Landrum Wins School’s First Girl’s AA Basketball Title With 45-43 Win Over Atlantic Collegiate
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 5th, 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 8th 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.
