WARDLAW GIRLS RALLY TO WIN SCISA CLASS A TITLE
By: Gerald Doolittle
Johnston, S.C. – The Wardlaw Academy Lady Patriots coached by Kristina Spurlock mounted one of the greatest come backs in school history to defeat the Richard Winn Academy Lady Eagles 43-39 for the SCISA Class A 2025-26 Championship.
The Lady Eagles led by Senior Abby Lewis owned the first quarter to build a 16-4 lead fueled by 12 turnovers by Wardlaw.
The Lady Eagles continued the brutal attack into the second quarter building the lead to 22-7 at the 4:12 mark of the quarter when Coach Spurlock called a timeout. “They were frustrated and I called a timeout to calm them,” said Spurlock. “ I told them the game of basketball is a game of runs. Now was the time to make our run.”
Make their run they did. Behind Taylor Hill(sr) and Katherine Trotter (sr) the Lady Patriots finished the second quarter on a 10-2 run to close the first half trailing 17-24.
The Lady Patriots continued the 23-3 run through the third quarter behind the fierce play of Hill and Trotter to carry a 30-27 Wardlaw lead into the fourth quarter where the two teams kept trading scores. The Lady Patriots won the quarter 13-12 to make the final score read 43-39 in favor of Wardlaw.
The Lady Patriots brought home the first Title since 2009. For Coach Spurlock it was her third time being a part of a Wardlaw Championship. She was a part of two Titles during her playing days at Wardlaw.
Trotter led the Lady Patriots with 17 points followed by Hill with 15. Hill got 11 of her points from the charity line while Trotter connected on 7 of 8.
Brianna McNeil (sr) had 7 points followed by Lillie Stocum (so) and Mary Blanche Stark (8th) with two points each.
Hill, Trotter and McNeil were named to the All-Tournament team. I am sure Coach Spurlock is the SCISA Class A Coach-of-the Year as she led her army of eight to a 14-7 season record.
