Aliyah Tisdale, Kaliya Herman, Isaiah McRae selected to SCBCA Class A All-State teams

Trayiona Maxfield selected to SCBCA Class A girls All-State team

Cavalier boys team finishes 4-15

Golden Eagles sports team unaffected by SCISA reclassification

Blazers' Nay'Dia Shaw SCABA AA Girls All-State selection, Region 7-AA Player of Year

Swamp Foxes' Charles White II selected to SCBCA AA Boys All-State team

Head coach Jan Stoudenmire sings praises of her players

Joshua White qualifies for 2A-Class A individual wrestling state meet

Warriors to play SCISA Class A football beginning this fall, AA in all other sports

Deyon Ford, Dakarai Worley both selected to SCBCA AA All-State team

Crusader boys make furthest trip into postseason since winning state title in 2015

Brother, sister and JaBria Brunson selected to SCBCA AA All-State teams

North Augusta and Westside met for the third time in the past five years to challenge for the state championship with the Yellowjackets earning the win 49-35.

The HSSR named Sharks junior quarterback Aiden Manavian (5-11, 185) our Mr. Football. This is the first time a junior earned the honor in our 40-year history.

Dillon High School’s Morgan Leonard Named “NETC” Female Student Athlete of the Month.

Dillon High School's John Bohachic chosen the “NETC” Male Student Athlete of the Month.”

