Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year reaches final 4

The bracket for the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year has whittled the crop of 32 winners of the weekly contest to its final four contestants.

When the third round came to a close on Saturday, June 8, three athletes from Sumter High and one from Crestwood were the last four standing. The state champion Sumter High girls basketball team is well represented with reigning SCHSL 5A player of the year Kiara Croskey and rising freshman Araina Ross. The other two athletes both stood out on the gridiron with Crestwood's Seneca Moore and Sumter High's Bryce Allen.

Voting for the final four opened on Monday and runs through Friday evening, June 14, at 5 p.m. Unlike the previous rounds of the contest, you can vote daily for your favorite nominee at www.theitem.com/athlete-of-the-year-2024.

The winner of the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Year will be celebrated on Thursday, June 20, at The Bobbys, The Item's Espys-style awards show named for Sumter legend Bobby Richardson. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at Sumter Opera House. Tickets are available for the event at theitem.com/bobbys.