State championship matchups set for SCISA AAAA boys, AAAA girls

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • February 20, 2025

Augusta Christian, Porter-Gaud to meet for boy title; First Baptist takes on Trinity Collegiatte for girls crown

         Sumter – Porter-Gaud will be meeting Augusta Christian School for the SCISA AAAA boys basketball state title, while Trinity Collegiate will face off with First Baptist for the AAAA girls crown.

 

       That’s because P-G defeated Hammond 49-45 and ACS took down Pinewood Prep 82-71 in overtime in the boys semifinal games on Wednesday at Sumter County Civic Center. The girls semis saw First Baptist score on a basket at the buzzer by junior Ellie Blitch to defeat defending state champion Heathwood Hall 54-52, while Trinity topped Northwood Academy 49-41.

 

       The championship games will be played on Friday at Sumter County Civic Center. After Curtis Baptist takes on Wardlaw Academy for the Class A girls title at 4 p.m., First Baptist and Trinity Collegiate will do battle for the AAAA girls crown beginning at 6 p.m. The boys game will follow, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

 

       The semifinals for AAA boys and girls will be played on Thursday at the civic center, while the AA boys and girls semis and the Class A boys semis will take place at Wilson Hall’s Nash Student Center in Sumter on Thursday.

 

       The AAA girls will have Pee Dee Academy taking on Spartanburg Christian at 3:30 p.m., while Orangeburg Prep and Hilton Head Prep will tangle at 6:30 p.m. On the boys ledger, Pee Dee will take on Spartanburg Day at 5 p.m. while OP and HHP will tangle in the boys game as well beginning at 8 p.m.

 

       In AA boys, defending state champion Cathedral Academy will take on Thomas Heyward at 7:30 p.m. in Gym B, while Bethesda Academy will take on Andrew Jackson Academy at 7 p.m. in Gym A.

 

       The AA girls will see Dorchester Academy meeting Laurens Academy at 6 p.m. in Gym B, while Cross Schools will take on Lee Academy at 5:30 p.m. in Gym A.

 

       The Class A boys semis will see Ragin Prep meeting Marlboro Academy at 4 p.m. in Gym A, and defending state champion Curtis Baptist facing Richard Winn Academy in Gym B starting at 4:30 p.m.

 

        The state championship games for each of those five classes will be played on Saturday at Sumter County Civic Center. The first game will be the Class A boys starting at 11 a.m. That will be followed by the AA girls at 1 p.m. and the 2A boys at 2:30 p.m. The AAA girls contest is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. with the AAA boys contest set for a 6:30 p.m. start.

 

       GIRLS

       First Baptist 54

       Heathwood Hall 52

 

       While it may not have necessarily looked like it, Hurricanes head coach Presley Singleton said it was a designed play that saw sophomore Gabby Moore get the ball to Blitch, who put it in the basket as time expired for the victory.

 

       “What we drew up was we’re going to hold it for one,” said Singleton, whose team improved to 27-2 on the season and will be playing its first championship game since winning a title in 1980. “She had been getting by her man pretty much at will tonight. I said if a guard steps over find your shooter, if your post steps over hit your opposite block. Post stepped over to help, she trusted the sixth man on our team and Ellie delivered.”

 

       After the Highlanders’ SaBraya Monsanto missed two free throws in a 52-52 tie with 25 seconds remaining in the game, Trinity grabbed the rebound and called a timeout with 19 seconds left once it got across halfcourt. Moore dribbled the ball and didn’t start to try and penetrate until nine seconds were left. Against strong defense, Moore finally got to the basket on the right side of the lane. She drew a double team and found Blitch open underneath the basket on the left side. She put it in just before the buzzer sounded, setting off a wild celebration by the Hurricanes while many of the Heathwood players fell to the ground in despair.

 

       “I could not be any prouder of this group of girls,” said Singleton, whose team lost to Heathwood in overtime in the semis last year. “We have talked all season long about playing together, and we’re not just one-dimensional. If we move he ball, share he ball, we’ve got enough weapsons where we-re going to be hard to beat. They proved it tonight.”

 

Moore was one of three First Baptist players to score in double figures, leading the way with 18 points Ava Rush and Paige Pouyat both had 10 points. Maddy Pojani finished with seven and Blitch had four.