Moncks Corner —The winter sports season for basketball concluded with the SCHSL crowning six boy’s and six girl’s championship teams from across South Carolina (March, 5-7), marking the first time in five years since the championships had been hosted at the spacious and very accommodating Colonial Life Center at the University of South Carolina, home to the “Lady Gamecocks” who are among the best women’s college basketball program in the nation. On the boy’s side of the state finals, congratulations are extended to the Ridge View boys’ basketball team for winning the Div. I AAAAA state title with a 65-44 win over Ashley Ridge . It was Ridge View’s third straight title win, and they have also earned seven titles in the past nine years. Adding a sentimental angle to the game was the fact Ridge View head coach Joshua Staley was coaching his senior son “ Talan” for the last time in a Ridge View uniform. Coach Staley will coach his son for the final time in a post-season all-star game. By the way, his son had 10 points in the win. In Div. II AAAAA boys’ finals, congrats to Westwood (25-3) who defeated last year’s champion, Greenville (23-7) 67-55. On a side- note, Goose Creek head coach Blake Hall complained about the disparity in the fouls called against his team versus Greenville in the state finals a year ago. Well, one year later Westwood nails 25-of-32 free throws in the win. Greenville now understands what Coach Hall was talking about. The Raiders were 12-of-20 from the free throw line. In AAAA boys, congrats to North Augusta (27-3) as they finally won the first boys’ basketball state title in school history, after cheering on the girl’s teams at the school for their numerous titles, with their thrilling double overtime, 64-56 win over South Pointe (20-9). This was easily the most competitive game of the three- day event. In boy’s AAA, congratulations are extended to Christ Church (26-1) who defeated Fox Creek, 52-49 in a highly competitive game. In boy’s AA, congratulations are with newcomer Phillip Simmons who defeated frequent finalist High Point Academy 50-46 for the school’s first boys’ basketball title since the school was founded 9 years ago. The HSSR also extended congrats to C.A. Johnson for their 72-64 win over Bethune-Bowman in the in the Class A boys on March 7.  The girls’ competition was just as exciting to watch. In Div. I AAAAA congrats go the way of Blythewood who defeated Wando 68-44 on March 6 to win their second straight state title. In Div. II AAAAA high fives are extended to a school located five miles from where I live; give it up for my neighbors the mighty Berkeley Stags who repeated with a 54-50 win over Greenville. (Can u surmise if any of the Stag players live on my street in Moncks Corner?) In AAAA girls, congrats to North Augusta (28-1) who added yet another state title to the school’s trophy case with a63-50 win over Westside (27-2). In AAA competition, how about a high five for repeat winner Wallhalla (26-2) who defeated Keenan 70-58. In Class AA, we salute the Landrum (25-7) girls for getting the three-day event off to a winning note on March 5 with a 45-43 win over Atlantic Collegiate Academy . In girl’s Class A, we salute Military Magnet for repeating this season with the most dominant win in any game over the event when they defeated Great Falls 70-21 on March 7. This writer has always day-dreamed about what if you were starting a brand new college boy’s and girl’s college basketball program in the state of South Carolina, and you were only allowed to sign, or make an offer, to players who played in the SCHSL state finals regardless of grade. So, there you are sitting at the state finals, as the boy’s head coach, with your fellow girl’s head coach sitting by you busy observing the talent before you. Both of you are even sharing a box of pop- corn making comments like, “This is going to be easy!” If you based your choices simply on stats in the game, you might be surprised how some top-flight players do not always have their top games in title games. Often a hardworking teammate might step up and have their best game of the season. There were only five girls who scored 20 or more points in the state finals. They were Ashlyn Frick (23) from Wallhalla, Taelor Lee - Sutton of Keenan (20), Alaina Carter (29) of Berkeley, Mariah Brown (25) of Military Magnet, and Chase Thomas of Blythewood (28). I have no problem at all offering all five of these players a full ride to come on a new journey to a brand-new college. There were only four girls in the state finals with 10 or more rebounds. They were Messiah Williams (12) of North Augusta, Ava Owens of Greenville, Delaney Caldwell of Landrum (12), and Miley White of Walhalla. We are going ahead and offering these four players also. We now have 9 scholarship players to work with. On the boy’s side there were eight players who pumped in 20 or more points during the state finals in Columbia. They are Clayton Everett (20) of Ashley Ridge, while Terrence McFadden of Bethune-Bowman had (31), tops over the three-day period. Others included Aassic Germany and Javrius Wyche of CA Johnson and they both scored 24 points. The remaining four players are Treven Raymon (22) of South Pointe, Quh’Mareon Webb of North Augusta, Jayden Crews (23) of Westwood, and D’Marcus Thomas (26) of Westwood, With little hesitation all 8 players were extended full rides to this new college program to be located somewhere at some time in the future. There were only three boys’ form among the 12 teams competing for state titles who had 10 or more rebounds. This was a bit of a surprise. Terrance McFadden not only had 31 points in the big moments, but he took the time to grab 13 rebounds in the same game! Aassic Germany, playing against McFadden in the same game was not going to be outdone. He matched his 24 points with 17 rebounds. (The new college program is looking forward to having these two rim-rockers on the same team on the new State-U team). In all honesty, what if all these players could end up on the same team in the near future? I guess we will never know. A week earlier, at the Sumter Civic Cener, the SCISA organization crowned four boy’s and four girls’ champions, and we extend congrats to all 8 teams. On the boy’s side we salute Pinewood Prep , Greenwood Christian , Cathedral and Ragin Prep, from AAAA on down to Class A. On the girls, from AAAA to Class A, we salute winning teams First Baptist , Florence Christian , Dorchester Academy and Wardlaw . Now it is on to Spring sports and time to PLAY baseball and softball!

North Augusta and South Pointe needed two overtimes to settle the AAAA boys state championship.

Panthers will have junior standout Braylen Davis returning next season

Clarendon Hall will play Class A football beginning in 2026 after reclassification

Eagles' Wood selected to SCISA Region 3-AAAA All-Region team

Chanze Allen, Justin Vining, Jada Jennings all selected to SCBCA AAA All-State teams

Panthers freshman had 52-point game against Lakewood

Eagles' Webber selected to SCBCA AA boys All-State team

Blythewood’s girls basketball team fell behind early against Wando but overcame that deficit to finish with a 68-44 victory.

Military Magnet’s girls basketball team earns second straight 1A state basketball championship.

Ridge View took control of the game early as Ashley Ridge struggled to keep up in the Class AAAAA Div 1 title game.

