Williamsburg, Laurence Manning girls win state tournament openers

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • February 21, 2026

Updated girls scores and schedule and boys Saturday schedule available here

Sumter – The Williamsburg Academy girls basketball team outscored Patrick Henry Academy 10-6 in the second overtime to pick up a 57-53 victory in the first round of the SCISA AAA state tournament on Friday at Wilson Hall’s Nash Student Center.

 

The Stallions, who improved to 11-15 on the season, will take on Orangeburg Prep on Monday in a quarterfinal game at a site and time to be determined.

 

PHA finished the year with a 9-11 record.

 

WA led 36-27 entering the fourth quarter and scored the first basket to go up by 11. However, the Patriots rallied to send the game into overtime with a 42-42 tie. The game was tied 47-47 after the first overtime.

 

Williamsburg had three players in double figures led by Abby Ward with 16 points. Corrine Kellahan added 11 points, and Audrey Wadford had 10.

 

Avery Belue had eight, and Perry Wise finished with six.

 

SaQuoia Sexton led Patrick Henry with 17. Sara Guty had 13, and Emilee Stanley finished with 11, while Maura Mathis had seven.

 

In the other AAA games, St. John’s Christian Academy beat Thomas Sumter Academy 44-37, defending state champion Pee Dee Academy beat Colleton Prep 30-18, and Hilton Head Prep topped Calhoun Academy 44-40.

 

The other AAA quarterfinal games on Monday will have SJCA facing Shannon Forest, PDA taking on Florence Christian School, and HHP going up against Greenwood Christian School.

 

Laurence Manning 48

Porter-Gaud 39

 

Orangeburg – Ashley Rae Hodge scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half to lead Laurence Manning Academy to a 48-39 win over Porter-Gaud on Friday in the first round of the AAAA girls tournament at the Orangeburg Preparatory School gymnasium.

 

The Lady ‘Cats, who evened their record at 11-11, will take on Northwood Academy on Monday at a site and time to be determined.

 

Lyza Prickelmyer added 15 for LMA. Sarah Margaret Ferriell and Lily Wellborn both had four.

 

The Cyclones, who finished 9-18, were led bt Ella Holzer with 12. MacKenzie Sellers had seven, Morgan Howell five and Addie Legette four.

 

Holly Hill 46
         W.W. King 29

 

Orangeburg Holly Hill Academy had three players score in double figures on the way to a 46-29 triumph over W.W. King in a quarterfinal game in the Class A girls state tournament on Friday at the OPS gymnasium.

 

The Raiders will face Richard Winn Academy in a semifinal game on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

 

Essie Wolpert led 8-12 HHA with 15 points. Milly Kate Prescott added 12, and Caitlyn Crisp had 10. Kaley Bell had seven.

 

Blythe Buzhardt paced RWA with 18 points. Kenzie Morse had four.

 

Wardlaw 46

Jefferson Davis 25

 

Orangeburg Wardlaw Academy used a balanced scoring attack to top Jefferson Davis Academy 46-25 in a quarterfinal game in the Class A state tournament on Friday at the OPS gymnasium.

 

The Patriots, who improved to 12-7, will take on defending state champion Curtis Baptist in a semifinal game on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

 

Katherine Trotter led WA with 10 points, while Brooklyn Proctor had nine. Brianna McNeal and Mary Blanche Stark both had six, and Savannah McNeil had five.

 

Rynn Fickling led JDA, which finished 7-6, with 13 points. Rileigh York had eight.

 

St. John’s Christian 44

Thomas Sumter 37

 

Sumter – St. John’s Christian scored 34 points in the second half to come from behind for a 44-37 win over Thomas Sumter at Nash Student Center.

 

SJCA, now 14-11, trailed 11-3 after one quarter and 21-10 at halftime. However, it scored 22 points in the third quarter to forge a 32-32 entering the final eight minutes.

 

Kylie Finley led the Cavaliers with 21 points. Chandler Cumbie had eight and Reagan Ashby added six.

 

LilaKate Stines led TSA with 13 points, while Annabelle Connell had 12. Natalie Saphore and Hanna Gibbons both had four.

 

Our Lady of the Rosary 44

Conway Christian32

 

Sumter Our Lady of the Rosary came away with a 44-32 win over Conway Christian School in the first round of the AA state tournament on Friday at Nash Student Center.

 

The Lions will play Lee Academy in a quarterfinal game on Monday at a site and time to be determined.

 

Saoirse Cunningham led Rosary with 14 points. Bailey Reed added 12, and Kate Strelow had 10. Sofia Sisk and Kyra Cunningham both had four.

