Jackets, T-Breds in fight for fourth

Tonight's game between the boys' basketball teams from North Augusta and South Aiken high schools has a great deal riding on it. That's not because both teams are playing well and battling for Region 5-AAAA supremacy. It's the opposite, as the two programs have struggled since region play began. Both are fighting to keep their hopes of making the playoffs alive.

With only three games remaining in the regular season, the Yellow Jackets and Thoroughbreds are near, or at, the bottom of the standings. North Augusta's record has fallen to 11-9 - 2-5 in region - as a result of a four-game losing skid.

The latest loss, a 63-52 setback to White Knoll on Tuesday, left the Yellow Jackets tied with the Timberwolves for fourth place. Only the top four teams in the region will make the Class AAAA state playoffs.

The only team trailing North Augusta is South Aiken (8-12, 1-6). In fact, the Yellow Jackets' last win was a 54-40 triumph over the T-Breds on Jan. 13.

"We want to be able to win; it's been tough," North Augusta coach Al Young said. "We've played pretty good; we've just had let downs in certain areas, and at critical times. This is a crucial game; nothing is more important than tonight's game."

With so few games remaining, tonight's contest assumes greater significance. If South Aiken loses, it will be eliminated from playoff contention. In that scenario, the best it could finish is 3-7, which would be the worst record with which North Augusta could finish the season. Even if there was a deadlock for fourth place, the Yellow Jackets would own the tiebreaker, having swept the season series.

The silver lining for the T-Breds is they still control their own destiny.

Although they have no margin for error, if they win out - beating North Augusta, White Knoll and Aiken - they would assure themselves of being in fourth place.

Should that happen, South Aiken would own a tiebreaker with White Knoll and potentially face a play-in game with the Yellow Jackets.

That's assuming they win their final two games against Aiken and Orangeburg-Wilkinson - the third- and second-place team in the region, respectively.

A loss tonight wouldn't eliminate North Augusta, but the best-case scenario on Saturday morning would be a three-way tie for fourth place with White Knoll and South Aiken. Splitting the season series with both, a tie at the end of the regular season would result in a play-in game.

"We've got a tough road ahead of us," Young said, "but if we don't take care of (tonight), it probably won't matter."

White Knoll will play at O-W tonight. Its last two games will be at home against South Aiken and first-place Lexington.

Roland rolling

It has been a big week for Lexington's Shaq Roland - and it's not over yet.

On Tuesday, he scored a game-high 28 points in a win over South Aiken. His point total provided the winning margin in the 87-59 triumph, the sixth victory in a row for the Wildcats who are a perfect 7-0 in region play.

On Wednesday, South Carolina's Mr. Football confirmed his verbal commitment to USC, signing his letter of intent to play receiver for the Gamecocks. According to published reports, he doesn't intend to play basketball in college.

With a win over Aiken tonight, Lexington would clinch a share of the Region 5-AAAA title. That would make Roland a favorite to be named region player of the year for a second consecutive season. That would likely make Aiken senior Devante Butler runner-up for the second time in a row.

"Last year, he beat me out for player of the year," Butler said earlier this season, showing respect for Roland's skills without being intimidated by the star. "He's a really good player, but he's just like me in that he puts his pants on one leg at a time. He's human."

The two stars figure to be matched against each other a good deal tonight. Coming off an impressive victory over Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Tuesday, Aiken will try to beat Lexington for the first time since December of 2009. The Hornets were blown out, 63-37, earlier this season.

Tonight's Games

* North Augusta at South Aiken

* Aiken at Lexington

* Brookland-Cayce at Midland Valley

* Silver Bluff at Pelion

* Strom Thurmond at Eau Claire

* Blackville-Hilda at Ridge Spring-Monetta

* North at Wagener-Salley

* Calhoun County at Williston-Elko

Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been a professional journalist for more than a decade.

REGION 5-AAAA BOYS' BASKETBALL STANDINGS

TEAM REGION OVERALL

1. Lexington 7-0 17-5

2. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 5-2 17-4

3. Aiken 4-3 14-7

4. White Knoll 2-5 11-11

4. North Augusta 2-5 11-10

6. South Aiken 1-6 8-12