South-Carolina

South Carolina gets another top-10 win, finds more 'reliable' offense

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2024

Press Room

South Carolina gets another top-10 win, finds more 'reliable' offense

Dawn Staley doesn’t quite have a vision.

But if she did, it might go something like Thursday’s first 20 minutes.

South Carolina women’s basketball beat Duke 81-70 in a top-10 match-up at Colonial Life Arena, another box checked on a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule. Really, it was a disservice to the first half that the second even required any heavy lifting. The Gamecocks belted the Blue Devils in probably their best 20 minutes of the season, taking a 51-31 lead into the locker room and looking ready to run Duke (8-2) out of the building.

Of course, it did not stick all night. But for two quarters, South Carolina (8-1) looked like the fully operational machine that tore through all 38 challengers last season.

“I don’t know what I envisioned, because sometimes we don’t know what we’re getting,” Staley said.

This was not the first big run of the year. Strictly in terms of numbers, it did not line up with the 32 straight points against Iowa State or the dizzying quickness it flipped the Clemson game on its head. But for maybe the first time in the 2024-25 campaign, the offense looked simple. Fluid. Efficient. Not just relying on turnovers or transition to score, but grinding defenses into dust in the halfcourt with a handful of concepts it could rely on.

In fact, “reliable” was the theme of the game. The Gamecocks are less than a month away from conference play, and will be exactly one-third of the way through the regular season after Sunday’s trip to TCU.

Most of the first month of the season has been about figuring out just that, reliability. Who can be trusted, what lineups play well together, and what offense is still efficient other than throwing the ball to the now graduated 6-foot-7 center.

“I just want somebody that you know when you call their number, it’s not going to tilt too far to the right or left,” Staley said. “They’re going to stay kind of in the middle, and they’re predictable.”

Chloe Kitts was predictable in the best way possible. She tied her career-high with 21 points, and put the team on her back to claw out of a fourth quarter offensive slump. Her high/low action with Sania Feagin in particular was a source of constant easy looks, the first flickers this offense has seen of the post players looking connected and running offense through each other.

“Our posts did a really good job of flashing to the ball,” Staley said. “And we played through them a lot.”

Tessa Johnson and Maddy McDaniel were reliable again. Both guards came off the bench, put the ball on the deck and made a habit of forcing Duke’s defense into tough decisions. Johnson scored on two drives and drew a foul on a third in a short burst, and McDaniel continued her steady improvement with another clean, turnover free game. Really, it felt like everything was working for a half.

You shoot over 60 percent, have assists on over half of said made field goals, score 30 points in the paint and have nine different players score, and you might be forgiven for thinking it was a re–run of last year’s team.

“I thought we did a really good job in the first half of taking advantage of numbers when we had them,” Staley said. “And then reversing the ball when we didn’t have numbers, which increases our shooting percentage.

“I thought we did a good job of just going a little bit deeper into our offense.”

But of course, the 25-point lead did drop to eight, and Duke staggered the Gamecocks into territory of needing to put the game away rather than just cruising through the final frame. Two separate stretches of 3:39 and 4:12 without a field goal looked like a backwards step, or at least a return to some of the November misfires.

Call it an intermediate step, turning on the jets for a half against a top-10 opponent if not for a full 40 minutes.

If nothing else, that lion is still in the cage. South Carolina, at its best, is capable of cutting through even top caliber opponents. That did not look like a given on the flight home from UCLA two weeks ago.

“We know what we want,” Staley said. “Like, we really know when we look good and when we’re most efficient, we know what that looks like.”

Maybe not exactly identical, but it probably looks pretty close to what she saw for a half tonight.

************************************************************************

Looking to continue the conversation? Join us on the insider’s forum to talk all things South Carolina football.

Source link

South-Carolina

Former South Carolina starter commits to ACC school via transfer portal

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Former South Carolina starter commits to ACC school via transfer portal

Former South Carolina football offensive lineman Cason Henry announced his intention to transfer in December. Just a couple of weeks later, he has found a new school to call home.

According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, Henry has committed to the Louisville Cardinals. He will join Louisville as a fifth-year senior, but pending medical redshirts, he could have multiple years left to play.