Blythewood girls defeat Wando to claim the SCHSL Class AAAAA Div 1 state title again.

Christ Church boys defeat Fox Creek to claim the SCHSL Class AAA state title.

Walhalla girls cruises past Keenan at the Colonial Life Arena to claim the Class AAA state title.

Greenville broke out to an 18-4 lead on the Westwood in the first quarter, then Westwood controlled the rest of the game.

Blazers captured their seventh state championship in the past nine years and have now won three straight titles.

Berkeley Girls become the school's first team, in any sport, to repeat the magic and successfully defend a state title.

Cavaliers claim school's first ever AAA state championship since move

Razorbacks use 11`-0 run in second quarter to take control of the game

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Columbia —After the High Point Academy Grizzlies (28-3) built a 17-10 first quarter lead over Philip Simmons, in the AA boys basketball title game, on the strength of consecutive three- point shots by Joc Miller, some March, 5 th observers on hand at the USC Colonial Life Arena were thinking it just might be the Grizzles day. After all, the Grizzles came into the title game averaging 71 points a game, so if their first quarter scoring pace had continued, they would have finished the game victorious with 68 points. On the other hand, Philip Simmons came into the finals averaging 58.9 points a game, so being held to just 10 points in the first period would have been a bad trend ending up with 40 points which might have led to a loss. In the end, the game trended more Philip Simmons way as the Iron Horses rallied for a 50-46 win. It was the first boys’ basketball championship in the 9- year history of the school located in Berkeley County. Philip Simmons head coach Garrett Campbell talked with the HSSR after the game. “Our plan was to take away the paint from them,” said Coach Garrett. “Their strength was number one scoring around the rim. Our plan was to pack it in and make them shoot from the outside. Our guys did a great job of sticking with game plan and following through. Coach Campbell praised the play of top senior scorers Hopper Afman and Dylan Morris . “Both of them are elite shooters, and their percentage is in the high 30’s on three- point shots,” said Coach Campbell. “They are also very good senior leaders on the team.” What were the adjustments at the half up by two points? “Our focus was to stop turning the ball over because that was the reason we got down early in the game,” said Coach Campbell. “Coming down on two feet, making good passes, boxing out, and staying under control were some things we stressed to the team at halftime. “They pressed us three different ways,” said Coach Campbell. “They used a man, a 1-2-2, and a 1-3-1 and we did a really good job against all of them. I felt like we did a good job of handling the press all game.” In conclusion, who was the step-up player for the Iron Horses? “Well, number five is our guy, Afman Hopper,” said Coach Campbell. “He’s an all-state player and he is our leader. He has had multiple 20-point games in the playoffs. Wherever we go, he takes us.”  High Point Academy head coach Lee Sartor, known for being the head coach of Zion Williamson at Spartanburg Day a few years ago, shared his feelings after the tough loss. “Everybody plays us zone defense, and we knew that coming into the game,” said Coach Sarter. “Give them credit. They wanted a half-court game and we just kind of played into that. We didn’t make shots when we needed to and we didn’t push the ball when we needed to. Coach Sartor was not pleased with the difference in total fouls called on each team. His team had 19 fouls called on them resulting in 11 points for Philip Simmons while his team scored six points off of the 10 fouls called on the Iron Horses. “I just feel like you need to make calls both ways and at times I didn’t think that was the case,” said Coach Sartor. “I think at times in the game we were afraid to penetrate gaps in their zone defense and I do not know why this was the case,” said Coach Sartor.” To their credit when we did get the ball inside, they did a good job of covering us and again were there some fouls missed on the inside tonight? Regardless, we need to be able to play that contact.” Coch Sartor is very high on the potential next level opportunity of his 6-7 junior big man J’Sean Sanders . “He has a chance to be a major college basketball player if he continues to work hard,” said Coach Sartor. “The biggest thing with him, and lot of our players, is preparation. You are going to play like you practice so it