 

       Heathwood Hall, which finished the year with a 17-3 record, were led by senior standout Lauren Jacobs with 17 points. Monsanto, also a senior, followed with 15 points, and senior Camiliea Gore had 13.

 

       The Highlanders held a 21-12 lead after one quarter. However, First Baptist recovered in the second quarter and took a 28-27 into halftime. The Hurricanes led 46-43 entering the final stanza.

 

       Trinity Collegiate 49

       Northwood 41

 

       Trinity Collegiate rallied from a 9-point deficit in the third quarter to forge a 36-36 tie entering the fourth quarter. The Titans then outscored Northwood 13-5 in the final stanza to come away with the 8-point triumph.

 

       “I’m proud of everyone,” said TC head coach Bree Goodson, who is in her first year with the school. “They fought to the end today. They had to ight back from a 9-point deficit, but they came together and won it in the end.”

 

       Trinity, which won its 20th game of the season in 23 outings, was led by Natalie Pitts with 17 points. Autumn Kind added 13, while Makayla Leggette had seven. and Grant Correy and Saleese Kind both had six points.

 

       The Chargers, who finished with a 17-9 record, were led by Maliyah Birch with 10 points. Ava Reyes had nine followed by Alyvia Tocco with seven and Ryland Dundon and Navaeh Mathews with five apiece.

 

        BOYS

       Augusta Christian 82

       Pinewood Prep 71

 

       Augusta Christian reached its fourth consecutive state championship contest, but it took 39 points from Bryce Reynierson and outscoring Pinewood Prep 13-2 in overtime to do so.


ACS was the AAAA runner-up last year after winning the crown in 2023. It won the the AAA title in 2022.

 

       The Panthers, who finished 23-7, jumped out to a 22-12 lead after one quarter and led 36-33 at halftime. They pushed the lead back to nine at 50-41 entering the final stanza. However, the Lions outscored them 28-19 to force the overtime. They continued to pour on the points in the 4-minute overtime for the 11-point triumph.

 

      Reynierson, a 6-foot-5-inch senior, scored eight points in the overtime to lead ACS, which improved to 27-2. Ty Shine hit on five of six free throws in overtime and finished with 19 points.

 

       Uzziah Morton finished with 12, Aamore Tolbert had eight and Malachi Jones had six.

 

       Leading the way for Pinewood Prep was Jonathan Slawson Jr. with 28. Kais Parris had 19, Tre Green 13 and Jayden Alexander nine.

 

       Porter-Gaud 49

       Hammond 45

 

       Porter-Gaud reached a state championship game foor the first time since 2016 with the 4-point win in the nip-and-tuck affair with Hammond.

 

       The Cyclones will be going for their third state championship in the 19-year tenure of head coach John Pearson.

 

       “I haven’t really processed it yet,” Pearson said of getting to the title game. “It’s big. You have to beat some really good teams to get here. Once you get here, you just soak in the atmosphere and take advantage of the moment.

 

       “I thought my kids did about as good a job as they could do. We’re very fortunate to be able to win this game. I’m surprised. From the summer, we kept working and now we’re here so we’re going to ride i 

 

       P-G, which improved to 21-5, led 12-10 after one quartrer and 23-21 at halftime. It led 40-36 entering the fourth quarter and maintained that margin.

 

       John-Michael Jenkins and Griff Ferraro led Porter=Gaud with 15 points apiece. Kateaux Miller had eight, Banks Butler seven and Griff Domm four.

 

       Junior Daylin Haltiwanger led the Skyhawks, who finished 19-6, with 17 points. Senior Jaiden Haltiwanger had 15, Mehki Smith-Brown had seven, and John Stokes finished with six.

 

       TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

AAAA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 -- Northside Christian 68, Laurence Manning 54

Game 2 -- Pinewood Prep 68, First Baptist 38

Game 3 -- Wilson Hall 69, Cardinal Newman 33

Lower Bracket

Game 4 -- Porter-Gaud 72, Hilton Head Christian 28

Game 5 -- Heathwood Hall 45, John Paul II 28

Game 6 -- Hammond 76, Northwood Academy 45

Game 7 -- Ben Lippen 64, Trinity Collegiate 52

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Augusta Christian 94, Northside Christiani 60

Game 9 – Pinewood Prep 66, Wilson Hall 58

Game 10 – Porter-Gaud 64, Heathwood Hall 51

Game 11 – Hammond 60, Ben Lippen 41

Semifinals

Wednesday, February. 19

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 12 – Augusta Christian 82, Pinewood Prep 71 (OT)

Lower Bracket

Game 13 – Porter-Gaud 49, Hammond 45

Championship

Friday, February 21

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 – Augusta Christian vs. Porter-Gaud, 7:30 p.m.