 

Emily Gaston and Grace Polatty both had seven points to lead Conway. Virginia Quick and Haylee Kunkle had six apiece.

 

Girls

AAAA

 First Round

Friday February 20

Game 1 – (Upper 5) Laurence Manning 48, (Upper 4) Porter-Gaud 39

Game 2 – (Upper 3) Hammond vs. (Upper 6) Palmetto Christian

Game 3 – (Lower 5) Trinity Collegiate 62, (Lower 4) Heathwood Hall 56

Game 4 – (Lower 3) Wilson Hall vs (Lower 6) Northside Christian

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 23

Sites To Be Determined

Game 5 – (Upper 1) Northwood Academy vs. (Upper 5) Laurence Manning, TBA

Game 6 – (Upper 2) John Paul II vs. Game 2 winner. TBA

Game 7 – (Lower 1) First Baptist vs. (Lower 5) Trinity Collegiate, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 2) Ben Lippen vs. Game 4 winner, TBA

Semifinals

Wednesday, February 25

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

State Championship

Friday, February 27

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6 p.m.

 

AAA

First Round

Friday, February 20

Game 1 – (Upper 4) Williamsburg 57, Patrick Henry 53 (2 overtimes)

Game 2 – (Upper 3) St. John’s Christian 44, (Upper 6) Thomas Sumter 37

Game 3 – (Lower 4) Pee Dee 30, (Lower 5) Colleton Prep 18

Game 4 – (Lower 6) Hilton Head Prep 44, (Lower 3) Calhoun Academy 40

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 23

Sites To Be Determined

Game 5 – (Upper 1) Orangeburg Prep vs. (Upper 4) Williamsburg, TBA

Game 6 – (Upper 2) Shannon Forest vs. (Upper 3) St. John’s Christian, TBA

Game 7 – (Lower 1) Florence Christian vs. (Lower 4) Pee Dee, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 2) Greenwood Christian vs. (Lower 6) Hilton Head Prep, TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, February 26

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

State Championship

Saturday, February 28

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 5 p.m.

 

AA

First Round

Friday, February 20

Game 1 – (Upper 2) Andrew Jackson Academy vs. (Upper 3) Carolina Academy

Game 2 – (Upper 2) Our Lady of the Rosary 44, (Upper 3) Conway Christian 32

Game 3 – (Lower 2) Cathedral Academy 44, (Lower 3) Oakbrook Prep 31Game 4 Game 4 – (Lower 2) The King’s Academy 44, (Lower 3) Charleston Collegiate 30

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 23

Sites To Be Determined

Game 5 – (Upper 1) Dorchester Academy vs. Game 1 winner, TBA

Game 6 – (Upper 1) Lee Academy vs. (Upper 2) Our Lady of the Rosary, TBA

Game 7 – (Lower 1) Laurens Academy vs. (Lower 2) Cathedral Academy, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 1) Cross Schools vs. (Lower 2) The King’s Academy, TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, February 26

Sites To Be Determin1ed

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

State Championship

Saturday, February 28

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 1 p.m.

 

Class A

Quarterfinals

Friday, February 20

Game 1 – (Upper 2) Holly Hill Academy 46, vs. (Upper 3) W.W. King 29

Game 2 – (Lower 2) Wardlaw Academy 46, vs. (Lower 3) Jefferson Davis 25

Semifinals

Tuesday, February 24

Sites To Be Determined

Game 3 – (Upper 1) Richard Winn vs. (Upper 2) Holly Hill Academy, TBA

Game 4 – (Lower 1) Curtis Baptist vs. (Lower 2) Wardlaw Academy, TBA

State Championship

Friday, February 27

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 5 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.

 

 

Boys

AAAA

First Round

Saturday, February 21

at Cathedral Academy (Charleston)

Game 1 – (Upper 4) Porter-Gaud vs. (Upper 5) John Paul II, 3:30 p.m.

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 2 – (Upper 3) Hammond vs. (Upper 6) Hilton Head Christian, noon

Game 3 – (Lower 4) Trinity Collegiate vs (Lower 5) Augusta Christian, 4:30 p.m.

at Cathedral Academy (Charleston)

Game 4 – (Lower 3) First Baptist vs (Lower 6) Wilson Hall, 2 p.m.

