(Photo by Alpha Invitational)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
A strong pre-Christmas showing has helped Gray Collegiate Academy boys basketball gain the top ranking in the final 2025 S.C. Basketball Coaches Association poll.
The War Eagles moved to the top spot in Class 4A. Ironically, the poll was released the same day they defeated Region 4-4A and then-number one North Augusta 64-56 at home.
Gray Collegiate went 3-0 to win the Alpha Invitational in Kingsport, Tenn. It defeated Tullahoma (Tenn.) 70-36 on Thursday and beat the host school Dobyns-Bennett 64-54 the next night.
In Saturday’s final, the War Eagles defeated Belen Jesuit (Fla.) 72-66 in overtime for their fourth straight win. Cam Arthur scored 17 points; Ricky Littlejohn had 15 points and Jayden Rowe finished with 10 points.
Arthur was named Player of the game and Littlejohn and Des Harrington were named Co-MVP of the tournament.
“We got better this whole weekend,” Gray Collegiate Academy head coach Dion Bethea. “You’re talking about a great group on both sides. It was real competitive. It could have gone either way. I’m just glad it went in our favor. We’re walking out of here as winners, but we got a whole lot better and we’re going to take everything that we learned about ourselves moving forward.”
Gray Collegiate closes out 2025 in Norcross, Ga. In the Peachtree Corners Invitational. They are scheduled to face Newton (Ga.) at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 30.
On the girls side, the Lady War Eagles returned to the Beach Ball Classic seeking a second straight title. They competed in the Sylvia Hatchell Division and opened with a 63-53 win over Socastee.
A 57-28 win over Fort Dorchester set up a final matchup Monday against undefeated Camden. After taking a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, the Lady War Eagles were outscored 11-5 in the second quarter to ball behind 21-20 at the half.
Despite a game-high 17 points and 15 rebounds from Aneya Britt, the Lady War Eagles fell 42-35.
AIRPORT/BROOKLAND-CAYCE
The seventh-ranked Bearcats headed into the Holiday Break looking to extend their 5-game winning streak against two Charlotte, N.C. opponents.
They faced Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology on Monday and Convian Community on Tuesday.
Just before the holiday break, the Airport boys defeated Wagener-Salley 77-60 for its second win of the season.
Richard Harley posted a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds and Tristan McCary had 18 points and 10 boards.
S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS
BOYS
Class 4A
1. Gray Collegiate, 2. North Augusta, 3. Seneca, 4. Wilson, 5. May River, 6. Crestwood, 7. Brookland Cayce, 8. South Pointe, 9. South Florence, 10. Darlington
GIRLS
(Class 4A)
1. Westside, 2. Camden, 3. North Augusta, 4. South Pointe, 5. South Florence, 6. South Aiken, 7. Blue Ridge, 8. Daniel, 9. Lower Richland, 10. Gray Collegiate Academy
