Lower Richland’s Malcolm Rhett tries to drive against Daniel. Photos by Paulene Cruse The Daniel boys made it a clean sweep for the Lions over the Lower Richland Diamond Hornets with a 70–54 win to advance to the AAA Boys State Finals.

Keith Johnson led Lower Richland with 28 points in the losing effort.

Lower Richland took the lead 9–7 in an early seesaw battle with a 3–pointer from Keith Johnson. Daniel responded with two free throws from Shaq Lawson and a bucket from Hopkins to take the lead back at 11–9. The lead remained at two, 15–13, for Daniel at the end of the first quarter.

Daniel’s offense took advantage of Lower Richland’s inability to put points on the scoreboard in the second quarter going on a 13–0 run to take a 26–13 lead. A free throw from Johnson put the Diamond Hornets on the scoreboard. However, a basket from Hopkins kept the momentum on Daniel’s side entering halftime with the Lions leading 30–14.

Lower Richland’s Dominique Mi l ler shoots against Daniel. The Diamond Hornets tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter scoring the first points. However, Daniel kept answering their scores. Miller opened the quarter with a bucket for Lower Richland making the score 30–16. Lawson answered with a dunk. Johnson responded with a three–point bucket, making the score 32–19. Lawson again answered with a bucket. Johnson responded again with a bucket making the score 34–21.

The Lions slammed the door of opportunity shut on Lower Richland with a 6–0 run to extend the lead to 40–21. Later in the third quarter, Daniel added another mini–run, 4–0, making the score 46–25. The Diamond Hornets didn’t quit and scored the final six points to end the third quarter down 46–31.

Lower Richland cut the lead to 48–35 early in the fourth quarter, courtesy of a bucket from Miller and two free throws from Edward Stephens. Daniel responded with six straight points.

The Daniel lead grew as high as 20 later in the fourth quarter following a bucket from Lawson. However, a bucket from Johnson to go along with a bucket and a foul shot from Malcolm Rhett shrunk the Daniel lead to 69–54. A free throw from Antonio Can- non gave the Daniel Lions a 70–54 victory.