Ragin Prep's Rutherford anchors Rams' championship run on way to Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week

The Ragin Prep boys basketball team is built around balance. Their entire starting lineup is a threat on both ends of the court. But in the biggest moments of their playoff run last week, there was one player always ready to step up in their moment of need.

Kayshaun Rutherford was Mr. Consistent for the Rams for three postseason games. Whether the lineup changed around him because of foul trouble or shots weren't falling, Rutherford was there to provide a quick bucket or use his long arms to clog up passing lanes. As Ragin Prep made the run for their second consecutive SCISA 1A title, Rutherford averaged 17.6 points per game, adding Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week honors to a long list of hardware he earned at Sumter County Civic Center after their championship win over Newberry Academy on Saturday, Feb. 28.

"It's good. It all started with my community, and I want to give back to them," Rutherford said of the support from the Ragin Prep faithful. "They always wanted to see me achieve my goals, and I did it. I did it with my brothers for my last moments together with them."

Rams head coach Anthony Jackson has known Rutherford since his senior forward was playing rec ball here in Sumter. Watching him blossom into a star and two-time state champion has been a blessing for the Ragin Prep head coach.

"It's been an amazing journey with Kayshaun," Jackson said. "I was coaching Parks and Rec in about 2017, and Kayshaun was on one of my first championship teams. Just to know him from 10 years old, to him walking into my school on the first day of school - I didn't recruit him, he was just taking an opportunity - and to be able to see him grow, it's like, 'Oh my gosh.' He's a true walking testimony of if you want something, you can take a different path than everyone else and still achieve greatness doing what you want to do."

Kayshaun scored at least 15 points in all three of Ragin Prep's playoff victories. After a first-round bye, the Rams crushed Richard Winn 85-52. He was one of three Rams in double figures, finishing with 15 points in the victory. Their biggest test of the week came two days later, when Ragin Prep faced Marlboro Academy in the SCISA 1A semifinal. Standout center Kavontay Rose immediately got into foul trouble, so Rutherford had to move down to the post, where he played an excellent game to help carry the Rams into the championship.

"There was a lot of weight on my back, but I knew I had to push through and do what I had to do so we can win another championship," Rutherford said simply.

It was far from a perfect game. Ragin Prep didn't fully get going until the end of the first quarter, but Marlboro Academy didn't back down. They used a hot stretch in the fourth quarter to trim the Rams' lead to five before Ragin Prep buckled down and finished off the win.

"At first, we were kinda nervous coming in; it was a big moment, and we had to get back to state," Rutherford said. "After we settled in, in the second half, we had to push through. We talked to each other about slowing it down and taking the game how it's supposed to be taken, and we won it."

Rutherford was critical in the victory. He led the team with 20 points while largely playing out of position while rebounding the ball and playing excellent defense in a tense environment. Jackson praised his senior's versatility when the Rams had their backs against the wall.

"Kayshaun is so versatile. He can go down to that block and get you points on the board; he's a rebounding machine. He was rebounding things in that Marlboro Academy game that saved us," Jackson said. "He played like a guy who didn't want to see his senior season end."

In the championship game, Ragin Prep played a nearly perfect opening quarter. The Rams held Newberry Academy off the scoreboard for the first six minutes of the game as they took a commanding lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"When we're clicking, we feel like an unstoppable team," Rutherford said. "We have great chemistry, and no one can beat us."

Jackson knew the Rams were in for a big night when Rutherford connected from long range on their second possession.

"I always joke with the coaches on the sideline that if Kayshaun starts this game off with a three, we're in for a good day," Jackson said. "We get a layup, and then he comes right down the court and shoots from the top of the key, and the three goes in. I looked to the coach and said, 'We're in for a good day.'"

Rutherford finished the final game of his Ragin Prep career with 18 points, capping off an incredible high school career. It was a bittersweet moment for the senior as he and the Rams celebrated in the locker room after cutting down the nets.

"It feels good to have two for my community, but it's also sad because I'm playing my last basketball games of my career because I might not play basketball in college," Rutherford said. "Knowing that most of us are splitting up with each other, it was a sad moment but a great moment to do it one last time with my brothers."