Eastside HS Girls Tournament – Final Day’s Results
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Tournament season is wrapping up across South Carolina. One of those final tournaments took place at 4A Eastside HS – its annual girls basketball tournament. The host school did not participate in the event’s final day last season, but returned…
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Continue ReadingTournament season is wrapping up across South Carolina. One of those final tournaments took place at 4A Eastside HS – its annual girls basketball tournament.
The host school did not participate in the event’s final day last season, but returned to defend its home court for the 2022 rendition. Along with the Eagles, St. Joseph’s Catholic, J.L. Mann, Berea, and Fountain Inn were the teams that converged on Eastside HS.
We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trip up to Taylors to see the four teams that took the court for the event’s final day. Here is how that day unfolded.
St. Joseph’s Catholic vs. Fountain Inn
The first game of Thursday’s play featured the third place contest between one of the better teams in the 1A ranks and a team that, perhaps, not too many Palmetto State hoops fans have heard of, but would be wise to take notice of.
The 1A team in question is St. Joseph’s Catholic which has a bright future ahead with its young core. The other team was Fountain Inn as the Fury are a representative of a school that recently opened its doors in 2021.
That matchup went the way of the Fury as they dispatched of the Knights by a final of 51-46 in overtime.
Records
The Fury dropped their first three games of the season before they reeled off eight consecutive victories – that included wins over tough teams such as Southside Christian, Woodruff and Clinton. As for the Knights, they were at 6-4 entering Thursday’s play.
How Things Progressed
Midrange jumpers and the ability to get to the free throw line fueled the Knights early as they embarked on a 9-0 run to begin the game. St. Joseph’s Catholic began the game in auspicious fashion as it was 15-4 after the first quarter.
All puns intended, a furious run ensued coming from the Fury. Fountain Inn erased its deficit completely to come all square with the Knights at 19 apiece late in the second quarter. When both teams went into their respective locker rooms for halftime, it was 21-19 in St. Joseph’s Catholic’s favor at the half.
The third quarter began to conjure shades of the first quarter as what was a two-point Knights advantage grew to nine midway through the frame. The Fury made another run of their own and managed to trim its deficit to four (34-30) with three complete.
Fountain Inn’s push continued into the fourth quarter and just as it was tied it up 19 at one point in the game, overtime was needed with the Fury and Knights all knotted up at 42 points apiece.
With clutch plays and timely free throw shooting, Fountain Inn continued much of the momentum they had built throughout its comeback. The four minutes of free basketball would see the Fury’s rally complete itself with a 51-46 win.
Primetime Performers
Zipora Sullivan, a sophomore 5-foot-8 guard led all scorers with 22 points. Along with her ability to attack the basket, defenders also have to be on the look out for her 3-point shooting prowess, free throw shooting and defense. Sullivan stays active away from the ball and expresses confidence in her ability to make plays.
Cameron Thompson, a 5-foot-5 guard who is also a 2025, aided the Fountain Inn cause with 13 points. Thompson is an effective point runner who can set herself in position for rebounds and also creates extra Fury possessions via her defense.
Ginny Anne Dumont Ginny Anne Dumont 5'10" | SG Eastside | 2027 State SC , the Knights’ star eighth grader paced her team with a 15-point performance. She shined defensively, effectively ran point, made shots at the free throw line and make crafty passes which became assists.
Up Next
The Knights will return to play in the new year as they will match up against Broome on Jan. 2. The Fury will be on the road at T.L. Hanna on Jan. 4.
J.L. Mann vs. Eastside
The second matchup of the day featured the host school – and the team that won last season’s tournament at Eastside with a victory over Easley.
J.L. Mann has taken somewhat of a step back since losing its two star seniors from last season’s team, but has still managed to hold its own. Eastside currently only has one blemish on its entire schedule.
The Eagles hoped to make sure their record remained as such following its contest with the Patriots. That indeed remained the case as Eastside prevailed over J.L. Mann by a margin of 47-36.
Records
Following dropping its first four games of the season, the Patriots were entering Thursday’s play as winners of five of their previous seven matchups. As for Eastside, that lone blemish on their schedule came against 5A Woodmont in a 60-53 decision on Dec. 13.
History
The Eagles previously played the Patriots on Jan. 9 of the 2021 season. It was won by J.L. Mann by a score of 65-45.
How Things Progressed
For the majority of the first quarter, both teams had cold shooting performances from the field and the defenses took center stage. Eventually, the scoreboard was lit up, but more on the J.L. Mann side than the Eastside side. It was 12-7 in the Patriots’ favor with one in the books.
The shots that were not falling for the Eagles in the first quarter began falling for them in the second quarter – particularly from long range. Eastside began looking like the team that had reeled off a 9-1 start to its season and went into halftime with a 27-20 edge.
That seven-point advantage was maintained by the Eagles with a few clutch baskets towards the end of the third quarter. Eastside’s lead was 38-31 with one quarter remaining in their tournament.
Eventually, the Eagles opened up a double-digit lead over J.L. Mann at the midpoint of the fourth quarter. When the final buzzer had sounded, Eastside successfully defended its home court by virtue of its 47-36 win.
Primetime Performers
Alaysia Nash Alaysia Nash 5'7" | CG Eastside | 2023 State SC is unquestionably who opposing defenses need to keep in check if they have any hopes of defeating the Eagles. There were not many answers from J.L. Mann as she led all scorers with 28 points – including six from distance.
Caitlin Bowling Caitlin Bowling 5'5" | PG JL Mann | 2024 State SC led all Patriots point scorers as she lifted the J.L. Mann cause with a 12-point outing. Among the skillset she displayed was the ability to effectively run point, organize an offense and connect in the midrange and long range games.
Imari Richardson also had a double-digit point-outing for the Patriots as she concluded her evening with 11 points. Richardson is a gifted rebounder that can play physical in the interior and will draw contact to set herself up at the free throw line.
Up Next…
Both Eastside and J.L. Mann will have tough road opponents on their schedules coming up on Jan. 3. The Eagles will be at Blue Ridge and the Patriots will be at Wren.