 

AAAA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Heathwood Hall beat Ashley Hall by forfeit

Game 2 – Porter-Gaud 47, John Paul II 30

Game 3 – First Baptist 68, Hilton Head Christian 19

Game 4 – Augusta Christian 52, Wilson Hall 35

Lower Bracket

Game 5 – Ben Lippen 43, Palmetto Christian 31

Game 6 – Northwood 57, Carinal Newman 15

Game 7 – Northside Christian 74, Laurence Manning 41

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Heathwood Hall 62 Porter-Gaud 22

Game 9 – First Baptist 75, Augusta Christian 48

Lower Bracket

Game 10 -- Trinity Collegiate 53, Ben Lippen 42

Game 11 – Northwood Academy 61, Northside Christian 35

Semifinals

Wednesday, February. 19

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 12 – First Baptist 54, Heathwood Hall 52

Lower Bracket

Game 13 – Trinity Collegiate 49, Northwood Academy 41

Championship

Friday, February 21

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 – First Baptist vs. Trinity Collegiate, 6 p.m.

 

AAA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Florence Christian 52, Spartanburg Christian 46

Game 2 – Greenwood Christian beat. St. John’s Christian

Lower Bracket

Game 3 – Spartanburg Day 76, Dillon Christian 62

Game 4 – Calhoun Academy 71, Patrick Henry 68

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Hilton Head Prep 56, Florence Christian 23

Game 6 – Orangeburg Prep 73, Greenwood Christian 68

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Spartanburg Day 52, Christian Academy 49

Game 8 – Pee Dee Academy 55, Calhoun Academy 50

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 9 – Hilton Head Prep vs. Orangeburg Prep, 8 p.m.

 Lower Bracket

Game 10 – Spartanburg Day vs. Pee Dee Academy, 5 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 6:30 p.m.

 

AAA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Greenwood Christian 50, Thomas Sumter 46

Game 2 – Florence Christian 36, Calhoun Academy 21

Lower Bracket

Game 4 – Patrick Henry 56, Spartanburg Day 39

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Orangeburg Prep 47, Greenwood Christian 14

Game 6 – Hilton Head Prep 43, Florence Christian 38

Lower State.

Game 7 – Pee Dee Academy 47, First Presbyterian 27

Game 8 – Spartanburg Christian 62, Patrick Henry 48

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 9 – Orangeburg Prep vs. Hilton Head Prep, 6:30 p.m.

 Lower Bracket

Game 10 – Pee Dee Academy vs. Spartanburg Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 5 p.m.

 

AA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper State

Game 1 -- Oakbrook Prep 51, Beaufort Academy 43

Game 2 -- Thomas Heyward beat Conway Christian

Game 3 -- Carolina Academy 64, Dorchester Academy 53

Lower Bracket

Game 4 – Bethesda Academy 64, Cross Schools 46

Game 5 – Charleston Collegiate 72, Our Lady of the Rosary 30

Game 6 – Andrew Jackson 57, Lee Academy 28

Game 7 – Faith Christian 57, Laurens Academy 39

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Cathedral Academy 59, Oakbrook Prep 20

Game 9 – Thomas Heyward 43, Carolina Academy

Lower State

Game 10 -- Bethesda Academy 64, Charleston Collegiate 56

Game 11 – Andrew Jackson 60, Faith Christian 47

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 12 – Cathedral Academy vs. Thomas Heyward

Lower Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 13 – Bethesda Academy vs. Andrew Jackson, 7 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 -- Semifinal Winners, 2:30 p.m.

 

AA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Oakbrook Prep 36, Carolina Academy 23

Game 2 – Our Lady of the Rosary 33, Cathedral Academy 29

Lower Bracket

Game 3 – Andrew Jackson 34, Conway Christian 33

Game 4 – Charleston Collegiate beat Holy Trinity

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Cross Schools 62, Oakbrook Prep 24

Game 6 – Lee Academy 38, Our Lady of the Rosary 28

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Dorchester Academy 51, Andrew Jackson 19

Game 8 – Laurens Academy 49, Charleston Collegiate 43

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 9 – Cross Schools vs. Lee Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Lower Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 10 – Dorchester Academy vs. Laurens Academy, 6 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 1 p.m.

