4A State Championship: North Augusta HS vs. Westside HS

Repeat vs. Redeem was the theme for this season’s 2021-22 4A title contest between a Westside squad that hit championship paydirt last season and a North Augusta assembling that claimed the previous four state crowns. The Yellow Jackets and Rams proved exactly why they were the class of the 4A class as both teams matched each other point for point to a 37-37 stalemate at the end of regulation. In overtime, Westside was four points better than North Augusta with a 44-40 victory to bring a second consecutive state championship to Anderson County. “It was probably more special (than last year) because we had to fight for it,” Rams coach Jackie Roberts said. “We had to work for it. And it was also more special because our seniors are leaving and this is their last chance being with us. This is a group of girls that’s really, really close and we definitely just wanted it for them and we definitely wanted it for Anaiyah who could not be on the court for us tonight.” Westside defeated North Myrtle Beach in last season’s 4A final. The Anaiyah that Roberts referred to is <strong>Anaiyah Harper</strong> who was involved a car accident earlier in the season and has been a source of inspiration for the team. <strong><em>About that Winning Streak</em></strong> Until a team puts Westside in the loss column, the Rams’ prolonged winning streak will always be a story every time coach Jackie Roberts’ group sets sneakers to hardwood. Westside’s triumph over North Augusta extends the team’s stretch of wins to 38 – with its last defeat occurring in mid-January of 2021. <strong><em>Staying Alive</em></strong> The Rams had a 37-35 lead going into the final seconds of regulation. It appeared the repeat effort would be finished without needing four extra minutes, but the Yellow Jackets were successful on a 2-point try to bring both teams all square at 37. Westside’s ensuing game-winning try was unsuccessful, sending the contest to overtime. <strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4894-scaled-crop-1592x1046-1646568983.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396857" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4894-scaled-crop-1592x1046-1646568983-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>Branya Pruitt</strong> paved a promising path to victory for the Rams with 15 points. She played 30 minutes and made six of her shots from the field. Pruitt had nine of those 15 after halftime. Westside made a total of three attempts from 3-point range on Saturday evening – two of those attempts departed from Pruitt’s palms. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4810-scaled-crop-1269x833-1646569086.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396859" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4810-scaled-crop-1269x833-1646569086-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> The game was also <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124094" first="Destiny" last="Middleton"]</strong>’s final hurrah flying the Westside colors. She scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and compiled three steals. She played 37 minutes and had five made shots from the field. Middleton scored nine of her 14 in the first two quarters and also contributed the other made triple that wsa not courtesy of Pruitt. “We worked hard all season for this moment. So, it’s a great feeling,” Middleton said after the game. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4816-scaled-crop-1721x1130-1646569170.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396861" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4816-scaled-crop-1721x1130-1646569170-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Westside needed a hefty dose of offense and defense to defeat North Augusta – and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="253666" first="Aziyah" last="Bell"]</strong> provided both. She added eight points and brought down five rebounds but she also made things difficult for Yellow Jackets ball handlers with the nine steals she had. Those steals were critical plays given the Rams scored 25 of its 44 points off turnovers. Bell did not have a foul called against her the entire game. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4859-2-scaled-crop-1535x1008-1646569259.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396863" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4859-2-scaled-crop-1535x1008-1646569259-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> With 18 points to lead all scorers, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="185422" first="Zuri" last="Goldsberry"]</strong> was key in keeping North Augusta within striking distance. Out of Goldsberry’s 18 points, 12 of those were scored in the first half and a good bit of that occurred in the first quarter. Goldsberry made eight of her 17 attempts from the field in addition to her four steals and staying out of foul trouble. She was whistled for only two personals. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4906-scaled-crop-1344x883-1646569361.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396865" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4906-scaled-crop-1344x883-1646569361-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> North Augusta had a secret weapon off its bench. That was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="350281" first="Celena" last="Grant"]</strong>, who gave the Yellow Jackets a lift with the 10 points she managed to score. While Grant did foul out in overtime shortly after she got into double-digits scoringwise, she did play 26 minutes while also grabbing six rebounds. Grant also made five of her nine tries from the field. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4890-scaled-crop-1455x955-1646569453.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396867" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4890-scaled-crop-1455x955-1646569453-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172178" first="Peris" last="Smith"]</strong> concluded her evening one point shy of a double-double as she finished with nine points and 12 rebounds. She had one of the biggest plays in the game as she converted on a game-tying layup late in the fourth quarter which sent the game into overtime. Smith also dished out three assists in the 34 minutes of play she compiled. <strong><em>Closing the Book</em></strong> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4914-scaled-crop-1335x877-1646569575.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-396869" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/IMG_4914-scaled-crop-1335x877-1646569575-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Westside finishes with a perfect 28-0 record plus an 8-0 posting for Region 1-AAAA. North Augusta concludes its season at 21-3 and exited Region 5-AAAA also at 8-1. <strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong> Middleton, Pruitt, Bell and Harper are all part of Westside’s senior class in addition to <strong>Sanquisha Little</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206611" first="Suniyah" last="Rollins"]</strong>, <strong>Jada Tullis</strong>, <strong>Alayna Bailey</strong>, <strong>Alyssa Bailey</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="190236" first="Arin" last="Moore"]</strong>, <strong>Aricka Moore</strong> are among the 2022’s who will soon close out their tenures at North Augusta.