She Got Next MLK Showcase: Morning and Afternoon Results

While region play is ruling the roost for much of the January high school girls basketball slate across South Carolina, the midpoint of the month is when a multitude of multi-team events take place in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.    One of those events occurred at J.L. Mann High School in the Upstate as A1 Hoops Report put together the She Got Next MLK Showcase. A previous A1 Hoops event occurred back during the holidays also at the home of the 5A Patriots.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to the Upstate to take in what was a full day's worth of basketball. Here are the results from four games that occurred throughout the morning and afternoon.    Great Falls vs. Midland Valley   Tipping off the day's play was a matchup that featured a 1A team based in the northern part of the state and a 4A competitor out of the CSRA.    That game was Great Falls vs. Midland Valley. The Red Devils were successful in its first region contest of the season – which occurred against Governor's School for Science and Math before losing to McBee. As for the Mustangs, they are coming off a 56-26 against another one of the teams participating in this year's event in the Green Hornets of Aiken.    The first winner of the day was Midland Valley as they dispatched Great Falls with the final score being 46-24.   Random Thought from Game   Both the Mustangs and Red Devils each had four available players on their respective benches.    How Things Progressed   A timeout was prompted by Great Falls once Midland Valley jumped out to a lead of 10-3. At one point, that advantage for the Mustangs was 24-7 before the final seven points of the first half were placed on the board by the Red Devils. Midland Valley had a 24-14 lead at the half.    Great Falls managed to cut its deficit to single digits early in the second half, but the Mustangs' onslaught continued into the second half. The first of the seven games had concluded with the margin of victory being 22 points.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7848-crop-3324x2183-1673803993.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582798" width="440" height="289" /></figure>   With 13 points, Tekina Dixon, a sophomore guard, led the scoring charge for the Mustangs. Midland Valley had three made triples for the game and all three had departed from Dixon's hands.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7851-crop-3582x2352-1673804105.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582801" width="448" height="294" /></figure>   Gena Hall concluded her game with 11 points. She is versatile in the sense that she can log minutes as either a two or a three. She can particularly make things happen when getting out in transition and is a fearless attacker of the rim.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7849-crop-3973x2609-1673804297.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582804" width="452" height="297" /></figure>   Alaina Dowling anchored what the Mustangs managed to get accomplished near the rim with a 10-point effort. In addition to what she does as a scorer, she is every bit as effective as a rebounder, including doing work on the offensive glass.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7841-crop-2954x1940-1673804475.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582816" width="462" height="303" /></figure>   Do'Nashia Caldwell was the leading scorer for the Red Devils as she put seven points on the board. Caldwell assumes team co-captaincy duties for Great Falls and can play any one of the three frontcourt positions.   Up Next   Both teams will resume region play this upcoming week. On Tuesday, the Mustangs will travel to South Aiken to take on the Thoroughbreds. Great Falls will also be on the road on Friday at Lewisville.    Andrew Jackson vs. Aiken   Things began to get really interesting with the second game on the seven-game card for Saturday.    The Class 2A Volunteers – last season's defending runners-up took on a Green Hornets team that has re-established itself as a tough out in the 4A realm. Andrew Jackson has also won its first five matchups in region play while Aiken has gone 2-1 so far against region combatants with the one defeat coming by way of, as one could guess, North Augusta.   When this one was in the books, the second team to earn its way into the win column was the Volunteers by virtue of its 54-37 victory over the Green Hornets.   How Things Progressed   Early in the first half, Andrew Jackson and Aiken were matching each other point for point. As the first half progressed, the Green Hornets began going cold from the field and a number of Volunteers shots were still hitting their marks. Andrew Jackson put a bit of distance between themselves and Aiken later in the period and it was 28-18 with one half in the books.   For a portion of the second half, the Green Hornets managed to get within striking distance of Andrew Jackson, but Aiken simply could not match the offensive might of the Volunteers. This one had concluded with a 17-point victory for the 2A team.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7925-crop-3121x2050-1673804940.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582819" width="405" height="266" /></figure>   Leading all scorers was [player_tooltip player_id='496215' first='Ayona' last='Alexander'] who finished with 21 points en route to victory. She plays with a high basketball IQ, can display her ball handling skills at times and particularly shows her worth as a scorer and rebounder.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7931-crop-3812x2503-1673805092.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582822" width="406" height="266" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='383418' first='Ni'yonna' last='Asbelle'] had another impressive performance for the Volunteers as she put 17 points on the board. Asbelle plays with the maturity of an upperclassman, efficiently plays point, showcases her ball handling and passing skills and can make things happen in the transition game.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7929-crop-3742x2457-1673805223.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582835" width="411" height="270" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='587310' first='Trinity' last='Delly'] was also an integral part in Andrew Jackson's offensive output on Saturday afternoon. The freshman finished with 10 points. She plays at the two primarily and is another overall key piece to the Volunteers' young core.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7926-crop-3142x2063-1673805335.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582837" width="418" height="274" /></figure>   Pacing the Hornets was junior [player_tooltip player_id='253112' first='Norriyah' last='Bradley'], who concluded her afternoon with an 18-point effort. Bradley is versatile as she can log productive minutes as either a forward or as a guard. Ball handling and running point are two other noteworthy elements to her skillset.    Up Next…   Region play resumes for both teams this upcoming week. The Volunteers will take on Cheraw at home on Tuesday while Aiken will be on the road at rival South Aiken.    Wade Hampton vs. Christ Church   One interesting factoid about this year's She Got Next MLK Showcase is that all but one of the games featured a team that participates in Class 4A.    The 4A team in question that took to the J.L. Mann court up next was the Generals of Wade Hampton. Their opponent was a Christ Church team whose record may indicate is having a down season as a 1A team but has taken on many tough opponents.    