 

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 23

Sites To Be Determined

Game 5 – (Upper 1) Heathwood Hall vs. Game 1 winner, TBA

Game 6 – (Upper 2) Laurence Manning vs. Game 2 winner, TBA

Game 7 – (Lower 1) Pinewood Prep vs. Game 3 winner, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 2) Ben Lippen vs. Game 4 winner, TBA

Semifinals

Wednesday, February 25

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

State Championship

Friday, February 27

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7:30 p.m.

 

AAA

First Round

Saturday, February 21

at Wilson Hall Gym A (Sumter)

Game 1 – (Upper 4) Shannon Forest vs. (Upper 5) Williamsburg, 12:30 p.m.

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 2 – (Upper 3) Spartanburg Christian vs. (Upper 6) Hilton Head Prep, 3 p.m.

at Wilson Hall Gym A (Sumter)

Game 3 – (Lower 4) Greenwood Christian vs. (Lower 5) Orangeburg Prep, 2 p.m.

at Cathedral Academy (Charleston)

Game 4 – (Lower 3) Florence Christian vs (Lower 6) Spartanburg Day, 3:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 24

Sites To Be Determined

Game 5 – (Upper 1) Calhoun Academy vs. Game 1 winner, TBA

Game 6 – (Upper 2) Christian Academy vs. Game 2 winner, TBA

Game 7 – (Lower 1) Colleton Prep vs. Game 3 winner, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 2) St. John’s Christian vs. Game 4 winner, TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, February 26

Sites To Be Determined

Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

State Championship

Saturday, February 28

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6:30 p.m.

 

AA

First Round

Saturday, February 21

at Wilson Hall Gym B (Sumter)

Game 1 – (Upper 2) Andrew Jackson Academy vs. (Upper 3) Our Lady of the Rosary, 4:30 p.m.

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 2 – (Upper 1) Laurens Academy vs. (Upper 4) Conway Christian, 1:30 p.m.

at Cathedral Academy (Charleston)

Game 3 – Upper 2) Beaufort Academy vs. (Upper 3) Faith Christian, 5 p.m.

Game 4 – (Lower 2) Dorchester Academy vs (Lower 3) Cross Schools, 12:30 p.m.

Game 5 – (Lower 2) Charleston Collegiate vs. (Lower 3) Thomas Heywards, 11 a.m.

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 24

Sites To Be Determined

Game 6 – (Upper 1) Cathedral Academy vs. Game 1 winner, TBA

Game 7 – Game 2 winner Game 3 winner, TBA

Game 8 – (Lower 1) Bethesda Academy vs. Game 4 winner, TBA

Game 9 – (Lower 2) Carolina Academy vs. Game 5 winner, TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, February 26

Sites To Be Determin1ed

Game 10 – Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, TBA

Game 11 – Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, TBA

State Championship

Saturday, February 28

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 12 – Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 2:30 p.m.

 

 

Class A

First Round

Saturday, February 21

at Wilson Hall Gym B (Sumter)

Game 1 – (Upper 4) W.W. King vs. (Upper 5) Richard Winn, 1:30 p.m.

Game 2 – (Lower 4) Ridge Christian vs. (Upper 5) Anderson Christian, 3 p.m.

Game 3 – (Lower 3) Newberry Academy vs. (Lower 6) Jefferson Davis, noon

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 24

Sites To Be Determined

Game 4 – (Upper 1) Ragin Prep vs. Game 1 winner, TBA

Game 5 – (Upper 2) Cambridge Academy vs. (Upper 3) Marlboro Academy, TBA

Game 6 – (Lower 1) Curtis Baptist vs. Game 2 winner, TBA

Game 7– (Lower 2) Mead Hall vs. Game 3 winner, TBA

Semifinals

Thursday, February 26

Sites To Be Determin1ed

Game 8 – Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, TBA

Game 9 – Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, TBA

State Championship

Saturday, February 28

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 10 – Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m.