 

Class A

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Mead Hall 54, Wardlaw Academy 33

Game 2 – Marlboro Academy 53, Cambridge 33

Lower Bracket

Game 3 -- Holly Hill Academy 57, Anderson Christian 45

Game 4 – Newberry Academy 65, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 13

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Ragin Prep 52, Mead Hall 37

Game 6 – Marlboro Academy 54, Jefferson Davis 44

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Curtis Baptist 81, Holly Hill Academy 59

Game 8 – Richard Winn 33, Newberry Academy, 19

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

at Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 9 – Ragin Prep vs. Marlboro Academy, 4 p.m.

Lower Bracket

at Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 10 – Curtis Baptist vs. Richard Winn, 4:30 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 11 a.m.

 

Class A

Girls

Quarterfinals

Friday, February 14

Game 1 – Holly Hill Academy 40, Jefferson Davis 27

Game 2 – Richard Winn 56, Mead Hall 21

Semifinals

Tuesday, February 18

Game 3 -- Curtis Baptist 62, Holly Hill Academy 33

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 4 -- Wardlaw 33, Richard Winn 22

Championship

Friday, February 21

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 5 -- Curtis Baptist vs. Wardlaw, 4 p.m.

SCACA Carolinas Classic Rosters

By Staff Reports • January 28, 2026
The Carolinas Classic rosters are out for both the male and female basketball teams. One classic event, two rosters, now is the time to get hyped and check out these outstanding student athletes.

SCISA Boys Basketball Region Battles Heat Up

By Gerald Doolittle • January 22, 2026
Orangeburg Prep senior Avery Ravenell is averaging 23 pts per game and on pace for another 400 point season.

SCISA Girls Basketball Races Take Shape

By Gerald Doolittle • January 22, 2026
Curtis Baptist Senior Maci Butler averaging 20 points per game and closing in on a third straight 300 point season.

Timberland Boys Basketball Team Heating Up On Hardwood As Season Enters Second Half

By Rob Gantt • January 22, 2026
By Rob Gantt Special to The HSSR St. Stephen - The Timberland High School boys basketball team seems to be heating up just as the weather turns cooler, when the games become more important. The Wolves started out 0-13 on the season but were competitive most nights during the opening stretch. They dropped seven games by single digits the first half of the campaign. However, Coach Jerome Stewart's club has won three of its last four games. All three victories came on the road. Most recently, the Wolves edged Andrews, 47-41. Junior guard Joshua Deas led the Wolves with 16 points, while sophomore forward Jordan Gorham added nine points. Sophomore wing Ellis Wiggins and senior wing Kevin Brown chipped in eight points apiece. Gorham, also one of the state's top football prospects, led around the glass with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Wiggins also contributed five rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Timberland improved to 2-1 in Region 6-2A games heading into a road clash Tuesday, Jan. 20, at fellow Berkeley County School District program Philip Simmons. Three days earlier, Timberland also won a tight contest at Academic Magnet. The Wolves pulled out a 59-53 victory versus the Raptors. Wiggins led three Wolves in double figures with 12 points. Junior guard Joshua Brown and Kevin Brown added 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Senior forward Harold Sanders contributed nine points. Gorham and Kevin Brown tallied 10 rebounds apiece, while Gorham and Wiggins combined on five blocks. Timberland broke through for its first win of the 2025-26 season Jan. 6 at Military Magnet, getting past the Eagles by a score of 62-52. Wiggins and Kevin Brown poured in 18 points each and Sanders chipped in seven points. Wiggins also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists. In between that win and the most recent back-to-back victories, the Wolves lost a competitive clash at home against Burke. Wiggins and Kevin Brown combined for 28 points.  After Philip Simmons Jan. 20, the Wolves host Woodland Jan. 23.

