Skyhawk Holiday Classic – Day 1 Results
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With the Christmas holiday having come and gone, it was time for some of the Carolinas’ best and brightest high school girls basketball players to return to the court. A number of them did so at a venue just south…
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Continue ReadingWith the Christmas holiday having come and gone, it was time for some of the Carolinas’ best and brightest high school girls basketball players to return to the court. A number of them did so at a venue just south of downtown Columbia.
The venue was the basketball court at Hammond School, which is now competing in the 4A SCISA ranks. The event, put together by Coach Percy Wright and LBI, welcomed eight girls teams and four boys teams for this year’s rendition.
We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to the home of the Skyhawks for this year’s festivities. Here is a look at the four girls games that took place.
Hammond vs. Irmo
There appears to be an interesting trend we are noticing at midseason tournaments where the school that is hosting said event is the first team to play as opposed to the last team. This happened last week with the Blackville-Hilda Hawk Invitational and it happened again this time.
The Skyhawks were the first team slated to play as part of the Tuesday schedule of games and they matched up against a 4A team from the SCHSL ranks in Irmo.
On Tuesday morning, the 4A SCISA team proved victorious over the 4A SCHSL team as Hammond prevailed with the final being 50-41.
Records
The Skyhawks have only played a few games this season and have a record of 2-2 through those few games. As for the Yellowjackets, they were 3-5 coming into the event, with their three victories coming at the expense of River Bluff, Airport and Chapin.
How Things Went
Hammond began the process of defending its home court in emphatic fashion as their first couple of field goals were scored via fastbreak layups. Ultimately, the Skyhawks opened up a 14-0 advantage. Those were all of the 14 points that were put on the board in the first quarter as Hammond was pitching a shutout with one frame in the books.
The Yellowjackets’ fortunes had improved a little bit in the second quarter as they narrowed down a deficit that was as much as 16 to seven. The Skyhawks began to convert on fastbreak layups once again towards the latter part of the frame and went into halftime with an eight-point, 22-14 lead.
In the third, the Skyhawks got the first pair of points from someone other than their primary pair of point scorers, but Irmo managed to keep pace. The lead for Hammond in what had morphed into a competitive contest was seven (36-29) with three frames in the books.
That competitive atmosphere that was indicative of the third quarter was a feature of the fourth quarter as well. When time expired, the Skyhawks opened its Holiday Classic by defending its home court via its 50-41 triumph over the Yellowjackets.
Primetime Performers
With a 29-point performance, junior 5-foot-9 guard Samira Khalil Samira Khalil 5'8" | CG Hammond | 2024 State SC led the charge for the Skyhawks. Khalil scored 12 points at the half and drained all three of the team’s made attempts from distance. Ball handling and making accurate passes were also among her strong points.
Complimenting what Khalil did was the 12 points put on the scoreboard by Kaycee Hyman. She had 10 of her 12 in the first half and also exceled as a defender with her ability to rebound and come away with steals. The transfer from Dutch Fork was taken out of the game in the fourth quarter due to injury.
Not to be outdone was the 25-point performance that Andrea Collins Andrea Collins 5'8" | CG Irmo | 2024 SC had for the Yellowjackets. Irmo made five triples for the game and four of those successful attempts left Collins’ hands. She also impressed with her ball handling abilities, floor running and ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line.
Up Next…
Hammond would once again be one of the first teams on the schedule for Wednesday as they would match up against North Carolina-based 1 of 1 Prep Red. Irmo would take on Northside Christian.
South Pointe vs. Lower Richland
On paper, when looking at the four girls games on the six-game schedule for Tuesday, this one had a bit more than a puncher’s chance to be the game of the day.
It featured one of the premier teams in the 4A ranks in South Pointe making the trip from the Rock Hill area down Interstate 77. It also featured a top-tier team from just down the road in Hopkins – 3A Lower Richland.
When all was said and done in this contest, it would be the Stallions triumphing over the Diamond Hornets as the final tally for this one was 59-46.
Records
The Stallions had entered Tuesday’s play with an undefeated 8-0 mark that has included impressive wins over Military Magnet, North Augusta and Rock Hill. Do not let the 4-4 record that the Diamond Hornets entered Tuesday’s play think they are taking a step back from the deep playoff run they made last season. Two of Lower Richland’s defeats came at the hands of Keenan and the other two occurred via A.C. Flora and Heathwood Hall.
What Happened Last Time?
