Region 1-A Preview

<div> High school basketball will be here before we know it and Prep Girls Hoops will have you covered this season from the first tip to the state championships! </div> <div> Over the next few weeks, we will be releasing a series of region previews as we examine the teams and players to be on the lookout for once the season commences. After all, the Palmetto State is one that is filled to the brim with talent, giving fans plenty to look forward to this season. </div> <div> Without further adieu, here is a look at how we believe things will turn out in Region 1-A play this season. </div> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171761" first="Adiyah" last="Owens"] - 2022 - High Point Academy </strong>- High Point Academy’s 2020-21 season may have concluded on a low note – the defeat to Southside Christian in the Class A Upper State final, but with Owens primed and ready to make her senior season one to remember, look out for the Grizzlies. Prep Girls Hoops saw Owens this offseason at the Wofford team camp and proved herself to be an on-court floor general. Along with being a vocal leader, Owens will display an ability to stifle opposing offenses with her lockdown defense. She is an excellent ball distributor and will give a team a 3-point shooting edge on offense. <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>- Look up the word “stacked” in the dictionary and one may see a photo of coach Grace Franklin’s roster for this upcoming season. One may see a photo of Martin under the term “paint presence” as she certainly looks to establish herself in the low post. Martin also is one who is a consistent hustler on both ends on the floor. She will convert high percentage shots and also will give her team plenty of help on the glass. Martin is someone one does not want to commit a foul against if one is an opposing team as she will get to the link and sink her shots from the stripe. <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>- Beason is another main reason why High Point Academy is poised for a banner 2021-22 season. Among the events Prep Girls Hoops saw Beason at during the offseason/travel circuit was the Wofford camp that Owens (as well as teammate [player_tooltip player_id="171793" first="Vivian" last="Bracebridge"]) also participated in. Beason is a highly effective wing player who has a knack for collecting rebounds on either end of the floor. She will draw her fair share of contact and be en route to the free throw line. She can also connect on jump shots near the rim. She collected an individual honor last season by being named to the 1A SCBCA All-State Team. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-332035" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/071F74BF-4022-4B70-B802-FB9310003096.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171793" first="Vivian" last="Bracebridge"] - 2023 - High Point Academy </strong>- Opposing teams need to brace themselves for the onslaught of 3-pointers that will be launched from this Grizzlies standout junior (whose sister [player_tooltip player_id="276130" first="Karla" last="Bracebridge"] is also on the same team). Guard the perimeter whenever she is on the floor or that is three more points for High Point. Along with her downtown shot, she excels at moving the ball, will create double team situations on defense and is a vocal leader for her team. Bracebridge also knows how to take care of the ball and limit her team’s turnovers. The Grizzlies hope 2021-22 is more like 2019-20 when they won a Class 1A state title. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="215707" first="Asya" last="Milton"] - 2023 - McCormick HS </strong>- Milton is listed as a 5-foot-10 big which gives McCormick an imposing presence in the painted area. There is a reason why Milton is among our 2023 Prep Girls Hoops rankings and in our top 20 for centers among her class. One of those is the scoring boost she provides to the Chiefs. Milton can display versatility as while she primarily plays the five, she will also put in minutes at either the three or the four playing power forward. The Chiefs’ 2020-21 may not have been the most memorable of campaigns, but with Milton wearing McCormick’s red colors, that could change this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="235394" first="Neely" last="Bell"] - 2023 - Dixie HS </strong>- One cannot say it enough about bigs that are at least six feet that it is an element to the game of basketball that simply cannot be coached. The 6-foot-3 Bell has made her fair share of improvement since three seasons ago when she hooped for Dixie as an eighth grader. Bell is another low post presence with an ability to get the job done in the painted area. She gets her team plenty of high percentage shot opportunities, will put in plenty of work on the offensive and defensive glass and bolsters the Hornets defense with her shot blocking. Bell is a two-sport athlete with volleyball being her second sport of choice. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="175383" first="Qu’Sondra" last="Wideman"] - 2023 - McCormick HS</strong> - Wideman plays off the grid up in the Upstate for the Lady Chiefs. Wideman has a soft touch around the basket and plays with her back to the basket. Can the Lady Chiefs make some noise this season in Region 1-A ? <em><strong>Prep Girls Hoops predictions:</strong></em> 1.High Point Academy 2.Southside Christian 3.Calhoun Falls Charter 4.Dixie HS 5.McCormick HS 6.Whitmire HS 7.Ware Shoals HS