Lawter Has Big Plans For The Emerald Wrestling Program

By Billy Baker • January 22, 2026
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Greenwood —The passion that first year Emerald head wrestling coach Hayden Lawter has for the sport he starred in at BHP is rubbing off on the Vikings team that won seven dual matches this season for the first time in quite some time. Lawter is a recent graduate of Lander University where he earned a wrestling scholarship after an outstanding high school career at BHP where he was a three-time state qualifier in the 220-pouind class. He also finished among the top three in the state in his weight class in both his junior and senior years. Lawter also earned North-South Honors his senior year with the Bears. He was a two-time all-region champion, and he was named Anderson County Prep Wrester of the Year after he helped lead BHP to a state wrestling title in 2021 when the team went undefeated. “We have some big plans to build the wrestling program at Emerald into a Top 10 program in the state within five years,” said Coach Lawter. “I have seen it done before. This summer we are starting a Summer Take-Down club in the Greenwood area that will range from elementary school age up to high school. We are focused on growth and success. “It will be a challenge to win our region meet this year with strong teams like Westside , Fountian Inn , and Laurens competing against us,” said Coach Lawter. “We do hope to place fourth and that is a good start for us in our first year with a very young team.” The Vikings 2025-26 varsity wrestling team has 34 participants. The team has seven dual meet wins this season over Landrum , Greenwood Christian (twice), Augusta Christian , Seneca (twice), and Crescent . The Vikings will tune up for the upcoming region meet they will host, by competing against five other teams in the West Oak Round Robin Invitational on January 17. The team is led by senior tri-captains Alijah White (190), Kelsey Wright (165), and Gregory Brown (138). White is ranked 6 th in the state in his weight class by SCMAT.com. “Alijah has been on the team for four seasons, and he is a region champion contender for sure,” said Coach Lawter. Wright has also been on the team for four years and he is also a captain. Brown is a first-year senior on the team working extremely hard. Another top performer on the team is junior Caleb Jeffery (126) and he is ranked 7 th in the state by SCMAT.com in his weight class. Jeffery is also a contender for a region individual championship at the region meet late this month. Rounding out the top performers on the team is sophomore Hayden Doerflein in the 215-weight class and he is ranked 8 th in the state by SCMAT.com. He also has an excellent chance at competing for a region championship later this month. There are 14 total weight classes comprising a high school wrestling team. The Vikings have participation in every weight group but the heavy weight class that starts at 285 pounds. Freshman Izabella Ruiz starts at 106 with Izabella Souza also competing at 106. First- year freshman competitor Jacob Villicana competes at 113 and first-year senior Alex Morales represents the team at 120. Jeffery is a solid competitor at 126. First year freshman Ryelan Cubbage leads the 132-weight class. The 144-weight class is held down by junior Brandon Robertsdon. First year junior Tatum Bonaca starts at the 150-weight group.  Marley Fisher is a first-year starter at 157 while tri-captain Kelsey White is a top performer at 165. Sophomore Tristan Boggs is the top Viking performer at 175 while tri-captain Elijah White is a top performer at 190.

