3A State Championship: Wren vs. Camden

At the outset of the 2022-23 season, there were three teams among the 3A field that many a Palmetto State high school basketball pundit tabbed as favorites to claim the 2022-23 state championship.    Two of those teams did indeed complete their respective roads to Aiken as Camden squared off against Wren.    The Hurricanes went into the Pacers' stable looking to claim its first girls basketball state championship in approximately 60 years. The Bulldogs went into that same stable looking to exercise their demons from last season's state title heartbreaker against Keenan on the same court. Camden was the successful team as they defeated Wren by a final score of 61-45.    “Adversity, it really builds character,” Bulldogs coach Natalie Jeffcoat-Norris said. “And I thought it showed through with these kids. They fought back and they were able to finish it off today.”    Quarter By Quarter   There was a five-minute delay in the start of the contest. For Camden, the extra five minutes to strategize and game plan was worth the wait. Wren had a lead of 10-8 midway through the first quarter before the Bulldogs embarked on a 12-0 run that prompted a timeout from the Hurricanes. It was 23-12 Camden with one frame in the books.   That Wren deficit was narrowed down to single digits in the second quarter. The Hurricanes managed to outscore Camden by a margin of 13-12 in the second frame, but the Bulldogs went into halftime leading 35-25.    Jeffcoat-Norris believes that her team's defensive pressure began to turn the tide for Camden.    “We were able to speed them up a little bit. Our game is running speed and I think we were able to get out and run a little bit and were able to go on a good little run.”   It was late in the third quarter when the Bulldogs began to put a bit more distance between themselves and the Hurricanes. Eight minutes remained to decide a 3A girls champion with Camden ahead 50-35.   Midway through the final stanza, the Bulldogs maintained their double-digit edge over Wren as it was 54-39 with just under four minutes left to play. That lead became 20 (59-39) with just over three left to go.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_8194-crop-2647x1738-1677880599.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-608713" width="345" height="225" /></figure>   The Hurricanes' defense – even with all of its height – began to find little answers for [player_tooltip player_id='171798' first='Joyce' last='Edwards'] as the game wore on. She finished with 33 points, 13 rebounds and five steals.. The superstar junior notably reached a milestone of 3,000 points for her career via free throw she made late in the second quarter.    “I knew I had to come in and dominate, assert myself in the beginning and get my teammates open shots as well,” Edwards says.    There was no rest for the weary as Edwards was to compete in a soccer matchup against Richland Northeast the following day.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_8297-crop-3908x2566-1677880704.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-608715" width="343" height="224" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='254155' first='Tateyoina' last='Harris'] on her final occasion sporting the Bulldogs colors finished with eight points and nine rebounds. Six of the eight that she placed on the scoreboard were tallied in the second half.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_8232-crop-2924x1920-1677880818.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-608717" width="341" height="223" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='175325' first='Morgan' last='Champion'], one of Camden's resident long-range shooting threats, finished her afternoon also with eight points. She was two of four from downtown and logged 29 minutes of court time.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_8150-crop-2141x1406-1677880935.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-608719" width="346" height="226" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='124113' first='Riley' last='Stack'] – wearing No. 30 – tallied 15 points in her final time sporting Wren's blue and gold colors. A couple of her successful attempts from the field were of the 3-point variety. Shot blocking is also a strong point of hers.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_8252-crop-2141x1406-1677881022.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-608721" width="353" height="231" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='175308' first='Raina' last='McGowens'] concluded her junior campaign with a 12-point outing. McGowens had a great game from the free throw line as she was successful on all five of her attempts from the charity stripe. She also dished out four assists and collected two steals.   Closing the Book   Camden's championship-winning 2022-23 comes to a close with a 28-2 record. A stellar campaign for Wren may not have resulted in SCHSL hardware, but it did see a 26-6 showing.   “You can't get a better feeling as a girls basketball player,” Edwards says. “I'm really proud of my team. I'm proud of my family because that's what they are.”   So Long, Seniors   [player_tooltip player_id='124113' first='Riley' last='Stack'], Zaniyah Willingham, Abbigail Campbell, Milla Lugo and Bailey Walden will soon depart from Wren. [player_tooltip player_id='254155' first='Tateyoina' last='Harris'] and Zy'cariyah Ellerbe are the only seniors graduating from Camden.

At the outset of the 2022-23 season, there were three teams among the 3A field that many a Palmetto State high school basketball pundit tabbed as favorites to claim the 2022-23 state championship.