Charger's head coach Ginnell Curtis, who won her 200 th game at the school during the season, has been named the HSSR-SCISA Co-AAAA Girl’s Coach of the Year.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Sumter - Injuries get in the way of a team’s goals like no other factor in team sports; so when top ranked Northwood Academy (28-2) lost 2,000 career point scorer Jada Bates to a knee injury in the second quarter, of a highly competitive game against rival First Baptist , it certainly factored in the Hurricanes going on to win the SCISA AAAA girl’s state title 64-60. The Hurricane won their first state title since 1980. First Baptist head coach Presley Singleton , who had won two state titles at Northwood Academy earlier in her career, earned her third career state title with the win. With a 33-29 lead at the half, Coach Singleton, told her team at the break, “I told my team that Northwood does not go away and that Northwood plays hard for 32 minutes,” she said. “Do not think that they are going to roll over because they are not. “Things went back and forth in this game,” said Coach Singleton. “Our biggest key was that we stayed out of foul trouble. Foul trouble has been what has hurt us this season, especially with our interior players. “It helped us a little bit that the officials let both teams play and that helped us stay out of of four trouble,” said Coach Singleton. “Also, they had a very good player get hurt and that was unfortunate. “We have seven players who either play travel ball, or live in the gym and that makes a difference also,” said Coach Singleton. “We were hungry coming into this game after we were upset last season. This team really wanted it.” First Baptist was led in scoring by soph Maddy Pojani who led all scorers with 22 points. “Pojani has a bright future ahead of her,” said Coach Singleton. “She is just a great player who is in the gym all the time.” Coach Singleton said she stressed to her team how difficult it was for any team to beat5 a team three times in one season. (First Baptist had lost to Northwood twice this season.) “It is hard to beat a team three times in one season and I told my kids this very thing,” said Coach Singleton. “It’s hard to beat a team three times in one season. We went with a completely different game plan, then in our two other games with them this season. “It helped us a little bit that the officials let both teams play wide open, and that helped us stay out of foul trouble,” said Coach Singleton. “Also, they had a very good player who got hurt and that was unbfortuante. “We have seven kids who either play travel ball, or live in the gym all the time, and it makes a difference in your program to have committed players,” said Coach Singleton. “We were into this game hungry. We got upset last year and we came this season very hungry and we wanted this game really bad.” Northwood Academy head coach Ginnell Curtis was obviously disappointed in the loss and the injuries to two of her better players. “When you lose a player like Jada Bates who was our second leading scorer, and second in steals, it changes your game plan for sure,” said Coach Curtis. “I just hate that she got hurt for her own well-being. “When she went down, we picked each other up,” said Coach Curtius. “We could have folded at the time we kept playing hard. We also had our number four ( Kylee Clarke ) who played with a braced up torn mimesis, and she had flu-like symptoms all day, and she played off her tail off too. “I feel like the refs were one-sided but that is a story for another day,” said Coach Curtis. “I am so proud of my girls for pushing through despite the adversity. Everybody in the gym knew who was the better team but we were just unlucky tonight.”  Northwood Academy, despite the set-back from the injuries, had ever opportunity to win the game, and the Chargers tied the score at 60 with 1:56 left in the game on a free throw by Alyvia Tocco . “We had our chances late in the game, but we just did not value our possessions that gave us a chance to win had we converted,” said Curtis. “We should have been more patient.” When Bates went down, she had already scored 13 points in the game. Junior guard Maliyah Birch , the leading scorer on the team at 20 points a game, stepped up her game, dribbling through double teams with the skill of a: globe trotter” while finishing with 20 points on several key shots in the second half. “Maliyah has been playing in state championship games since the 8 th grade,” said Coach Curtis. “She knew she had to step it up when Bates left with the injury. “I felt like we deserved to win the championship based on our body of work all season,” said Coach Curtis. “Life can deal you unexpected things and you just have to deal with it under the circumstances. I am so proud of our team putting it all on the line tonight when one of our top players left the game with an injury in the second period. “Our goal will always be to win the state championship,” said Coach Curtis. “We’ll be back next season.” Northwood Academy will lose Bates and Tocco to graduation so they return three starters that should put them in a position to make a run next year also. Prior to the championship their lone loss this season was to the highly regarded Bolles School from Jacksonville, Florida. During the season Northwood played one of the toughest schedules of any team in the state claiming wins over Berkeley , Wando , Keenan , Bishop England , Oceanside Collegiate , Ashley Ridge and Stratford . Some of these teams will be playing for state titles in the SCHSL next week. First Baptist began the game playing very loose as they built a 21-12 first quarter lead. Northwood came back and played stronger in the second period to trail 33-29 at the break. At the half, First Baptist was led in scoring by Pojani with 9 points and senior forward Ellie Blitch had 8 points followed by junior guard Gabby Moore and senior guard Paige Pouyat with five each. At the break Bates had 13 points for the Chargers followed by senior Isabella Heaton with 8 points and Birch had three points. Birch scored 17 second half points to help keep the Chargers in the game. The third quarter was fast paced and First Baptist went into the final period up by only one, 46-45. In the final period the lead changed hands several times and the game was last tied at 60 with 1:56 left in the contest. First Baptist scored the final four points of the game at the free throw line. Pojani’s 22 points for First Baptist was followed up by Blitch (12), senior Clemson signee 6-6 Dyarri Braddick (10), Moore (9) and Pouyat (8). Braddick had several blocks in the paint during the game also. Northwood was led by solid prospect Birch (20), Bates (13), Heaton (12), and Tocco (7). Clarke and Lauren Cosman each had four points. The SCISA girl’s AAAA all-tournament team consisted of Braddick, Moore, and Pojani of First Northwood was represented by Birch and Bates. The final member of the team was Lauren Majurkiewicz of John Paul II .