By Dennis Brunson July 3, 2026
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Saluda – The Saluda High School football team will have a good amount of experience returning for the 2026 season. The Tigers have six starters back on offense and eight on defense from a team that went 6-6 and reached the second round of the AA state playoffs. However, they didn’t get a lot of work in during spring practice because many of them were on the school’s baseball and track and field teams that made deep runs in the postseason. Saluda head coach Greg Woerner found a silver lining in that though. “We were only able to get eight days of spring practice in and made the most o it and got better learning the offense and defense and developing some depth with the younger guys,” said Woerner, who will be in his second season as head coach. “A lot of our returning starters were making playoff runs in baseball and track, so we got a good luck at our depth.” Saluda returns four players who were selected to the All-Region 2-AA team last year. They are rising junior placekicker Ericson Vasquez , senior running back Tristan Daniels, senior tight end Jahmeer Myers and junior defensive back Ceddion Springs . Vasquez was named the Region 2 Special Teams Player of the year. Woerner is hoping the Tigers can be productive in the month of July leading into the start of fall practice. “For the remainder of the summer we’re really just looking forward to continuing to get stronger but also focusing in more on football,” Woerner said. “We had a good June competing in 7-on-7s (competitions) and getting better at our passing game and pass defense. July will focus more on getting better at the whole game.” The Tigers completed their 7-on-7 competition in June. Their first scrimmage will be on August 6 at Woodland before coming home to scrimmage Gilbert on August 10. Saluda is scheduled to open its season on August 21 at home against Abbeville . The Tigers will be part of a new region in Region 4-AA. The region will include two old Region 2 foes in defending state champion Strom Thurmond and Pelion to go with American Leadership Academy , Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Silver Bluff . MILLER MARTIN SELECTED TO AA ALL-STATE SOFTBALL TEAM Sophomore pitcher Miller Martin , a key figure for Saluda’s AA state championship softball team, was selected to the AA All-State softball team announced by the South Carolina Association for Women’s Sports . Martin had a 15-3 win-loss record and struck out 248 batters in 139 2/3 innings while posting a 0.70 earned run average. At the plate, Martin had a .308 batting average with five home runs and 32 runs batted in. Martin was also named the Region 2 Co-Player of the Year. Martin was joined on the All-Region team by Amy Sorcia , Zoey Springs and Nyla Jordan . Tigers head coach Hannah Towery said the program’s first ever state title sets a precedent for the future. “Future players will walk on to that field knowing a championship can be achieved because this team proved it,” said Towery, who guided Saluda to a 29-3 record. “The banner will hang, the trophy will be displayed, and the record books will always show who did it first. “History remembers champions, but it especially remembers those who paved the way. This team just didn’t win a state championship – they built a legacy.”
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor July 3, 2026
Raiders return everyone along the line from 8-4 team that reached 8-man semifinals
By David Shelton July 2, 2026
Oceanside's rising senior QB, Aiden Manavian is nearing 10,000 career passing yards and threw 42 touchdown passes last season.
By Gerald Doolittle July 1, 2026
By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer, HSSR Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. -W.W. King Academy held its Spring/Winter Athletic Banquet in mid-May to honor their 2025-26 athletic efforts. All the Knight teams were very competitive in their SCISA Class A region where they competed against Wardlaw Academy, Newberry Academy, Cambridge Academy, Richard Winn Academy and Anderson Christian . The Varsity Baseball team won the SCISA Class A Title . The Varsity Softball team was very competitive in the playoffs. Coach Jessica Anderson presented the Varsity Girls Basketball Awards . Blythe Buzhardt won the All-Around Excellence Award. Kenzie Morse won the Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award. Coach Dennis Gibson presented the Varsity Boys Basketball Awards. Spencer McCormick received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Brady Goff received the Sharp-Shooter Award. Coach Allen Guy presented the Varsity Softball Awards. Blythe Buzhardt received the Most Outstanding Player Award. Abby Aull received the Leadership Award and Kenzie Morse received the Iron Athletic Award. Coach Zach Matthews presented five awards to his Varsity Baseball State Champion players. Elijah Hutto received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Luke Harvey received the Defensive Player of The Year Award. Wyatt Burbank, Zed Watkins and Smith Kirby shared the Team Leadership Award. Athletic Director Kathy Gibson assisted in presenting the Senior Awards. Smith Kirby and Abby Aull received the Senior Student Athlete of the Year Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie Morse received the Athlete of the Year Award. Spencer McCormick and Abby Aull received the Christian Leadership Award. Wyatt Burbank and Kenzie received the Varsity Year-Round Athletes Award.
By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor July 1, 2026
Eagles do return Region Defensive Player of the Year in Hayden Schwab
