March to the Midlands: Local Powerhouses Set for High-Stakes SCHSL Playoff Tip-Off

As the calendar turns toward mid-February, the lights are brightening on the South Carolina high school basketball scene. Local programs from the Rock Hill and Fort Mill areas are gearing up for the 2026 SCHSL playoffs, with several teams entering the postseason on massive high notes.

The road to the state championships at Colonia Life Arena (March 5–7) begins now. Here is how your local favorites stack up as the first round tips off.

5A Division 2: The Battle of Region 3

The local spotlight shines brightest here, where several area rivals are set for high-stakes matchups on Monday, Feb. 16.

• Nation Ford: The Falcons enter the playoffs with a head of steam. They secured a (3) seed and a first-round bye after a thrilling 95–93 victory over rival Fort Mill to close the regular season. They will wait to face the winner of a first-round clash later next week.

• Fort Mill & Northwestern: In one of the most intriguing first-round matchups, (5) Fort Mill will host (12) Northwestern. The Yellow Jackets recently bested the Trojans 53–40 in early February, but in a “win or go home” scenario, Northwestern will be looking for the upset on the road.

• Indian Land: Coming off a strong 17–9 regular season, the (6) Warriors will host (11) Greenwood. Indian Land has shown they can play with anyone, recently splitting a tough stretch against Fort Mill and Northwestern.

• Catawba Ridge: The Copperheads find themselves on the road as the (9) seed, traveling to face (8) Eastside. Catawba Ridge looks to regain the form that saw them dominant early in the season.

5A Division 1 & 4A: Tuesday Night Lights

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the action shifts to the biggest and most competitive brackets in the state.

• South Pointe & Lancaster: The Stallions and Bruins are looking like legitimate title contenders in Class 4A. (5) South Pointe hosts (12) Dreher, a team they just dismantled 67–40 on February 10. Meanwhile, (3) Lancaster hosts (14) Berea, looking to extend a double-digit win streak that has them ranked among the best in the state.

• Clover & Rock Hill: In 5A Division 1, (6) Clover hosts (11) Blythewood. Clover has been battle-tested in a brutal region and will need their home-court advantage. (12) Rock Hill faces a tall task, traveling to take on a perennial powerhouse in (5) Spartanburg.

• York: The Cougars fell just short in a 63–60 heartbreaker to Lancaster recently and will look to make a splash as the brackets finalize.

2A & Charter/Private Schools

• York Preparatory Academy: The Patriots are ready for a deep run in Class 2A. They host Woodland on Monday, Feb. 16. York Prep remains one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the area.

• Legion Collegiate & Riverwalk Academy: While the SCHSL brackets are the primary focus, our local charter programs have been navigating their own challenging schedules. Legion Collegiate recently celebrated a Senior Night win over South Charlotte, while Riverwalk Academy is looking to build on their 5-win season as they transition into the offseason.

Local Playoff Schedule at a Glance