Carvers Bay Looking To Make Deeper Play Off Run This Season

By Neill Kirkpatrick • January 22, 2026
By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Hemingway – The Carvers Bay Bears entered the 2025/26 season with high expectations as they returned their top three scorers from last season but head coach Jeff Mezzatesta felt it could take a few games to gel because the Bears football season did not end until the third round of the class A playoffs. “Our biggest challenge at the start of the season was getting our football players back after their great season. We have a lot of athletes that play both sports and we were behind in conditioning, chemistry, etc.. to start the basketball season,” said coach Mezz. Coach continued, “We probably won’t start gelling as a team until after the Holiday Break, unless our seniors can provide the leadership that is needed for early season success. If we can come together and grow we have a chance to have a very special season. We just have to weather the early season with a few football injuries to nurse and bringing the boys back together as a family.” The Bears lost in the third round of the class A playoffs to eventual state champion Denmark-Olar. They finished the year 20-9 and 12-0 in region play to win their second consecutive region championship. They entered the season on a 16-game region winning streak. The Bears are currently ranked number six in the latest HSSR class a poll. They started the season 1-2 but have gone 12-2 since including running their region winning streak to 21 after winning their first five region games. They also own a win over the HSSR’s number five team Latta 81-73 which put Latta in second place in the region race. The two teams will meet again at Latta on February 11 th in game that could decide the region title and a possible number one seed in the playoffs; however, there is a lot of basketball left to play. The strength of the Bears is in their guard play on both sides of the court as their pressure defense turns into instant offense. Senior KK Heyward and juniors Jamie Graham and Mekhi Bromell are the leaders of the team as they have each improved their game from last season. Heyward is a two-times All State selection. The senior is the unquestioned team leader and has upped his scoring average his year he has been on the team. He led the team in scoring last year at 15.7 ppg and is second this season at 16.4 ppg. He is on pace to top 1500 career points by the end of the season. On the defensive side, he leads the team in steals with 3.2 a night. Graham has taken his game to the next level as he leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. His scoring average has increased from 11.4 ppg to 18.3 ppg and he is on pace to become another 1000 career point scorer. His 5.8 rebounds per is tied for the top spot and he is dishing out 4.1 dimes a game. Also, he is a returning All Region selection. Bromell is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.7 ppg. That is almost two points more per night than last season and he pulls down 5.2 ppg. Rounding out the starting five are two newcomers in sophomore Ethan Morris and senior Kendall Moore. Morris is third in the team in scoring at 10.6 ppg and is also averaging 5.3 boards per game while Moore may be the most versatile player on the team as he plays anywhere he is needed. The Bears have a solid bench led by senior Jaden Bell . He is demon on the defensive end of the court and has been named the region 6A Defensive Player of the year the past two seasons. Also returning are seniors Tyrone Parson and Herbie Washington and they are joined by newcomers to the Bears roster in junior center Xavier Fredrick and sophomore guard Kamaris Brown . “I would hope that we can continue our success in region and make the playoffs; however, this is truly up to the commitment that our boys put into the season. We can’t become complacent on past success and have to keep our eyes on the present,” said coach Mezz.

Beaufort Girls Basketball Off To Great Start

By David Shelton • January 22, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Beaufort – With the non-region schedule completed, the focus for basketball teams in the state turn to region play in January. Playoff berths and seedings are determined by region finish, making region play the most important part of the regular season. To that end, the Beaufort girls basketball team is off to a great start, posting wins in their first two region 7-AAAA contests and winning 11 of their first 15 games overall this season. The team is on track to bettermg last year’s win total of 16 while contending for the region title. Among the top performers early on this season are junior Amiyah Brown , sophomore Jania Hayward , freshman Da’Leah LaBoard , and freshman Zaria Coaxum . Hayward is leading the team in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game. She also averages nearly five rebounds and three assists per contest. Brown adds 13.7 points per game, adding 3.7 boards, while Coaxum is scoring 7.9 points per game. LaBoard is adding just over five points per game. Coming off a 1-19 season of a year ago, the boys basketball team is looking to improve but has found it to be a tough road. The Eagles managed just one win in their first 11 contests, including an 0-2 start to region play. But coach Jeremy Huff is optimistic about his team showing marked improvement in the 2025-26 season. “The sky is the limit for these young guys,” Huff says. “They have been working hard, but with our schedule and region, the competition is tough. We are expecting to be middle of the region and contend for a playoff spot.” Huff has several returning players and the playing experience gained last season, despite the record, should lead to improvement overall. As the season begins, Huff lists only one senior, guard Austin Miles , as starting. Miles is a returner from last season and is a team captain averaging 4.1 points per game. Junior guard Kobe Hernandez averages 4.0 points per game and junior guard Willis Watson is averaging 7.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Junior Qualeek Isnar is the starting center and averages 7.3 points per game. Freshman Keaton Layman averages 5.2 points per game. season. Sophomore forward PJ Davis rounds out the starting lineup. The wrestling season also is heavy into region competition and Beaufort has several grapplers ranked among the best in AAAA in their weight class. Colton Freeman is the second-ranked wrestler in the 215-pound weight class and Santino Communale is ranked fifth in AAAA at 120-pounds. Jaden Proctor is ranked sixth at 285 pounds and Jessob Paris is ranked seventh at 157 pounds. Another key performer is Cameron Posey in the 144-pound weight class. Among female wrestlers, Olesya Mullins is the top-ranked wrestler at 105 pounds.

