Eastside Basketball Takes Center Stage

Daniel High seniors Deleetric Greenlee and Justin Dotson aren't exactly new to playing on a big stage. The two were both freshmen in the 2009-2010 season, when the Lions brought home a state title, a fact that underscores one of Daniel's critical components to their playoff run this year - experience. 

All but one of Daniel's starters are seniors, and the other a junior. 

They'll hope that experience will serve them well Saturday night when they take on Eastside High, who have run roughshod over most of their competition en route to a region championship and No. 1 ranking. Eastside and Daniel tip off at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the AAA Upper State Final. The winner heads to Columbia for a shot at a state title. 

If Daniel's advantage this year has been its experience, it's disadvantage has been its size, with only two players standing at 6-foot-3. That may present a problem for the Lions against a massive Eastside frontcourt featuring center Wesley Johnson (6'8''), forward Luke Jones (6'5'') and repeating AAA South Carolina Player of the Year Davaris McGowens (6'5''). 

The Lions will counter with three main scoring threats. Senior Justin Dostsin is a two-time All-State selection. The two other leading scorers are senior Tyus Gaines and junior Jae'Lon Oglesby. 

Saturday presents a huge opportunity for the Eagles, who last won the Upper State Title in the 1984-1985 season, and who spent much of last year ranked No. 1 before being upset at home against Southside in the third round of the playoffs. Eastside has never won the state championship in basketball. 

Before Daniel went on its playoff run to reach the bright lights of the Bi-Lo Center, it dropped its home finale against Seneca, a team Eastside easily dispatched in the second round of the playoffs in a 95-62 bloodletting. The Eagles, coached by Tom Chamness, then blew out No. 5 Lower Richland to advance to the Upper State Final. 

Daniel comes into tonight's game with a 21-6 record, and Eastside with a 24-3 record.