Titans Storm Past Golden Warriors In Semifinal Upset

Sumter, SC- Sophomore Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help push the Titans past #2 seeded John Paul II, 59-49, in a SCISA 4A Region III Semifinal matchup at the Sumter County Civic Center on Saturday afternoon. Fellow Sophomore Swisher Boggess (Morgantown, WV/University High School) chipped in 12 for the Titans. After taking a 12-7 lead after the first quarter, and leading by as many as 11, the Golden Warriors would cut the lead to just 22-20 at the half. Early in the third quarter, the Golden Warriors would end up taking a lead as large as five points behind the strong play of Shaun Phelan, who finished with 24 on the afternoon. In the home stretch of the third quarter, however, the Titans would reclaim the lead and never look back. Clinging to a tight 41-39 lead through three quarters, Trinity would continually stretch the lead throughout the fourth quarter with some clutch defensive play by Senior Mac Burch (Florence, SC/All Saints' Epsicopal Day School) helping to shut down the John Paul II offense. Senior Jy'ell Preston (Darlington, SC/Darlington Middle School) was strong as always, finishing with 11 points for Trinity.

The Titans will return to the Sumter County Civic Center to play for a second consecutive region championship on Tuesday, Feburary 17th. Tip-off in Sumter is scheduled for 7:30 PM.