Ridge View (SC) rallied late to become the first team from South Carolina to win the Chick-fil-A Classic since 2019 when they knocked off nationally ranked Grayson (GA) 58-53 to win the American Bracket Championship Saturday night.
Malachi Cooper came off the bench to score 15 points and American Bracket MVP Korie Corbett added nine points to lead a balanced Blazers attack. It’s the second straight night Ridge View knocked off a team ranked in the top 25 by ESPN. They defeated John Marshall (VA) in the semifinals. The last team from South Carolina to win the tournament was Dorman in 2019. Last local team to win was Hammond in 2015.
The Blazers (14-0) never trailed by more than six points but trailed from the end of the first quarter until Robert Wiley hit a three-pointer with 1:44 remaining for a 53-51 lead. Their last lead before that came at 14-13 with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter.
They never gave it away. Joshua Smith added a layup before Christian Hyland brought the Rams back within 55-53 with 39 seconds remaining.
Yale Davis hit a free throw, Grayson (13-1) missed a three-point attempt and Smith, who made the All-Tournament team, sank two free throws with 15 seconds to salt it away.
Ridge View is the top-ranked team in Class 4A in South Carolina.
American Bracket Outstanding Player and Purdue signee Gicarri Harris scored 25 points for the Rams. He scored 19 of those points in the first half. Amir Taylor, who made the All-Tournament Team, added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Thanks to the 15 points by Cooper, the Ridge View bench outscored Grayson by a 23-1 margin.
America Bracket All-Tournament Team
Joshua Smith, Ridge View
Cedric Schofield, Keenan
Yasir Cromer, River Bluff
Latrell Allmond, John Marshall
Amir Taylor, Grayson
American Bracket Most Valuable Player
Korie Corbett, Ridge View
American Bracket Most Outstanding Player
Gicarri Harris, Grayson
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