Henry earned a starting gig for South Carolina ahead of the last three seasons. However, he saw action in just six combined games in 2023 and 2025 as he dealt with injuries. He started all 13 games of 2024 at right tackle. That year, he was one of the team’s most improved players from season’s beginning to season’s end.

Henry was the top-performing overall blocker for the Gamecocks at the beginning of 2025. However, a shoulder injury ended the 6-6, 310-pound tackle’s season after just four games.

Henry was a three-star prospect back in the class of 2022 out of Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia.

South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:

Cason Henry Bio on GamecocksOnline

2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2024 Most Improved Player of the Spring – Offense
2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2022-23 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
2022 Offensive Scout Team Award

Talented offensive lineman who is in his fifth year of college football in 2026… incumbent at the right tackle position but his career has been plagued by injuries… has appeared in 21 games over the past three seasons with 18 starts…. entered the transfer portal following the 2025 season.

2025 (Redshirt Junior)
Starter in each of the first four games at right tackle and was playing at a high level… served as a game captain against Vanderbilt, but was injured in that contest… returned the following week against Missouri, but was injured on the first play of the game and did not return… underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in October.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking “Subscribe to Newsletter”, I agree to On3’s Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

2024 (Redshirt Sophomore)
Right tackle who was able to stay healthy throughout the season, earning the starting assignment in all 13 contests… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll… recognized as the Most Improved Player of the Spring for the offense.

2023 (Redshirt Freshman)
Appeared in just two games as he was hampered by a knee injury… was limited early in fall camp, but still earned his way into a starting assignment at right tackle for the season opener against North Carolina… was injured in that contest and spent much of the season rehabbing… finally returned to the field for the Jacksonville State contest, but was injured again and sat out the remainder of the season… was not available in the spring while rehabbing from off-season surgery… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Freshman)
True freshman offensive lineman… worked at right tackle behind Dylan Wonnum and Tyshawn Wannamaker… saw action in two contests… played against Charlotte and South Carolina State… was a regular member of the travel roster… named the Offensive Scout Team Award winner… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Walton High School in Marietta, Ga. in 2022… played on both sides of the ball in high school… the Raiders went 9-4 in his senior season… coached by Daniel Brunner… played multiple offensive line spots, but primarily at right tackle as a junior in 2020 when he helped his team to the second round of the state 7A playoffs… was a first-team All-Cobb Country performer.

PERSONAL
Cason Mannino Henry was born Oct. 2, 2003… pursuing a degree in cyber policies and ethics.

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2026

Published

16 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 6, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 6, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

09-39-47-58-68, Mega Ball: 24

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 5-8-6, FB: 6

Evening: 4-1-2, FB: 4

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 1-0-8-7, FB: 6

Evening: 4-7-5-5, FB: 4

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 08

Evening: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

03-08-11-12-34

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

South-Carolina

Joe Riley’s new memoir shares life leading Charleston for 40 years

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Joe Riley’s new memoir shares life leading Charleston for 40 years

Just behind Charleston city hall sits Washington Square Park with its wrought iron gates, live oaks, and a smattering of Spanish moss. This was the city’s official square until 1881.

It’s also the backdrop of former, longtime Charleston Mayor Joe Riley’s new memoir, “Windows on Washington Square,” released Jan. 6^th by Evening Post Books.

In a press release, the publisher promises a “rare, first-person account of how Charleston became the city we recognize today.”

Riley was 32 when he first took office on Dec. 15^th, 1975. He’d told his wife he’d run for just one term.

But 10 terms later, a total of 40 years, Riley became one of the nation’s longest serving mayors.

He not only helped build the now bustling city but held its hand during intense periods of pain.

Riley’s memoir offers insight into some of Charleston darkest moments; the horror of Hurricane Hugo and the immeasurable grief following the hate-fueled massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

The publisher says the memoir is revealing in “how a city holds itself together when the world is watching.”

The book also shares private moments with Riley’s two sons and his wife Charlotte, a steadfast confidant.

“He’s one of a kind,” said former Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin in a statement. “He is the gold standard that so many of us desired to be measured against.”

An official book launch event will be held at the Dock Street Theater later this month.

Now 82, Riley stepped down from office in January of 2016.

Source link