Irmo Cruises Past Hillcrest for Upper State 4A Crown

Top-ranked Irmo pummeled Hillcrest High on Friday night 63-49 to claim the SC 4A Upper State championship and will put its undefeated record (28-0) on the line next week in the state final in Columbia. 

“So far through 28 games, our guys have met every challenge,” coach Tim Whipple said of his undefeated Yellow Jackets in a report from The State newspaper. “Now, we’ve gotten to the point we wanted to be, and now the last game will define our season.”

Hillcrest's star shooting guard and SC 4A Player of the Year, senior Tre Smith, scored a team high 25 of the Rams' 49 points, but was mostly double-teamed and kept off-balance all night, with many of his points coming off free throws.

Meanwhile, his teammates suffered a dismal shooting percentage, struggling all night to get shots to fall amid Irmo's stifling defense.

Irmo led the game from the opening tip, pulling away with double-digit leads throughout the second half.

Whipple noted his team probably played its best half-court defense that he's coached in his career, continually pressuring the Rams, outrebounding them, and capitalizing on second-chance shots. Still, he noted that despite the big leads he never discounted the Rams' ability to possibly mount a comeback.

“The way [the Rams] press and as athletic as they are, we needed a 20-point lead at the end to feel comfortable,” Whipple said of Hillcrest, which ended its stellar season with a 23-4 record.

The Yellow Jackets knocked the Rams out of contention last year, too, ousting them in the second round of the playoffs. With the win Friday night, Irmo will now advance to the state championship game for the second time in three years.

Irmo last won a state title in 2011, beating Ridge View.

Irmo will face Lower State champs, Goose Creek, in the state finals scheduled for next Friday night in Columbia at Colonial Life Arena.

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