By David Shelton June 30, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – After a pair of six-win seasons in his first two years , Berkeley head football coach Eric Lodge guided the Stags to a 10-3 record last fall. Lodge is hoping and expecting to see continued growth and development in 2026 and recently put his prospective team through spring drills. The purpose of the spring is to identify roles and hopefully find rising talent that can assist either as backups or starters this fall. “Our spring is about evaluating kids, all of them, to see where they fit in,” Lodge said, “Those practices are very important to the growth of the program. We get everyone involved amd work to get them up to speed. Once we get into the summer, we are working hard to get stronger in the weight room along with seven-on-seven stuff.” Lodge says most of the returning experience is on the offensive side and the Stags should be explosive. Henry Rivers , a senior, will be a fourth-year starter and rates as one of the best in the state. Hethres for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, adding 803 rushing yards and 16 more scores. Returning at receiver are John Cleveland, Eli Mitchell and Johnathan Mitchell, who combined for more than 60 receptions last season. Anchoring the running game are returners Lawrence Washington, Bryson McGee and Jesse Brown . That trio will work behind a revamped offensive line but Lodge sees potential in the developing unit up front. “I like our depth at running back and receiver, and of course we have a veteran leader at quarterback,” said Lodge. There are significantly more holes to fill on defense. The Stags lost an all-state tackle and three starting linebackers that were three-year starters. There also are three holes to fill on the back endd. “We have identified some young men who we feel will step in and be solid players for us,” Lodge said. “Replacing the experience is tough but we have some guys who will learn and grow over time. We’re not new to having young guys on the field. The talent is there and there are opportunities for guys to get on the field.”
By Roger Lee June 29, 2026
Expectations are high for Pinewood Prep quarterback Silas Brawner.
By David Shelton June 29, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Summerville – The last two football seasons have been sub-par for the Cane Bay Cobras but veteran head coach Russell Zehr believes the pieces are in place for a potential resurgence. The Cobras finished the last two seasons with three wins each but did win a region championship in 2024. Zehr and his staff have worked hard in the offseason to develop some up and coming talent. They did so through the weight room and spring practice. “We had a good spring overall,” Zehr said. “We were missing a handful of guys due to track but we had good numbers. We spent a lot of time getting everyone up to speed. It was an opportunity for us to see younger kids that are coming up and find out who can help us this season. We had about 80 kids during the sprng and about 75 of those have been consistent in their workouts over the summer.” The Cobras will have a new quarterback this fall. Zehr says senior Coran Houp e is moving from running back to run the option offense this season. Returning in the backfield are Mayson Samuel and Sam Rolston , with some talented backs coming from the lower levels. The offensive line returns two starters, Isaac Siefken and Eli Taylor . Junior JJ Rose is back as the leader along the defensive front, with ends Devin Cobbs and B rennen Shokes also returning. The linebackers will be new starters with only Jackson Williamson returning with experience. The secondary could be a strength with returners Tyrell Bess, Zion Bryant and Caeden Wilson . The kicking game is a solid strength with senior Aiden Thorne returning. Thorne is a deep threat on kickoffs and field goals. “He’s got a leg and can be a real weapon for us,” Zehr said. Cane Bay participated in weekly 7-on-7 passing league scrimmages during June and will play at The Citadel event in July.
By David Shelton June 29, 2026
Head football coach at James Island, Jamar McKoy has worked to build his program into one of the more consistent programs in the state.
By David Shelton June 29, 2026
By David Shelton Senior Writer Hartsville – As he embarks on his 22 nd season as the head football coach at Hartsville High, Jeff Calabrese is anxiously anticipating the upcoming 2026 season. Calabrese, with more than 200 career coaching wins, sys his team has put in good work in the offseason and appears focused on bettering last year’s 7-5 record. “We had a good spring practice, a good offseason all together really,” the coach said. “The numbers were maybe a little down but not far off. We spent a lot of time evaluating every position. If we needed to make a change we did. The focus in the spring and summer is making sure we have the right guys in the right spots. We basically are trying to get everyone on the same page.” Like all the schools in the state, the Red Foxes put in training four days a week from 8:30 to 11 am. Calabrese says this summer has been especially important as four new coaches have joined the program, including new defensive coordinator Neil Smith . “Really excited to have coach Smith. He brings a ton of energy and experience and he has really adapted well here,” Calabrese said. In terms of personnel, the Red Foxes have experience returning in several areas, starting with quarterback. Junior Ford Wallace is back as the starter and continues to develop in his role as a leader on the offense.. Returning at running back is Trace Hillian with CJ Hickmon moving from receiver to the backfield. Anchoring the offensive line is two-time all-region performer Fred Turner . Other returning linemen, who could end up on either side of the ball, include Creighton McKnight, Jake Williams, Jaquan Samuel and Pat Rhode. Rod Cranford returns in the back seven as a third-year starter. Zi’Yon Mason is moving from the secondary to linebacker, as is Jamario Scipio-Bishop. Devaris James and Deon McCall are players to watch in the secondary. “At a school our size, sometimes you have to move some kids around to make it all fit,” Calabrese said. “That’s why the summer is so important, to get those kids a lot of reps, good group to work with. We just need to build some depth.”
More Posts