SCHSL Class AA and AAAAA D2 Championship Matches Are Set
Andrew Jackson To face Eau Claire In SCHSL AA Girl’s basketball Finals While High Point Academy Meets Atlantic Collegiate In AA Boy’s Action, In Div. II AAAAA the Berkeley Girl’s Confront Greenwood In The State Finals While The Goose Creek Boys Play Greenville In Div. II AAAAA
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Florence—In Div. II AAAAA basketball action on Wednesday at the Florence Center the Berkeley girl’s defeated North Myrtle Beach, 67-32 to win the lower state title while in upper state action Greenwood came back from an early deficit to defeat Greenville in over-time 49-45.
In the AAAAA Div. II boy’s lower state game at the same venue Goose Creek defeated Berkeley County rival Berkeley 58-45 to advance to the state finals. Later that day in upper state action Greenville rallied to defeat Fort Mill 46-44 in a game that went down to the wire.
The Berkeley girls will now face Greenwood in the Florence Center at 4 p.m. on Saturday March, 8 while the Goose Creek boys will challenge the Greenville boys at 6.m the same day. Goose Creek defeated Greenville at home in a game played back in the early season.
In semi-finals SCHSL AA action on Tuesday the Andrew Jackson girls advanced to the finals in SCHSL AA competition with a 96-33 win over Lake City and the Lady Volunteers will face-off against Eau Claire after their come-from-behind win over region foe Clinton, 41-30 to earn upper state AA girl’s honors. These two teams will compete for the AA girl’s state title at noon on March 8 in the Florence Center.
In AA boy’s action on Tuesday, Atlantic Collegiate (from Conway) defeated the Andrew Jackson boy’s 45-40 in a highly competitive game to take lower state honors. In the upper state AA boy’s action High Point Academy defeated Cinderella Liberty High 62-41. Liberty came into the game with a record of 13-15 and the Red Devils had caught fire in the play-offs starting with a road win over number one seeded Fairfield Central to start the play-offs.
On a side note, High Point is coached by Lee Sartor who won three state championships at Spartanburg Day where he coached former number one NBA pick Zion Williamson.
Atlantic Collegiate will compete against High Point Academy in the AA boy’s finals at 2 p.m. on Saturday March, 8 at the same venue.
Here are some random quotes from some of the winning coaches on Tuesday and Wednesday:
Atlantic Collegiate boy’s coach Tanner Massey: “We get after it with game day practices and we practice hard to get ready to play in games,” he said. “We have six seniors and three of them start so we are a veteran team. Our senior starters are Jaylen Bellamy, Clayton Hemingway and Jamie Brooks and Brooks should be the AA Player of the Year.”
High Point Academy’s Lee Sartor: “It is always an honor to get to this point in the season and I am so proud of my team, and so proud of our school,” said Coach Sartor. “We didn’t come here just to play in the upper state championship and win it. We came here to win a state championship. So, we have one more game and we are playing a very talented Atlantic Collegiate team and I know they will be ready and we will be ready.”
Eau Claire, head coached by Ashley Patterson-Gilmore, will be making their first state title appearance since 1998. “We are excited and I am over-whelmed right now,” she said after the big win. “The girls said when the season began, they wanted to go to Florence and compete for a state title. Their work ethic was there all season and now we have come here and we are going to the state finals and our school has not done this since 1998. We are focused on this next game and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing a very talented Andrew Jackson team.”
Goose Creek head coach Blake Hall: “I asked the team just what do you want,” said Coach Hall. “Is winning the lower state what you want; is that enough? If you want more we have to play hard in one more game. Really, I think this game (win over Berkeley) was about stamina. Our guys have worked really hard and if your players have to have the will not to give in when you get tired on the court.”
Greenville High head coach Mike Anderson: “I am just so proud of our guys and we have been knocking on the door for the past five years being in the game three different times. It was an absolute battle night. Fort Mill is really good and well coached and they controlled most of the game. We have a little bit of nerves early and we tried to clam everyone down. We told them to stay the course and that the game was for four quarters. The game came down to one play and they had a good shot but missed. We are just thankful to be playing one more game.”
An emotional Berkely High head coach Crystle Peace after Berkeley’s win: “It’s been a 15- year journey and I am just thinking about my Mom right now (passed away in March, 2024),” said Coach Peace. “I am just thinking about my Mom. ”So many times I wanted to give up and she was there for me. I just feel her presence right now. I am so proud of our group, our coaching staff, and never giving up. Even when I played, we never got to this point so I am just thankful to God and God is so awesome.”
