Dorchester beats defending champ Cross Schools to claim SCISA AA girls basketball state title
Emery McClure, Rylee Weathers, Palmer Kizer, Alyssa Grooms girls All-Region picks
St. George – After coming close the last few years, the Dorchester Academy girls basketball team finally got over that proverbial hump.
It took overtime, but the Raiders defeated defending state champion Cross Schools 39-37 to claim the SCISA AA state championship on February 28 at Sumter County Civic Centerr.
It is DA’s first state championship since the 2017 season even though it did play for the crown in 2020.
Head coach Callie McClure, who coached Dorchester to the previous championship, was happy her school has another state title trophy for the trophy case.
“It was a real physical game, I am not kidding,” said McClure, who led Dorchester to a 21-5 record. “I am just thankful it is over and that we won. I did not expect an overtime game. I am very proud of my team today for competing and pulling out a win they will remember forever.”
Emery McClure led the Raiders in scoring with 14 points. Rylee Weathers had 13 points, Palmer Kizer had six, and Alyssa Grooms, Rylee Matthews and Madison Downey each contributed two points.
DA, a regular in the semifinals, rolled to a 60-23 victory over Lee Academy in the semifinals. Dorchester had three players in double figures led by Weathers with 18. McClure added 16, and Grooms added 10. Kizer finished with eight and Downey had six.
The Raiders opened tournament play with a 53-30 triumph over Andrew Jackson Academy in the quarterfinals.
DA led 26-7 after the first quarter, 35-15 at halftime and 47-24 entering the fourth quarter.
The Raiders had three players score in double figures led by McClure with 18. Weathers added 15, and Grooms had 11. Matthews and Kizer both had four.
McClure was named the Region 2-AA Player of the Year. She was joined on the All-Region team by Weathers, Kizer and Grooms.
McClure averaged 10.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 steals. Weathers led the team in scoring at 13.0 and shared the rebounding lead at 9.0 to go with 4.0 steals. Kiser averaged 6.0 points 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 steals, and Grooms averaged 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals.
Matthews averaged 5.0 points and shared the rebounding lead at 9.0.
SHULER, QUATTLEBAUM, VARN BOYS ALL-REGION
The Dorchester boys basketball team had three players named All-Region in senior Abe Shuler, senior John Quattlebaum and junior Austin Varn.
The Dorchester boys finished the season with a 17-13 record, going 3-3 in region play. The Raiders went 1-1 in the state tournament. They beat Cross Schools 60-44 in the opening round before falling to Bethesda Academy in the quarterfinals.
RECLASSIFICATION DOESN’T AFFECT DORCHESTER
Things will remain the same for Dorchester after SCISA’s biannual reclassification was released.
`DA will continue to complete in Class A for football and AA in all other sports