Friday games were exciting games at the Sumter Civic Center with Wardlaw fighting back to win the Girls 1A state title, then First Baptist and Pinewood Prep toughing it out to claim the 4A Girls and Boys state titles. 

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR Orangeburg - The game opened like it might be a close sparring match between the two teams that unseat perennial championship competitor Hammond. Heathwood opened the game powerful drive to put the first points on the board. After that, the game turned decidedly one sided as Northwood matched the threat dominated the game. 

By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Summerville – It was not only the final game of the regular season, but it was also Senior Night as the Northwood Academy Chargers hosted the Heathwood Hall Highlanders Friday night in a battle for the SCISA region AAAA championship and the top seed in the AAAA playoffs. The Chargers jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first half and never looked back as they wrapped the region championship and top seed with a 39-20 win over the Highlanders. The Chargers finished the regular season 6-0 in region play and 9-1 overall. They will have a first round bye next week. “Us and Hammond have a bye next week and I’m not a big fan. I like to keep playing because your team gets into a rhythm and a bye can break that rhythm. For us, we had a bye when we didn’t play Augusta Christian, then we played Heathwood and now another bye so we have to maintain that mental focus and edge,” said Northwood head coach Johnny Waters . As for Friday’s victory, coach Waters said, “They have a really good quarterback so we wanted to pressure him and keep him in the pocket and we did a good job of that. Offensively, we wanted control the line of scrimmage and run the ball.” Heathwood Hall finished the regular season at 7-3 and 4-2 in region play. They wrapped up third place in the region and will host Ben Lippen next week in the first round of the playoffs. At halftime, three seniors were honored along with the teacher/ coach / staff member that inspired them. Elly Warren , a senior cheerleader, was joined by teacher Martha Blanton, Adeline Kriese, girls tennis , was joined by Coach Eric Bach and teacher Mathew Gilbert and Andrew Schwartzberg, swimming , was joined by Elixabeth Yoho. The football seniors were honored after the game. The Chargers punted on their first possession of the game but after that they would turn to senior running bask Kaven Ford . He would rush for three first half touchdowns to bring his season total to 20 rushing TDs. He would also go past the 1000-yard mark for the season. With 2:45 left in the first half he took a hand off up the middle, then cut to his left and tip-toed his way down the sideline for a 32-yard scoring run. Senior Cole McLeod was good on two of the extra points and the Chargers had a 20-0 lead with 2:35 to go until half time. The Heathwood offense found the going tough against Northwood defense as senior’s Garrett Andy , Cody McCleary and Hammer White controlled the line of scrimmage and applied pressure on Heathwood quarterback Patrick Belk . Belk finally got the Highlanders offense going as he drove them to a first and goal at the Charger 9-yard line with 36 seconds left in the half. However, the Highlanders had to settle for a James Richardson 31 yard field goal. It made the score 20-3 heading to the half. The Highlanders received the second half kickoff and they looked to get in the game. On the first play Belk hit Keon McKinnley with a 63-yard strike moving the ball from their 28 to a first and goal at the Chargers 9. The drive stalled at that point and Richardson came in and hit his second field goal from the 25. The field goal cut the lead to 20-6 and was now a two-score game. Northwood’s senior Jordin Carter would return the kickoff 45 yards to give the Chargers first and ten at midfield. On third and ten quarterback Kevin Johnson would move out of the pocket and to his right before spotting senior Jacair Medlock open behind the defense. He lofted a perfect 50-yard touchdown strike. The PAT was not good and the Chargers lead was 26-6. The Chargers Bryce Jenkins would pick off Belk on the next Highlander possession. The Highlander’s defense forced a punt. The Chargers would put the game away on their next possession when they went 64-yards in 10 plays. Carter capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. He had three carries for 29 yards on the drive. The Chargers tried a two-point conversion but it was no good making it 32-6. The Highlander’s would finally reach the end zone when Belk connected with Morris Henry for a 7-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good and the score was 32-12 Carter would add another score for Northwood’s when he bolted around the left side and our ran everyone for a 32-yard touchdown run. On the night he rushed for 81 yards and the two scores. The PAT by McLeod was good and the lead was 39-12. Belk would connect with Charlie Hudson on a 36-yard scoring strike for the final score of the game. Belk hit Henry of the two-point conversion for the final of 39-20. On the night Belk was 20-42 for 297 yards and two scores. The Chargers were led by Ford, who rushed for 164 yards on 23 carries. That brought his season yardage total 1056 yard. Johnson was 14-21 for 153 yards and the one score while Medlock grabbed three balls for 70 yards and a score. After the football senior class was honored : Andy, KJ Burroughs, Carter, MJ Davis, Ford Antwaun Henderson, Aydan Hogan, Qunicy Lingard, Medlock, McCleary, McLeod, Elyjah Oler, Dominic Russell, Sully Stone and The Hammer.

