Class A Upper State: Southside Christian vs High Point Academy

There were occasions throughout the game – particularly in the fourth quarter where it appeared either team would win. Ultimately, the team that did prove victorious in this year’s Class A Upper State final was Southside Christian – a 54-51 decision over High Point Academy at Dorman High School. Both the Sabres and Grizzlies made big plays throughout, particularly in the game’s closing moments, but it would be Southside Christian that earned its ticket to Aiken. “What we’ve seen from this team all year long is they don’t quit,” Sabres coach Mike Johnson said. “We were down 10-0 early, came back. They had the lead at half, we had a great third quarter. They took the lead back and we just never quit.” Even though the result was not what Grizzlies coach Grace Franklin was hoping for, she described her team’s season as “awesome” amidst all of its uncertainty. “What I liked the most is that with this COVID, and everything going around, we were able to keep all the girls safe and the young girls actually got better as every game went around,” she said.” Southside Christian will meet Military Magnet for the Class A championship on Saturday March 6. Prep Girls Hoops was on hand at Dorman for the huge Class A Upper State clash. Here is a look at who stood out on Tuesday night. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259756" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/606BAEF3-FC06-4299-B952-7C26BB56ED3C.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="259747" first="Kelli" last="Anne Carter"] – 2021 – Southside Christian High School</strong> – The Sabres’ win means Carter is one game away from putting a lid on her preps career in style – with a state championship. Early on in the game, she absorbed a hard foul and completed an old-fashioned 3-point play. She also is a hard-nosed defender and will block shots. Carter possesses an ability to drive to the basket and be creative with how she does as well as convert midrange jumpers. She also has a high basketball IQ as she displayed while out on one occasion in the open floor when she was in transition and felt the defense behind her by pump-faking, then converting a shot near the rim. Carter stepped up big in the fourth quarter by making four of her five free throws – part of the 19 points she scored. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259755" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/B159EAB9-98CD-457C-870E-B378CEDADC02.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171761" first="Adiyah" last="Owens"] – 2022 – High Point Academy</strong> – A big reason why the Grizzlies will be back in the state title picture next season is the team is graduating no seniors. Owens, a senior, will accept tough defensive assignments plus she gets out quickly in transition. With her high basketball IQ, she knows when to slow a game down in the halfcourt if it is getting out of hand for her team’s offense. Owens will grab rebounds, convert putbacks, block shots and has a long range jumper as well. She will also find the open teammate instead of taking all of the shots herself. Owens scored 13 points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="186278" first="Hannah" last="Fuller"] – 2021 – Southside Christian High School</strong> – Fuller is full of talent and athleticism. Early on, it appeared as if High Point Academy was on the verge of a rout. Fuller hit a 3-pointer to put the Sabres on the board – and the rest became history. Fuller defends well by looking to get opponents to turn the ball over as well as by deflecting passes. She can score from behind the arc, in the midrange, near the rim or at the free throw line. One of those treys pushed the Sabres’ fourth quarter lead to 41-34. She also attempted shooting a 3-pointer late in the fourth, but was fouled and made all three of her tries from the stripe – which put the Sabres ahead 52-51. Fuller scored 17 – including 14 in the second half and 10 in the fourth quarter. Fuller has committed to play at Georgia Southern University next year. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259752" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/46256096-F38C-43B9-AC6E-3D2715C0811D.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171794" first="KaDerrah" last="Beason"] – 2023 – High Point Academy</strong> – A No. 32 that graduates in 23. Listed as a 5-foot-10 wing, and a team captain, she displays versatility in how she plays. Beason will get out in transition, can dribble the ball and will grab rebounds. Beason is also a threat to steal the ball on defense and is a hustler who does not give up on any possession. She is hard to defend, particularly near the rim and there is a chance those defensive tries on her will result in fouls putting her at the line. Beason scored 10 points – eight in the fourth quarter and went four of six from the line. <strong>Grace Rothman – 2021 – Southside Christian High School</strong> – Rothman is a dual-sport athlete who is used to indoor courts as she also plays for the Sabres volleyball team at Southside Christian. Rothman can get open in an offensive set and can make plays away from the basketball. She displays impressive handles with the ball and can do work on the glass. Rothman possesses a 3-point shot, a midrange jumper and a knack for getting to the line to shoot free throws. Rothman concluded her evening having scored eight points. Six of those eight occurred in the second half, including a pair of made freebies. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259759" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/577DD9C5-F9CD-417C-8C11-2899C22D6ABE.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="174559" first="Olivia" last="Martin"] – 2023 – High Point Academy</strong> – A key element of the Grizzlies’ game plan early was establishing Martin in the low post early … and often. That not only meant converting on high-percentage shots, but also battling for and getting rebounds which helped in High Point’s 10-0 run to open the game in the first quarter. Martin is one big one does not want to foul as she will make her free throws if she gets to the line as she went a perfect four out of four from the stripe on Tuesday night. No. 40 finished the game with 14 points.