Team No. 3 to claim victory on Saturday was the Generals as they bested the Cavaliers by a final of 50-28. The win moved Wade Hampton's record to 10-5 while Christ Church's now stands at 6-11.    Random Thought About The Game   [player_tooltip player_id='171796' first='Yasmene' last='Clark'] was unavailable for Christ Church.    How Things Progressed   Early on, it appeared that the Cavaliers would match the Generals point for point. Later on in the frame, Wade Hampton began putting a bit of distance between itself and its foes from Christ Church. The Cavaliers only trailed by a single-digit margin with the score reading 24-15 after the first 16 minutes.    The previous two teams that had earned victories at Saturday's She Got Next Showcase had done so by double-digits. Wade Hampton became the third as they completed what turned out to be a 22-point win.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7933-crop-1833x1204-1673805496.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582843" width="378" height="248" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='280575' first='Quinasia' last='Abercrombie'] had herself another big game for the Generals. She scored 16 points including hitting a good number of her free throws. Abercrombie is also a swarmer on defense who goes wherever the ball is.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7960-crop-3226x2118-1673805684.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582845" width="381" height="250" /></figure>   The second half proved to be a rather eventful one for [player_tooltip player_id='375908' first='Reagan' last='Buff'], Wade Hampton's star freshman guard. She finished her Saturday afternoon with 14 points and displayed her proficiency as a 3-point shooter and rim attacker.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7952-crop-1938x1273-1673805967.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582847" width="390" height="256" /></figure>   Carly Raines, a 6-foot-1 senior, was an x-factor for the Generals this game. She scored nine points and was the symbol of how Wade Hampton exploited a matchup disadvantage Christ Church encountered without [player_tooltip player_id='171796' first='Yasmene' last='Clark'].    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_7941-crop-2235x1468-1673806209.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582849" width="393" height="258" /></figure>   Without their star big, [player_tooltip player_id='173132' first='Alexandria' last='Bennon'] managed to pave the way for the Cavaliers. She finished with 11 points and particularly displayed what she can get accomplished as a rim attacker, midrange jump shooter, defender and leader of an offense.    Up Next…   The Generals on Tuesday will be on the road for a non-region contest against 5A Spartanburg while the Cavaliers resume region play that same day at home to host St. Joseph's Catholic.    Greer vs. Lancaster    As the afternoon began to give away to evening, the following pair of teams to take the court at J.L. Mann high school were both from the area of Class 4A.    Those two teams were the Yellow Jackets of Greer and the Bruins of Lancaster. The Yellow Jackets have already proven victorious in their first pair of region contests – including a tight victory over Wade Hampton while Lancaster has split its first two matchups in region – a win over Northwestern and a loss to South Pointe.    This matchup of two of the premier teams in the 4A ranks went the way of the Yellow Jackets as they triumphed over the Bruins with the final score being 64-60. The late-afternoon result upped the record of Greer to 15-4 while Lancaster fell to 8-6.    What Happened Last Time?    At the conclusion of the 2014-15 season, the Bruins defeated the Yellow Jackets in a first-round 3A tournament matchup by a final score of 66-49.   How Things Progressed   The first half proved to be more up-tempo than many of the frames that took place before it that Saturday. The Yellow Jackets had plenty of success near the basket while the Bruins were finding their shot from the perimeter. It was 30-24 in favor of Greer at the half.    Up to this point, Greer-Lancaster turned out to be the best game of any that took place on Saturday at J.L. Mann. It was the first matchup that did not finish with a double-digit point margin. It was only a four-point gap between the two teams, but the Yellow Jackets were four points better than the Bruins.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8101-crop-2759x1811-1673806392.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582851" width="361" height="237" /></figure>   With 15 points, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='371890' first='Samora' last='Moody'] led the charge for Greer. She has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. Seven of her 15 came by way of the charity stripe.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8002-crop-1833x1204-1673806561.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582854" width="373" height="245" /></figure>   Speaking of those who came up clutch at the line, [player_tooltip player_id='253657' first='Amiyah' last='Clark-Lamelle'] ended her afternoon with a 11-point effort. Out of those 11, six of hers were at the line. She also displays plenty of quickness with the ball in her hands and has shooting ability from long range.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8113-crop-3289x2160-1673806737.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582856" width="382" height="251" /></figure>   The overwhelming bulk of Lancaster's offensive production came from its starters, beginning with Lathan Truesdale who finished with 17 points. Among those 17 was a quartet of 3-pointers – all in the first half.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8118-crop-3380x2219-1673807108.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582858" width="393" height="258" /></figure>   Another one of those was [player_tooltip player_id='562066' first='Eliza' last='Baskins'], a sophomore guard who is listed at 5-foot-6. She chimed in with 14 points. The Bruins made six 3-pointers as a team and the other two had departed from Baskins' hands.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8116-crop-3770x2476-1673807330.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582860" width="387" height="254" /></figure>   Angel Cousar, a junior point guard contributed 11 points to the Lancaster cause. Cousar has long range shooting abilities along with delivering strong finishes at the rim. She too can be accurate as a foul shooter.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8111-crop-3484x2288-1673807486.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-582862" width="361" height="237" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='562065' first='Logan' last='Truesdale'] added 10 points. She is listed at 5-foot-7 on the Bruins roster and primarily plays at the one. Truesdale can also create additional possessions for her team as she can collect plenty of steals.   Up Next…   Lancaster returns to region matchups on Tuesday as they will travel to Catawba Ridge. Greer's next matchup will be a non-region get-together as they host Powdersville on Thursday.

While region play is ruling the roost for much of the January high school girls basketball slate across South Carolina, the midpoint of the month is when a multitude of multi-team events take place in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.