Neutral Site Strategy Reshapes State Playoffs
The South Carolina High School League’s executive committee has voted to end the long‑standing tradition of holding the Lower State basketball championships in Florence, effective with the 2026‑27 school year. The decision, announced after a meeting of the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association, will let teams select neutral venues for their title games.
For more than a decade the Florence Civic Center served as the primary host for these championships, but the league will now permit schools to play at any neutral site of their choosing. The change mirrors a recent relocation of the Upper State championships, which has already drawn positive feedback from coaches and players.
Under the new format, twelve Lower State and twelve Upper State championship games will be spread across five classifications, with Class A divided into two divisions this year. If two teams hail from Charleston or Columbia, they may opt to host the contest locally, further reducing travel burdens.
The shift has been praised for creating a more intimate atmosphere, cutting travel expenses and allowing programs to retain a larger share of revenue that would have been spent on venue costs. Early broadcasts of some games were limited and capacity constraints kept a portion of the audience out, but overall response from teams, coaches and fans has been encouraging.
State championship games will now be staged at Colonial Life Arena, a venue that will host the 2026‑27 season’s title contests and beyond, marking a new chapter for South Carolina high school basketball.