The Latta Vikings took out Region 7A champs C.E. Murray on Tuesday in Greeleyville as they downed the War Eagles 62-58 in the first round of the Boys Basketball Class A Lower State Championship.

C.E. Murray took a ten-point lead in the first quarter as they outscored Latta 22-12, but the Vikings started to turn things around in the second, outscoring the Eagles 17-16. Latta went 15-9 in the third to pull within three points of the lead at 47-44 as they headed into the fourth. The Eagles added 11 points in the final quarter, but the Vikings earned 18 to push them ahead and give them the first round win.

Rajit McFadden led the Vikings with 17 points, followed by R.J. McClam with 16 and D.J. Legette with 15. Donell Stanley earned eight points, Ty’Sean Burgess earned three, Charles McGill scored two, and Kortilus McFadden added one point in the win.

The War Eagles were led by Darien McCray with a game-high 18 points, followed by J. Dotts with 15. Jamel Williams scored nine; Gregory Gamble added six; O. Fluitt, 5; Hershel Tisdale, 3; Donaven Capers, 1; and P. Bradshaw, 1.

Latta’s overall record improved to 9-12 as they head for round two of the playoffs, where they’ll take on Ridgeland, the #3 seed from Region 5A. Ridgeland defeated Baptist Hill 68-48 in round one.

Elsewhere in the lower state bracket, Johnsonville defeated East Clarendon 71-61 and Bethune-Bowman defeated Military Magnet 74-53. Johnsonville will host Bethune-Bowman on Friday, February 17, with the winner hosting the winner of the Latta/Ridgeland game on Tuesday, February 21.

Also in the lower state bracket, Allendale-Fairfax defeated Cross 78-52; Burke defeated Whale Branch 51-47; and Timmonsville defeated Carvers Bay 76-70. Burke will host Timmonsville on Friday, while Allendale-Fairfax will host the winner of the Hemingway/ Lamar game.