TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE RIDGE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2022 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Ridge View High boys basketball team of Richland County captured the state title at the championship game held at the University of South Carolina Convocation Center in Aiken on Thursday, March 3, 2022; and

Whereas, to the cheers of their exuberant fans, the Ridge View Blazers defeated a fine, competitive team of Fort Dorchester High School Patriots 65-57; and

Whereas, junior forward GG Jackson is the top-rated power forward in the country and posted double doubles for the Blazers in the championship game with fourteen points and eleven rebounds. Teammate and senior guard Xavier Moultrie added an impressive thirteen points to the scoreboard and has committed to play for Coker College: and

Whereas, these two standouts set the tone for the final game and were backed by an amazing team effort for Ridge View as they roared to a 22-point lead against Fort Dorchester after the first half; and

Whereas, Ridge View has won three previous state championships in basketball: 2018, 2019, and 2020 at the Class AAAA level. This fourth title is the team's first state championship at the Class AAAAA level, proving that they are not "outclassed" in any category; and

Whereas, this 2022 victory follows the team's historic run of three consecutive state championships and will be the last for Head Basketball Coach Yerrick Stoneman who came to Ridge View six years ago and coached the Blazers to four state titles in five years. He served as an assistant coach for eleven seasons at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, a national program that attracts top basketball talent from across the country, and he will return to Virginia this fall to become the head coach at Oak Hill; and

Whereas, in a sport that requires speed, athleticism, and strategy, Coach Stoneman and his skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and training to produce a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principals that will endure beyond the court; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the pride and recognition that the Ridge View basketball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members expect to follow their accomplishments in the days to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Ridge View boys varsity basketball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2022 South Carolina Class AAAAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Dr. Brenda Mack-Foxworth and Coach Yerrick Stoneman.