Boston, Gamecocks carry relentless push into Final Four

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Aliyah Boston headed across the court to join her South Carolina teammates in their celebration when she bumped into assistant coach Fred Chmiel. It was a reversal from a year earlier, when Chmiel held a sobbing Boston on the court after the horn sounded to end South Carolina’s title push in a Final Four game that ended with her missing a putback for the win. She never gets out in front of anything.. That’s just a real good sign of just maturing and knowing who you are, knowing your worth and knowing that she’s probably the player of the year.” The first-team Associated Press All-American had 19 points in Sunday night’s 80-50 win against Creighton in the Greensboro Region final, which sent South Carolina to the Final Four for the second straight year and fourth time overall. Boston didn’t have the monster output like she did in the Sweet 16 win against North Carolina, and even saw the end of her 27-game double-double streak. “When you’re paying that much attention to her, you’re giving up six offensive rebounds to Saxton maybe because you have to come off her body, or you’re just in that position,” Creighton coach Jim Flanery said, adding, “Yeah, she’s tough to deal with.” For Boston, everything has been about pushing toward the program’s second national championship, especially after how last year’s season ended.