State high school basketball championships returning to Columbia

South Carolina’s public high school state basketball championships are returning to Columbia next spring.

The S.C. High School League approved the relocation to USC’s Colonial Life Arena during a committee meeting on April 9, which came after negotiations between the league and the University of South Carolina.

“We’re excited to bring the high school basketball championships back to Columbia,” SCHSL said in an official statement. “This is the best move for our athletes, coaches and fans.”

The state finals were held at Colonial Life Arena from 2003-2020 until they were moved due to cost and scheduling issues. Aiken hosted the finals from 2021-23, and the games were played in Florence the past two years.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with the high school association,” said USC Executive Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff Charles Bloom. “We’ve played football championships games at Williams-Brice Stadium, and we’ve had basketball games at Colonial Life Arena. There were some business things we had to work out.”

Ridge View High School, in Richland School District Two, has won six titles in the past eight years, including at least one at each host site, beating rival Blythewood High School this year. Blazers head boys basketball coach Joshua Staley said he’s excited for the finals to be closer to Ridge View’s campus in Columbia.

“Traditionally, that’s where it’s been,” Staley said. “Columbia is a basketball city. The games used to be well attended, and it’ll be good to have it back at home.”

Florence also hosted the lower and upper state championship games this season, but Columbia won’t get the same treatment. Only the state finals will be held in the Capital City. Staley, who led the Blazers to back-to-back state championships in his two seasons as head coach, believes the recent format made teams comfortable with the environment.

“That experience was very beneficial to the teams,” Staley said. “You get to play in the same arena twice – in the semis and in the finals. It gives you familiarity if you’re able to advance.”

The 18,000-seat Colonial Life Arena gives the SCHSL more opportunities to sell tickets, which will be $20 per day. Columbia also serves as a central location for the state’s high schools, making it easier for teams to travel long distances.

“If you’re a high school in the Upstate or a high school in the Lowcountry, you don’t have to travel to the opposite side of the state to get to the championship site,” Bloom said.

Bloom believes hosting the finals will help USC make a good early impression on high school athletes.

“While coaches are limited in their contact with prospects, it is a positive to have the tournament here from a recruiting standpoint because they get to see our facilities,” Bloom said. “That goes for any of the championship games that we host.”