Barnwell Girl’s Basketball Focused On Making AA Playoffs

By Staff Reports • January 22, 2026
Barnwell Girl’s Basketball Focused On Making AA Playoffs From Staff Reports Barnwell —With their 40-32 region win over Edisto on January, 16 the Lady Warhorses have pulled into a tie with Hampton County (2-2) for the region lead going into the home stretch of the regular season. Junior guard Savannah Rountree scored 12 points and senior guard Gabrielle Thomas added 10 points to lead the Lady Warhorses to the win. Sophomore center Bre’Yanna Bostick chipped in six points against Edisto also. Others contributing points in the Edisto game for Barnwell included freshman guard Za’Cariah Devoe (3), senior guard Aurielle Sanders (2), freshman forward Kennide Williams (2), freshman guard Zamari Williams (2), and junior wing Gracie Carter (1). “We are playing much better defense now,” said head coach William Hammonds . “We still need to find ways to score but our defense is coming along well. “Rountree is shooting the ball really well and she is getting it going on offense for us,” said Coach Hammonds. “Both Bostick and Devoe are two of most improved players since the start of the season. Bostick is our top rebounder coming off the bench.  “Gabby is starting to making better decisions on her passes from the point guard position,” said Coach Hammonds. “She is starting to make the right plays.” Coach Hammonds that with six region games to play he is hoping his team can finish strong and place at least third in the region and then go on and play well in the playoffs. “Hampton County and Lake Marion have two really good teams this year but if we continue to improve, I feel like we can place at least third in the region.” Maddie Brown is a 5-10 small forward and she is one of the team’s co-captains. Brown is a good rebounder and plays good defense in the paint. Barnwell will host Hampton County on February, 3. To date, a shooting guard, Roudtree leads the team in scoring at 14 points a game. Thomas is at 5.8 points and three rebounds a game, including 2.4 steals. Bostick is averaging 3.6 points a game and leads the team in rebounding. Devoe is averaging 1.2 steals a game. Coach Hammonds is assisted Alicia Davis and April Robinson .

Carolina Academy Basketball Enters Region Play

By David Shelton • January 22, 2026
The Carolina Academy Girls Basketball Team.

Chesterfield Hoopsters Competing Well In Region

By David Shelton • January 22, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Chesterfield – Region play is the most important part of the regular season and ramping up the intensity and focus is paramount for any team hoping to contend for a region title and state playoff berth. To that end, a young but up and coming Chesterfield girls basketball team is competing well in the early part of their 2025-26 region 4-AA schedule. The Lady Rams won four of their first six region games and were 10-7 overall this season as of Jan. 18. The team won 11 games all of last season. “We are playing pretty well so far,” said head coach Nick Jolly earlier this season. “This is a competitive team. We’re still fairly young overall but we have some talented girls. We will make youthful mistakes but we will learn from those mistakes and work hard to correct things as we go. I definitely feel good about the potential.” Chesterfield regularly starts four sophomores and Jolly’s top two players are sophomores Reagan Rivers and Yaya Robinson . Rivers was a class AA all-state selection as a freshman, averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game. This season, she is averaging 14.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She also dishes 3.4 assists per game and has nearly three steals per contest. Robinson averaged 13.9 points last season and is at 15.9 points per game this season. Eighth-grader Le’Asia Brown is leading the team in rebounds, grabbing 9.9 boards per game while scoring 6.7 rebounds per contest this season. Sopho,ore Ki’Yonna Peurifoy is pulling down 7.0 rebounds per contest while senior Jordan Evans is adding 2.6 steals and nearly two assists per game. Sophomore Alivia Honeycutt scores about three points and pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game. She also averages close to four blocked shots per outing. Sophomore Tayler McCoy is adding six points per game. Senior Jaylen Evans , along with junior Kaylee Leonard , see considerable minutes as well. Freshman Taylee Clyburn , sophomore Ava Knight , freshman Kamari Patterson , freshman Allison Brown , and senior Jenna Kelly round out this year’s squad. Jolly says his biggest point of emphasis in the early season has been physical toughness. “With the youth, sometimes they play a little timid,” the coach said. “I keep telling them we have to play tougher. They are responding well. I’m pretty happy with where we are and I know we are going to continue to grow and improve as we play more. We will compete with most of the teams that we play.” The boys team went 1-12 against non-region competition in December but is showing solid growth in region play with an early 2-2 record. Senior leaders and team captains are Kamron Patterson, Derrick Lockhart, Ronnie Little and Josh Miller . Juniors include Amir Pickett, Jackson Dalton, Mark Moten, Josh Bittle, Jayden Johnson, Treyvon Smith and DJ Merriman. Rounding out the roster are sophomores Jamison Dalton and Holden Lowry .
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