Dorman basketball turns to youth to capture tournament crown
TAYLORS – Dorman made the decision to leave Spartanburg County to begin its 2021-22 basketball season, and the Cavaliers are returning to Roebuck with a Greenville County Championship.
Class AAAAA Dorman used an array of offensive weapons Wednesday night to defeat Class AAAA Travelers Rest, 63-50, to win the Greenville County Thanksgiving Tournament at Eastside High School.
“It was a great tournament,” said Dorman coach Thomas Ryan. “It was an honor to come over here and play. Eastside and Travelers Rest did a great job (hosting the tournament). It was a great tournament. Travelers Rest is really going to have a great year. They have a good team.”
The Cavaliers (3-0) have advanced to the state championship game in five consecutive seasons, winning four titles.
“I was really proud of our guys tonight,” Ryan said. “Especially when Noah (Clowney) got in foul trouble; it forced other guys to step up. We had relied on (Clowney) in the first two games of the tournament, but he was a non-factor tonight. It was good that other guys made plays.”
Dorman has seen many of its players graduate and go on to play at collegiate level in recent years. Ryan is now looking at a young back-court that needs playing experience.
“All of our guards are sophomores or juniors,” Ryan said. “For them to come in here and beat a Travelers Rest team that is that good, I couldn’t be more pleased. We are trying to build continuity. We lost some seniors that are playing in college now. We are just trying to figure out how they are going to handle playing when the lights come on, and that’s why these preseason tournaments are so good.”
With Alabama commit Clowney in foul trouble, senior Jordyn Surratt took control of the paint and led the Cavaliers with 17 points.
Travelers Rest (2-1) used the contest as measuring-stick as the Cavaliers will more than likely be the toughest competition the Devildogs will see once they begin their Class AAAA schedule.
“Our kids need to understand that we belong here,” said Travelers Rest coach Josh Mills. “I believe we belong on the floor. (Dorman) is a great team. I am not taking anything away from them. They are a great team, but I believe we belong on the floor with them.”
Mills said the Devildogs have certain areas of their game that they need to work on as they will face a tough non-conference schedule that includes contests with Class AAAAA Riverside and Wade Hampton and rival Berea.
“I thought we played a little tentative in the first half,” said Mills. “We played more aggressively in the second half. When you play a team like (Dorman), you can’t be passive. We played a little passive there, but I felt we played much better in the second half. We actually won the second half, I think.”
After trailing the Cavaliers 34-18 at Halftime, the Devildogs out-scored Dorman 32-29 in the second half.
Junior Caleb Mills led the Devildogs with a game-high 18 points, including five 3-pointers.
Wade Hampton defeated Eastside, 75-66, to win the third-place game. Chris Abercrombie led the Generals with 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