is important to play the game as much as you can. “The road to getting here wasn’t easy,” said Coach Sartor. “In every playoff game it seemed like a different player stepped up for us and that is the mark of a good team. However, in this game things didn’t go our way at crucial times. I am proud of our effort and the fact that we have played for a state championship back-to-back. Our goal in the near future is to win one.: The Iron Horses won the second period 20-11 to take a 30-28 lead at the half. In the second period senior Hopper Afman hit the first three-point swish for Philip Simmons at the 6:50 mark and then senior teammate Dylan Morris hit consecutive moon shots cutting the deficit to 25-19 with 3:58 left in the first half. Then big man Jack Mevold scored in the paint to make the score 25-21. Next Morris bombed another three to cut the deficit to 25-24 and High Point called time-out to slow down the Iron Horse rally. By the half, Philip Simmons was up two points. After the first quarter, Philip Simmons played a very tight zone defense which limited High Point Academy’s big men from getting easy baskets in the paint. At the half, Morris was the top scorer for Philip Simmons with 11 points while Miller led the Grizzles with 10 points. The third period was a defensive battle with High Point Academy outscoring Philip Simmons 10-7 to take a narrow 38-37 lead into the final period. Afman scored a bucket at the 7:45 mark to put the Iron Horses up 39-38. Chris Copeland answered with a put-back basket to give the Grizzles a 40-39 lead with 7:10 left in the contest. Around this time, High Point Academy 6-7 big man J’Sean Sanders was called for his 4 th foul, and he went to the bench for nearly three minutes. While he was out, Philip Simmons had success driving to the basket and they led 44-41 with 1:56 left in the game. With three minutes left in the game Sanders returned to the Iron Horse line-up and he soon was whistled for what appeared to be his 5 th foul. However, High Point head coach Lee Sartor asked the person keeping the official book at the game if he had Sanders down for five fouls and he said, “only four.” Sanders was allowed to stay in the game and several Philip Simmons fans started touting Sanders, and Sanders actually gestured back to them (right or wrong). So, when Sanders picked up his true 5 th foul with 1:33 left, it sent Morris to the line with Philip Simmons up 44-41 on a driving lay-up by Hopper. With 1:32 left, Morris made both free throws to give his team a 46-41 lead. Miller then hit a three-point shot with 1:07 left to cut the deficit to 46-44. Palmer Driggers went to the foul line for the Iron Horses with 1:01 left and he converted one free throw to make the score 47-44. With 43.6 to go Travis Freeman of High Point converted two free throws to cut the deficit to 47-46. In the final 43.6 seconds of the game Philip Simmons got two free throws from Driggers with 16 seconds left to go up 49-46 and then with 2.8 seconds left Hopper got the last point of the game making one-of- two free throws. For the game, Philip Simmons was led on the scoring index by Hopper (15 pts, 7 rebounds, 2 steals) along with Morris (13 pts, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, & 4 assists). Junior forward Jack Mevold added 9 points for the Iron Horses followed by Gavin Johnson (6 pts & 8 rebounds), Alex Tchoryk (4 pts), and Driggers rounded out the scoring with three points. High Point was led in scoring by Miller, a senior, with 15 points and five rebounds. Sanders, a junior, had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Seniors Deylin Whitaker and Chris Copeland each scored seven points for the Grizzles. Copeland also had a team high 12 rebounds. Breylin Pertell and Travis Freeman rounded out their team’s point totals with two- and one-point contributions. In just 9 years of existence Philip Simmons has now won 19 state titles in various sports which is quite an accomplishment over a short period of time.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Columbia —The Landrum girl’s (25-7) basketball team built a 33-22 halftime lead over Atlantic Collegiate in the SCHSL AA championship game at the USC Colonial Life Center on March 5 th , and despite being outscored 21-12 in the second half, the Cardinals hung on to win their first ever girls state title 45-43.  