It was during a MLK tournament in the 2019-20 season when the Stallions and Diamond Hornets last got together. South Pointe, who went 27-3 that season, earned a 41-34 win over Lower Richland, who finished that season with a 16-9 record as a 4A team that season.
How Things Progressed
The first quarter of the contest between the Stallions and Diamond Hornets was infinitely more competitive than that of the previous Hammond-Irmo get-together. It was emblematic of two teams that are among the premier squads in their respective classes and Lower Richland maintained a 17-15 advantage after one.
In the second quarter, The defensive pressure of South Pointe, along with the team’s ability to get to the free throw line equaled a productive frame for the Stallions. When halftime commenced, South Pointe’s lead over Lower Richland was six and the score was 29-23.
The signs the Stallions were showing of tuning this one into a one-sided affair began showing themselves in the third quarter as the Stallions outscored the Diamond Hornets by a margin of 15-7 that frame. South Pointe’s lead had grown to 14 at the end of three stanzas with the scoreboard reading 44-30.
Lower Richland showed signs of life in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit that South Pointe had already established throughout much of the midpoint of the game. The second game of the day had went to the Stallions as they proved why they are undefeated up to this point in the season.
Primetime Performers
Instrumental in the Stallions’ victory over Lower Richland was the 16 points that were put on the scoreboard by junior guard Jayda Givens. She attacked the basket on many occasions and managed to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities.
South Pointe also got a 15-point outing from Carrigan McCloud Carrigan McCloud 5'8" | SF South Pointe | 2023 State SC . The 5-foot-8 senior transfer from Indian Land has proven herself to be an important piece as to why the Stallions have zero blemishes on their slate as of Tuesday’s play.
Jascinda Orr Jascinda Orr 5'2" | PG South Pointe | 2024 SC powered the Stallions’ efforts off the bench with a 10-point performance. Orr is a 5-foot-4 junior guard who displayed late her ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line. Six of Orr’s 10 points came via the charity stripe.
On the Diamond Hornets’ end of the ledger, Jhnai Sumter Jhnai Sumter 5'9" | SF Lower Richland | 2026 State SC keyed its scoring charge with a 14 point outing. Sumter can be versatile where she can play productive minutes as either a guard or a forward. She particularly managed to connect on high-percentage opportunities in the paint.
Up Next..
The Diamond Hornets will match up against host school Hammond in the final matchup of Wednesday’s schedule. As for the Stallions, their next opponent will be out of North Carolina as they take on Concord Academy.
Concord Academy vs. Heathwood Hall
Speaking of the Eagles from the former cfa Academy, they were also involved in a matchup that had real potential to be the game of the day.
A clash of the private schools served to be the third girls game on the six-game slate for Tuesday. It featured the Eagles of Concord Academy matching up with the other SCISA 4A team taking part in the event – the juggernaut known as Heathwood Hall.
The get-together between one of North Carolina’s premier independent schools and one of South Carolina’s premier independent schools went in the direction of the Palmetto State team as the Highlanders prevailed over the Eagles with the final being 58-50.
Records
Entering Tuesday afternoon, the Eagles had a record of 7-5 along with a 4-1 conference mark. Only two of those losses have been by more 10 points – one to Legacy Early College on Dec. 10 and an earlier one to the Sarah Strong Sarah Strong 6'2" | PF Grace Christian | 2024 State NC -led Grace Christian squad on Nov. 15.
Heathwood Hall began the day with an undefeated 8-0 mark – including a one-point victory over Lower Richland.
How Things Progressed
The first quarter can easily be described as a frame of runs. The Eagles opened things up with an 8-3 before Heathwood Hall responded with a 7-0 run of their own to assume a slim, 11-10 lead. The last four points of the first frame were claimed by Concord Academy and it had a 13-10 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter.
Only one other team had tested the Highlanders the way they were by the Eagles – Lower Richland, who Heathwood Hall defeated 46-45 on Nov. 26. Through the second quarter, the Highlanders showed that they were answering that test. At one point, Concord Academy led 20-12 only for Heathwood Hall to answer with a 9-1 run to tie the game. The Eagles maintained a three-point, 24-21 lead at the half.
As if it was not already clear, whichever team was to win this game would certainly earn this victory. Through three, the lead was slim for Concord Academy – only two points. It was 37-35 after three stanzas.
Close contests are typically won at the free throw line – and that was proven to be the case once again on Tuesday night. The Highlanders got to the line a lot and made plenty of their free throws en route to the 58-50 victory.
