After Three State-Runner-ups Denmark-Olar Focused On Winning Class A Girl’s basketball Championship In 2024-25 But Top Ranked Military Magnet Stands In Their Way

HSSR Class A Girls Basketball Rankings - (As of Feb., 5 2025)

1.Military Magnet

2. Denmark-Olar

3. Carvers Bay

4.Bamberg-Ehrhardt

5. Lee Central

6.North

7.Latta

8.Williston-Elko

9.HKT

10. Scott’s Branch

After Three State-Runner-ups Denmark-Olar Focused On Winning Class A Girl’s basketball Championship In 2024-25 But Top Ranked Military Magnet Stands In Their Way  

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Moncks Corner—The Class A girls’ basketball finals will debut three days of state champion ship action beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday March, 6 in the Florence Civic Center, and it is doubtful last year’s champion, Lake View, will be around to defend their title after heavy graduation losses to two all-state performers who brought five years of experience each to the team.

The team that Lake View defeated in the finals (49-46) was Denmark-Olar and the HSSR has little problem ranking them as the number two team in our Class A rankings as the Vikings are 16-4 as of Feb., 6 and their four losses have come against South Pointe (23-0), North Augusta (21-1), Mauldin (14-5), and Trinity Collegiate (17-3). Losing to larger schools with a combined record of 75-9 certainly prepares you for a championship run.

 For Denmark-Olar, the 2023-24 season turned bittersweet in the final 1:32 of the game as they finished state runner up (25-4) for the third consecutive year. They had a couple of turnovers and an offensive foul in that stretch, and it was too much to overcome.

Vikings head coach Terrence Jones was visibly frustrated after the game when he told the HSSR, ““Our youth came into play in that last minute of play,” he said. “We made those mental errors that led to the turnovers, and we let one slip away.”

Twenty games into the 2024-25 season Denmark-Olar are led by two veteran players in junior shooting guard Kalen Myers who is averaging 13.4 points and 3.8 steals to date along with senior Avelon Walker who is currently averaging 11.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.2 steals a game.

Sophomore guard Joy Johnson is contributing 8.2 points a game. Senior point guard Ry’Naisha Barnes has played well averaging 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 steals a game. Seventh grade guard Zyria McMillian is averaging seven points and 1,7 rebounds a game, along with freshman power forward Azauria Wright who provides 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game.  

Following Military Magnet and Denmark-Olar in the HSSR Top 10 (As of Feb., 25) include:  3.Carvers Bay, 4.Bamberg-Ehrhardt, 5. Lee Central, 6.North , 7.Latta, 8.Williston-Elko, 9.HKT and 10. Scott’s Branch.  

Top ranked Military Magnet (20-5, 7-0)  is head coached by battle tested Nathaniel Taylor who led his teams to three straight state titles in 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

Military Magnet has also played a highly competitive schedule against larger schools. They have impressive wins over Keenan (60-50), AC Flora (66-63), Fort Dorchester (68-57),Westwood (71-54), Goose Creek (62-40), Ramsay (48-40) and Rock Hill (56-26).



Military Magnet’s five losses came against highly regarded teams Ashley Ridge (74-70), Grayson, Ga. (66-61), Athens Drive, Ga. (48-37), Westside (73-55) and First Baptist (69-51).

Military magnet has dominated teams in their region with scores like 102-9, 99-8, and 101- 16 to mention a few lop-sided regions wins.

Coach Taylor’s talented team is led by four players in double figures. Senior guard prospect Dream Watson (yes, she is finally a senior) leads the team with 14.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.1 steals, and 5.7 assists a game. The team’s top rebounder is six-foot 8^th grader Lauren Willis at 7.5 rebounds and 10.1 points a game.   

Senior wing Sabri Mitchell is averaging 10.3 points a game and 6.3 rebounds  an outing while Junior guard/forward Danariyah Williams is averaging 10.3 points and seven rebounds a game. Other contributors average 8 or more points a game include seventh grader Mariah Brown (8.3 points, four rebounds and 2.8 steals) along with senior guard Jada Davis (8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.3 assists a game.

Military Magnet is averaging 25 steals a game.

Third ranked Carvers Bay (20-3), head coached by Logan Kingsbury, is a strong Class A contender also. They are led in scoring by senior guard D’Essence Graham (11.5), sophomore forward Jurnee Blye (8.6 pts and 6.8 rebounds) and senior guard Jasmyn Jenkins (8 pts).