Landrum was led in scoring by 5-10 sophomore Delaney Caldwell with 19 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots and two steals. The game had significant sentimental value for Landrum. In early February head coach Kali Koenig’s father, a devoted fan and supporter of the team, passed away. His memory was imbedded in the minds of every Landrum player during the game. Caldwell talked about “Kalvin Koenig” after the big win. “Winning today is even more meaningful because he meant so much to the team and he loved everyone of us,” said Caldwell. “He was up there (Heaven) cheering hard for us no doubt. We are proud to have won this game for him.” Caldwell, a truly special talent who transferred to Landrum from Spartanburg Christian this season, also talked about what it meant to have been a key reason Landrum won their first girls’ basketball championship ever. “This is an amazing feeling, and I am so thankful to God,” said Caldwell. “We played with grit today and we never gave up. We were all out there playing hard for each other.” Coach Koenig was just as excited after the game. “This win was amazing and I am speechless right now,” she said. “It is an awesome feeling right now. It has been a nice season and having Caldwell on the team has been a nice asset. The girls have accepted her with open arms, and she is an amazing teammate. I just love how my players put God first and I love how close they are. They want each other to do well, and it is not at all about them. “They just want to win and that is what we did today,” said Coach Koenig. “The second half was nerve racking and nail biting, but we got the job done. They worked so hard to accomplish what they did, and I am very proud of them.” In reference to her beloved father’s passing, Coach Koenig said, “My assistant coaches and players have gone through this grief together and that has been comforting,” said Coach Koenig. “I know he was cheering us on from heaven today and that is all I can ask for.” Landrum’s other scorers were senior Kylie Fortner with 10 points and sophomore point guard Emalynn Bright added seven points and seven rebounds. Junior Hazel Cain and 8 th grader Avery Caldwell each scored three points in the win. Freshman Leena Schembra contributed two points and senior forward Sullivan Price rounded out the scoring for the Cardinals with one point. Atlantic Collegiate (23-3), based in Conway, got point production from all 8 players who played in the game. The top scorer was led in scoring by senior wing Micah Davis with 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Sophomore guard DaZena Capers had 8 points, four rebounds and three. Freshman guard Erin Williams added seven points, five rebounds, and three steals during the game. Sophomore forward Angellina Collins added six points and five rebounds for The Armada. Junior guard Amanda Garza and sophomore forward Ashyra Willis scored three points while Willis also had five rebounds and two steals. The remaining points producers for The Armada included junior guard Zaniya Blackmon (2 pts & six steals), while junior guard Cayleigh Johnson closed out the scoring index with one point. After the game, Atlantic Collegiate Academy head coach Jordin Anderson told the HSSR, “This team has accomplished so much this season and I am very proud of them,” said Coach Anderson. “We are going to miss senior Micah Davis, and she has been the face of our program, and she is everything you can ask for in a leader and a captain. She is just an amazing athlete and an amazing person.” Down 9 points at the half, Coach Anderson made an important adjustment to her defense for the final two quarters. “We needed to get away from the man defense and use more zone in the second half because two of their best players were great outside shooters,” said Coach Anderson. “In the first quarter we were man the entire quarter. I do think we made the necessary adjustments we needed to in the second half, but we just came up a little short.” Down by two, with the ball Coach Anderson called time-out with 16.7 left in the game. “So, the play was supposed to be going for an easy lay-up to tie the score,” said Coach Anderson. “I do not know if some of the players were not paying attention or they saw something different as the play were happening. They were playing man defense, so the plan was to go for an easy lay-up. With everyone running around the three-point shot from the corner did not go in and the game was over. Some key team stats in the game were Landrum out-rebounding Atlantic Collegiate 44 to 33 with their height advantage. Both teams were 10-of18 from the free throw line. Atlantic Collegiate was 1 of 11 on three-point shots while Landrum made five of 25 three-point attempts.

Westwood senior Jayden Crews, 6-2 Point Guard, driving hard against Greenville in their 67-55 victory over Greenville in the 5AD2 State Title game.