Northwood Academy running back Kaven Ford pulls away from Pinewood Prep defensive backs Hunter Gardner and Will Watson Oct. 17. Photo by Roger Lee.

Team photo courtesy of Northwood Academy.

Coa ch Johnny Waters e nters his third season as the head football coach.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Summerville —The Northwood Academy Chargers baseball team is rebuilding under second year head coach AJ Hickey who spent four years as an assistant coach at Goose Creek High before taking over the Chargers program in 2024. “We have made great strides in our “B” team, junior varsity, and varsity baseball programs over the past two seasons,” said Coach Hickey. “We only have two seniors and two juniors on the varsity this year and we are still developing a winning culture at the varsity level.” With only two non-region games remaining on the schedule, the Chargers are currently 6-15-1 and 3-8-1 in the region. “With realignment we have three regions comprised of 14 teams in SCISA 4-A baseball,” said Coach Hickey. “SCISA put an extra team in the three regions with realignment, but only 8 teams will make the play-offs. Unfortunately, I do not think we will make the play-offs and that was a strong goal of ours.”  Coach Hickey said the Chargers best game all season was a 0-0 tie game with First Baptist on March 28. The game had to be discontinued in the 8th inning because the field at First Baptist didn’t have lights. “That game was the best game we played all season and I doubt that we make it up but it was a region game,” said Coach Hickey. “Sophomore Eliajah Flatt (L-L) had 13 strike-outs in that game and he pitched lights out the whole game. I am telling you this kid is a prospect. He is left-handed and his fast ball is hard to hit.” Flatt, who won two games on the mound, has pitched 28.1 innings on the season with 50 strike-outs. The team’s number two pitcher is 8 th grade lefty Jhett Dungan who has thrown 37 innings with 26 strike-outs. “Dungan’s best pitch is probably his change-up,” said Coach Hickey. “Our number three pitcher is 8 th grader Wesley Boldin and he has improved a lot over the season,” said Coach Hickey. Bolden has pitched 21.2 innings with 23 strike-outs. The top hitter on the team is senior leadoff batter William Rose who is currently hitting .333 with 12 RBI’s including three triples. “Rose is a solid catcher behind the plate and he has a very strong throw to second,” said Coach Hickey. “He is a prospect for someone in my opinion.” The next Charger on the hit index is sophomore designated hitter Tyler Cumbee who is hitting .291 with 10 RBI’s to date. Cumbee also plays some in right field. The next leading hitter is junior left-fielder Jack Singleton at .282 with five RBI’s batting in the five-hole. The clean-up batter is freshman third baseman Travis Mercuri who has four RBI’s and one double so far. Senior Noah Oswald starts at short and he is batting .241 with 10 RBI’s including two doubles and a triple. “Oswald has the best set of hands I’ve ever coached,” said Coach Hickey. A leading candidate for the Most Improved Charger over the past two seasons is probably two-hole hitter Zach Welch who starts at second base. He is batting .274 with 12 RBI’s including four doubles and a triple. The team’s best offensive game of the season was a 9-4 win over Ambassador Christian , NC on March, 31. Dungan was the winning pitcher in that game tossing a three-hitter, giving up two earned runs with two K’s. In the win over AC Rose was 3-for3 with two RBI’s and a double. First baseman Nate Cross had two hits, scored two runs with one RBI. Flatt had a hit and one RBI and Singleton had a hit, scored a run and had one RBI. Mercuri had a hit and scored a run in the game and Cumbee had a hit and scored a run. Welch also had ahi tans cored a run in that big win. Some additional key reserves include freshman Mason Curti, freshman pitcher Rhett DeMars , freshman 1 st baseman Nate Cross , soph RHP Grady Livingston, and freshman OF Noah Wilder . The Chargers have been a good running team on the base paths with 38 stolen bases so far this season. Rose and Oswald are currently tied with 9 stolen bases each, and Welch is right behind with 8 stolen bases. Coach Hickey is assisted by Donovan Campbell and Kyle Gaynor .