 in league play, were led by K.J. Asbury, who rushed for 261 yards and two scores while catching two passes for 28 yards, including one for a TD.

 

Philip Simmons hosts Manning Friday in a first-round playoff game.

 

Bishop England, meanwhile, traveled to Academic Magnet and picked up a 24-12 Region 7-AA victory.

 

The victory gave the Bishops a 2-7 record, including 1-3 in league play. The Bishops, a No. 4 seed in the Lower State bracket, will travel to Hampton County in a Class AA first-round game.

 

Dixon Hardy led the Bishops past the Raptors with a huge effort. He carried 28 times for 206 yards and three TDs. He also completed a pass and caught a pass.

 

Linebacker Fletcher Ethington-Carl led the defense with seven solo tackles while assisting on eight other stops. Matthew Ponkow had five solo tackles and forced a fumble. He was credited with 2.5 sacks.