Primetime Performers
Sabreya Monsanto Sabreya Monsanto 5'11" | SF Heathwood Hall | 2025 State SC keyed Heathwood Hall’s scoring efforts early and led all Highlanders point-getters with 18 points. Monsanto also made clutch free throws from the free throw line as six of her 18 came via the charity stripe.
Lauren Jacobs Lauren Jacobs 5'9" | PG Heathwood Hall | 2025 State SC saved her best for the second half of this hard-fought contest and finished her game with 17 points. She was also instrumental in the Highlanders’ fourth-quarter free throw shooting barrage. Jacobs recently scored an offer from coach Kevin Pederson at Coastal Carolina.
Great teams typically have x-factors off their benches and that was the case for Heathwood Hall on Tuesday. Shamarie Hayes Shamarie Hayes 5'8" | CG Heathwood Hall | 2025 State SC came through with a 14-point performance that included converting on plenty of opportunities near the rim.
For the Eagles, senior star Zoey Ward Zoey Ward 5'11" | CG Concord Academy | 2023 State NC led all scorers with 20 points. Much of what she did occurred in the painted area and she can draw contact near the rim which can place her at the free throw line.
Samantha Meyers, a 5-foot-8 junior guard, had nine points and was instrumental in Concord Academy’s success from distance. The team splashed home six triples – three of them departed from Meyers’ hands.
Off the bench, Justice Alexander also had a nine-point effort. She is a seventh grader who can play primarily at either of the guard positions. Out of the nine points she placed on the scoreboard, five came via free throws.
Up Next…
The Highlanders will be the first team to the court on Wednesday when they take on another Midlands school in Lower Richland. It will be a matchup of MetroLina schools later that day when Concord Academy faces off against South Pointe.
Northside Christian vs. 1 of 1 Prep Red
Last, but not least, was the final girls game of Tuesday’s schedule. It also served as the final game of the day overall – and it would also see a Palmetto State team take on a Hoop State assembling.
The Palmetto State team in question was the Crusaders from right up the road in Lexington County. The Hoop State team in question was the Raptors of 1 of 1 Prep Red from the Charlotte area.
Tuesday’s six-game rundown of contests would end with a positive result for 1 of 1 Prep Red as they dispatched of Northside Christian with the final result being lopsided in the Raptors’ favor.
Records
The SCISA 3A Crusaders entered Tuesday’s play with a 3-4 record that has included a pair of victories over Oakbrook Prep. As for the Raptors, they began the day with an 8-1 showing with its only blemish on its 2022-23 campaign coming recently against Victory Christian.
How Things Progressed
The opening minutes of this one may have hinted at a contest that would be defensive-minded. Eventually, both teams began to light up the scoreboard but 1 of 1 Prep Red did so a bit more than Northside Christian as the Raptors had a seven-point, 17-10 lead at the completion of one quarter.
What appeared to be an evenly matched get-together between the two teams became an offensive clinic put together by 1 of 1 Prep Red in the second quarter. The Raptors outscored the Crusaders by a margin of 31-5 in the second half and went into halftime with a 48-15 lead.
It became academic in the third quarter as it began to feature a continuously turning clock. The rout was on for 1 of 1 Academy Prep Red and they could simply count down the minutes and seconds to a dominant victory.
That turning clock was still turning in the fourth quarter given the large margin of victory. The final game of Tuesday’s schedule would see the Raptors claim its eighth victory of the season in emphatic fashion.
Primetime Performers
The Raptors were beneficiaries of a 21-point performance from Janiyah Boyd. She is a newcomer to the team and is only a seventh grader. Her rim attacking and free throws are simply part of the reason why she will be on the radars of North Carolina hoops fans for a while.
A veteran was responsible for 18 of the points tacked on the board by 1 of 1 Prep Red. That was senior guard Amara Thomas who stands at 5-foot-7. The Crusaders’ defense also had a hard time keeping her in check when she drove to the rim and she also had two of the Raptors’ five made shots from distance.
The Raptors got 15 points from another one of their veterans in guard Jael Poole Jael Poole 5'7" | SG 1 of 1 Prep | 2023 NC . In addition to scoring from the field, Poole has also developed a talent for getting to the free throw line on the heels of drawing contact.
Northside Christian got seven points each courtesy of Shandrea Pringle Shandrea Pringle 5'10" | PF Northside Christian | 2023 State SC and Layla Parker Layla Parker 5'9" | SF Northside Christian | 2023 State SC .
Up Next…
Up et for Northside Christian is a matchup with Irmo on Wednesday afternoon. As for the Raptors, they will match up against host school Hammond in the game prior to the tilt between the Crusaders and Raptors.