By Billy Baker
•
March 10, 2026
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!
