SCISA 4A Championship: Heathwood Hall vs. Northwood Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2014, Heathwood Hall matched up against Northwood Academy in the 3A championship game that season. That rendition of the Highlanders was keyed by a young A'ja Wilson who, of course, went on to achieve superstardom at South Carolina and in the WNBA at the Las Vegas Aces.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2022, the Highlanders and Chargers renewed pleasantries for the first time since that 2013-14 3A final to decide the champion of SCISA's new 4A classification. When the final buzzer sounded, that victor was Heathwood Hall as they defeated Northwood Academy by a final score of 79-49.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders' record concludes with a 26-1 mark while that of the Chargers concludes at 20-8.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>How Things Progressed</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a very un-Heathwood Hall start to the game as Northwood Academy placed the first six points on the scoreboard. The Highlanders began to start looking like the Highlanders the state's basketball landscape has seen all season as they embarked on a run that led to them leading 25-15 with one complete.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heathwood Hall began to leave no doubt about this one in the second quarter as they began resembling the juggernaut they have been all season long. The Highlanders had a 53-26 lead on the Chargers at the half.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It became a game of not if the Highlanders would win – but by how much the Highlanders would win. If basketball were only three periods ala hockey, that answers would have been 36 as Heathwood Hall's lead was 68-32 after three frames.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders were tabbed as 4A championship favorites when the season began. Games like Wednesday evening's matchup with Northwood Academy proved exactly why. Heathwood Hall closed out their impressive season with a 30-point exclamation mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And guess who was there to greet this season's triumphant Highlanders? A'ja Wilson herself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605229,"width":353,"height":231,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5619-crop-2141x1406-1677396637.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605229" width="353" height="231" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense for the Chargers had very few answers for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185040' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs']</strong> at any point her sneakers made contact with the hardwood. She finished with 28 points and especially excelled in converting on high-percentage shots in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605231,"width":354,"height":231,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5577-crop-2141x1406-1677396729.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605231" width="354" height="231" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a 16-point effort, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='216959' first='Sabreya' last='Monsanto']</strong> brought a stirring close to her sophomore campaign. She stands at 5-foot-11 and not only bolsters the Highlanders' scoring efforts but also their rebounding efforts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605233,"width":363,"height":237,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5718-crop-2141x1406-1677396875.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605233" width="363" height="237" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of sophomores, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452092' first='Shamarie' last='Hayes']</strong> had herself another impressive game off the bench. Hayes finished with 10 points and also managed to finish on a number of her attempts close to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605235,"width":359,"height":235,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5710-crop-2141x1406-1677397007.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605235" width="359" height="235" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='364921' first='Morgan' last='Jones']</strong> paced Northwood Academy with a 12-point performance. The junior guard for the Chargers primarily operates at the two and she can be accurate with her 3-point shooting. Jones also bolsters the team's rebounding efforts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605237,"width":367,"height":240,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5860-crop-2141x1406-1677397134.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605237" width="367" height="240" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school career of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261916' first='Ryian' last='Howard']</strong> came to a close on Saturday evening as she placed 11 points on the board. One of her successful attempts was a 3-pointer. Howard presents plenty of height at 5-foot-10. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605239,"width":362,"height":237,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_5734-crop-3226x2118-1677397251.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605239" width="362" height="237" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a 10-point game, the eighth grade campaign of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324560' first='Maliyah' last='Birch']</strong> came to a close. In addition to Birch putting points on the board from the field, she can also be an accurate free throw shooter, corral rebounds and create extra possessions with the steals she collects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emily Frick</strong>, <strong>Abby Mullins</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='594041' first='Virginia' last='Bowers']</strong> are the seniors graduating from Heathwood Hall. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261916' first='Ryian' last='Howard']</strong>, <strong>Avery Ishie</strong>, <strong>Jessica Stoney-Patterson</strong> and <strong>Christian Gray</strong> will do the same from Northwood Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":605241,"width":345,"height":225,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_6129-crop-2965x1947-1677397475.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-605241" width="345" height="225" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185040' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs']</strong> – Heathwood Hall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='216959' first='Sabreya' last='Monsanto']</strong> – Heathwood Hall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324560' first='Maliyah' last='Birch']</strong> – Northwood Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261916' first='Ryian' last='Howard']</strong> – Northwood Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='255966' first='Yannah' last='Seaberry'] </strong>– First Baptist </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='171782' first='A'Zaria' last='Knox']</strong> – Trinity Collegiate</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->