Class 3A Playoff Roundup: Walhalla defeats Travelers Rest in OT

On Saturday, South Carolina's westernmost county, Oconee, played host to one of the more exciting postseason contests of this year's tournament – regardless of class.   It featured a Walhalla team that scored a first-round win over Fountain Inn and a Travelers Rest team that defeated Clinton in its first-round game. Both the Razorbacks and Devildogs were at home when this season's playoffs commenced.    The two teams got together at Walhalla's home court for what was a thrilling matchup from started to finish – and one that needed free basketball to complete. But when all was said and done, the Razorbacks pulled off a 45-42 victory to advance to the 3A quarterfinals.    The Razorbacks' opponent in those 3A quarterfinals will be Southside, by virtue of its 81-32 win over Chapman.    “That's a tall task,” Wimphrie says. “Southside's a good basketball team, obviously. You've got to take it possession at a time, one quarter at a time.”   Records   Walhalla now stands at 16-9 for the season while Travelers Rest's season ends at 11-12.    What Happened Last Time?   Prior to Saturday evening, these two teams last met on Feb. 4 of last year. The Razorbacks came away from that game as 50-43 victors.    Quarter By Quarter   The many fans that were in attendance wearing purple had to like what they saw early as Walhalla scored the first five points of matchup. They also had to like what they saw at the conclusion of the first quarter as the Razorbacks led by a score of 15-7.    The contingency of fans that made the trip from Travelers Rest had to be a bit more pleased with how the second quarter turned out as the Devildogs pulled ahead. Travelers Rest embarked on a 12-3 run to take a lead, but Walhalla led at the half by a score of 21-19.   Walhalla managed to push its out lead out ever slightly in the third quarter, but it was clearly neither team would win by double-digits as was the case in both the Razorbacks and Devildogs first round games. It was 32-27 Walhalla with one quarter remaining.    After four quarters, the only thing that was decided was that a few more minutes of extra time was needed to determine who Southside's next opponent would be. Both teams were all knotted up at 38 after regulation.    Close games are usually decided at the free throw line and Saturday's entertaining game was no exception. The Razorbacks were three points better than the Tigers and those three points earned Walhalla a berth in the quarterfinals.    “I told my girls every team has a run. First and second half, we've got to be able to sustain that run. They did a good job of that,” Razorbacks coach Byron Wimphrie says. “(With) about two minutes to go in regulation, I saw the momentum shifted to (the Devildogs) and I feel like our girls did a good job sustaining that.”    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2591-crop-3903x2563-1676829464.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600732" width="295" height="193" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='412607' first='Marnie' last='Baxter'] led the way to victory with 15 points. She was particularly important at the free throw line as eight of her 15 came by way of the charity stripe. Baxter is also a fearless attacker at the rim and makes efficient passes. She had nine of those 15 in the first quarter.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2592-crop-3428x2251-1676829641.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600747" width="299" height="196" /></figure>   Breanna Hunnicutt gave the Razorbacks a boost off the bench in a game that saw [player_tooltip player_id='452376' first='Whitney' last='Winstead'] have a tough shooting night. Hunnicutt finished with nine points – including a made 3-pointer.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2594-crop-3415x2242-1676829716.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600751" width="300" height="197" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='587302' first='Kami' last='Roach'] also contributed eight points to the Razorbacks' efforts. Out of the five 3-pointers that were made by Walhalla for the game, two of them departed from Roach's hands. Roach also plays volleyball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2427-crop-1833x1204-1676829820.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600753" width="303" height="199" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='371552' first='Aleena' last='Hardin'], one of only two seniors on this year's team, led all Devildogs point-getters with 12 points. She particularly came up big late in the fourth quarter as Travelers Rest made a push to win the game late.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2409-crop-2193x1440-1676829913.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600755" width="308" height="202" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='371550' first='Jadin' last='Dandy'] added 10 points to the Devildogs' total. She struggled early on but managed to connect on clutch shots as the game went on. The ability to make shots near the rim and in the midrange game are central to her skillset.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_2330-crop-1833x1204-1676830028.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-600757" width="311" height="204" /></figure>   Gabriella Huskey scored early and often as she finished with nine points. At the conclusion of the first quarter when Travelers Rest finished with seven points, all seven of those points were courtesy of Huskey.   So Long, Seniors   Other than Hardin, Cheyanne Bliss is the other senior that will soon sport a cap and gown.   Other 3A Scores   Southside def. Chapman 81-32   Wren def. Broome 59-18 ([player_tooltip player_id='175308' first='Raina' last='McGowens'] 17 pts)   Blue Ridge def. West-Oak 47-29   Camden def. Battery Creek 84-33 ([player_tooltip player_id='171798' first='Joyce' last='Edwards'] 27 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='324555' first='Braylin' last='Mungo'] 16 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='254155' first='Tateyoina' last='Harris'] 10 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='171806' first='Zyasia' last='Carter'] 9 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='376018' first='Harmony' last='Jefferson'] 9pts, [player_tooltip player_id='175325' first='Morgan' last='Champion'] 8 pts)   Loris def. Orangeburg-Wilkinson 54-33 (Mari'Asia Moody 25 pts)   Crestwood def. Philip Simmons 54-48   Lower Richland def. Marlboro County 67-42 ([player_tooltip player_id='496217' first='Chi'nya' last='Isaac'] 30 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='405364' first='Jhnai' last='Sumter'] 15 pts, [player_tooltip player_id='234751' first='Tyra' last='Floyd'] 10 pts)

On Saturday, South Carolina's westernmost county, Oconee, played host to one of the more exciting postseason contests of this year's tournament – regardless of class.