County battle for the crown: Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year in final four

We're less than a week away from the vote going final for the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year.

It has been another great year of sports in the tri-county area, and it's awesome to see the support the community has for its athletes. That's perfectly exemplified by the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week and Year.

Now, a quartet from Sumter High and Crestwood will duke it out online in the same way they're used to battling for possession on the court.

All four representatives are Sumter County hoopers.

Supporters of the Sumter High girls basketball team showed up in the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year bracket, as senior Shamira Andrews and junior Keziyah Sanders have punched their tickets to the final four.

"We're winners on and off the court; vote Sumter High," Sanders said.

Andrews added the slogan, "Stay with the winning team and vote Sumter High."

The duo made it to the final four on the court, as well. Sumter High played for the lower state championship in 5A before losing a defensive battle with Stratford 38-35. Sanders and Andrews were two of the players leading the way in the playoff push without star point guard Kiara Croskey, who missed the season recovering from a torn ACL.

But the two hoopers from Crestwood aren't to be outdone. Teon Tindal led the Knights to their first appearance in the SCHSL 3A state championship game, where they lost a battle with Wren 56-49.

"I appreciate you guys for voting for me; go Knights," Tindal said simply about the bracket.

London Vaughn, meanwhile, helped push the Lady Knights to the third round of the 3A playoffs before falling in the lower state semifinals to Lower Richland 59-51.

"I wanna thank everyone for voting for me; let's get this win," Vaughn said of the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year.

Voting will be open until noon on Wednesday at www.theitem.com/athlete-of-the-year-2023. Unlike the first three rounds in the bracket, you can vote for one of the four finalists daily until the polls close.

The winner will be announced at The Item's newest award show, The Bobbys, on June 15 at the Sumter Opera House.