Midland Valley holds off A.C. Flora 62-56 for 3A boys title

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kameron Brown scored 16 points to lead Midland Valley to its first-ever boys basketball state championship in the Class 3A title game with a 62-56 victory defending state champion A.C. Flora Saturday night at the Colonial Life Arena.

The Mustangs were making their first-ever championship game appearance.

The two teams met in a holiday tournament in December with the Falcons earning a 13-point victory but it was a different story this time around.

Midland Valley (26-4) took control with a 15-0 run that sandwiched the first and second quarters. That helped them hold a 29-21 lead at the half. A.C. Flora (25-5) twice trimmed the deficit to four points in the second half but the Mustangs responded each time.

Midland Valley shot 55.6 percent, including a blistering 64.3 percent (9-of-14) in the second half.

Daniel Carr added 13 points for the Mustangs.

Kendale Hampton had 17 points to lead A.C. Flora. James Murray-Boyles added 12 and Rion Davis finished with 11 in the Falcons eighth appearance in the championship.