Category Archives: Sports
Blue Flame win 17th volleyball state title
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
COLUMBIA — Down 24-19 in the third set of Saturday’s Class 4A state championship with May River, the Pickens High 
School volleyball team looked to be in serious danger of falling behind 2-1 in the crucial swing set.
The Blue Flame had trailed for the entirety of the third set, and with the Sharks one point away from taking it, Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton’s message to her team was clear.
“I told my setters that (Kaylon Chapman) was on,” Crumpton said. “We need to feed her. That’s our team’s thing. If we have
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Pickens proves its doubters wrong
Since I started covering sports here in Pickens County in 2017, there have always been a few teams I could rely on to be contenders almost every single season. Daniel football, Liberty wrestling, Easley 
baseball to name a few, but none more so than the dominant volleyball program at Pickens High School.
Every year, I go into volleyball season expecting the Blue Flame to at least make it into state quarterfinals and for good reason. Outside of a two season stretch
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Red Devils fall at Upper State
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
NINETY SIX — Playing in their third upper state championship in four seasons, the Liberty High School volleyball had momentum on its side after taking the first set against the Ninety Six Wildcats on Nov. 12.
While the Wildcats battled back to take the second set, Liberty maintained control, leading 14-13 as it
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This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
DANIEL OVERCOMES SLOW START IN FIRST-ROUND WIN OVER DREHER; LIBERTY FALLS IN PLAYOFF OPENER; FLAME COME UP SHORT AT CAMDEN; KLUBNIK SAVES TIGERS WITH LATE TD; all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE THE COMPLETE FOOTBALL FRENZY
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***ONLINE EXCLUSIVE *** Blue Flame head to Columbia in quest for 17th State Championship
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — For the first time since 2021, the Pickens High School volleyball team is headed to the 
Class 4A state championship after defeating Camden in straight sets on Tuesday.
The Blue Flame started the season slow, failing to win the region championship for the first time in over a decade but have gone on an absolute tear over the last month winning nine straight matches.
While nine straight wins are impressive enough, the Flame have accomplished the feat without dropping a single set in that frame including matchups with three of the Upper State’s top four seeds.
The Blue Flame (25-15) will have a chance to finish the season with the ultimate prize on Saturday as they travel to Dreher High School to take on the May River Sharks (25-10) for the Class 4A state championship. The match is set to begin at 10 a.m.
Blue Flame roll past rival Daniel to advance in Class 4A playoffs
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — After dropping two five set battles to rival Daniel in the regular season, the Pickens High 
School volleyball went into Thursday’s third round playoff match with the Lions looking for redemption and a trip to the Upper State Championship for the first time under third year head coach Mellie Crumpton.
Ultimately those regular seasons results mattered little, as the Blue Flame pulled out three close sets in succession to stun the Lions and move on to the Class 4A Upper State Championship.
“Our thing was to keep it simple and to play ball like we know how to
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This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
LIONS OVERCOME SLOW START AGAINST SENECA TO WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT REGION TITLE; EASLEY DROPS FINALE TO GREENVILLE; RED DEVILS FALL TO CLINTON; PICKENS PUMMELS BEREA; CLEMSON SURVIVES VIRGINIA TECH; all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE THE COMPLETE FOOTBALL FRENZY
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This week in FOOTBALL FRENZY only in PICKENES COUNTY COURIER
Flame bounce back with shutout win over; Daniel takes region lead; Wave comeback falls short; Liberty earns home playoff game; Easley falls to Hanna, Greenwood; all this and more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, sponsored by Mountain View Funerals and Cremations available only in the Pickens County Courier.
Do not miss a single issue by grabbing a copy at a convenience, grocery or drug store near you. You can also subscribe and have your Pickens County Courier delivered each week right to your mailbox for only $36 per year (in Pickens County).
Call us today at 864-878-6391 and get your subscription started and never miss any of the action in South Carolina’s best sports section!
CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE THE COMPLETE FOOTBALL FRENZY
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Flame take down TR in round one
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Winners of five straight matches heading Thursday’s first round matchup with Travelers 
Rest, the Pickens High School volleyball team hoped to keep its momentum going against the Devildogs.
The Blue Flame took the win streak to six as they dominated their region foe 3-0 to advance to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
“We’ve worked so hard preparing for playoffs and we’ve been preparing for it since week one,” Pickens head coach Mellie Crumpton said. “Now it’s like it is our time to shine and put it all together and I think this was a good start tonight for us.”
Pickens senior Kaylon Chapman believes
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