5A State Championship: Stratford vs. Mauldin

At this point, the USC-Aiken Convocation Center has seen champions crowned in the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications. Class 5A was first on the 10-game slate in last season's championship schedule where Rock Hill's girls were the first to leave the Pacers' stable with state hardware.    This go-round, 5A was last but not least on the schedule – and the contest featured a pair of programs in search of their first-ever girls basketball state championships in the Knights from Stratford and the Mavericks from Mauldin.    Knights vs. Mavericks featured two teams from near polar opposite ends of the state – as was also the case on the boys' side. Mauldin's long bus ride back home would feel a lot shorter and more enjoyable as they left Aiken with that state hardware after a hard-fought 62-57 win over Stratford.   “I was just so ready for that game to be over with,” Mavericks coach Angel McGowans says. “But I'm so proud of my girls. State championship, so you know they were going to fight to the end. So proud of my girls for being able to fight with them and stay focused.”   Quarter By Quarter   The opening moments of the final girls game of the season saw Mauldin get out to a fast start. The Mavericks opened the contest with an 8-0 scoring binge. The first quarter was all Mauldin, all the time as the Mavericks held a commanding 19-2 advantage following the first quarter.   Stratford displayed early in the second quarter that one frame does not a game make. The Knights rode a wave of momentum as they tallied the first 10 points of said second half. What was almost a 20-point deficit in the first quarter was narrowed down to seven as the second quarter concluded with Mauldin leading Stanford by a gap of 24-17.   Where things remained midway through the third quarter was a reminder that this one was indeed competitive – a far distance from where things appeared after the first quarter. The Knights had cut their deficit to as little as one in the third, but the the third stanza concluded with the Mavericks assuming a 36-30 advantage.    Midway through the fourth quarter, Mauldin's lead grew back to double digits as it was 51-40 with four minutes remaining to play. That advantage grew to as many as 14 (56-42) until a furious run by the Knights trimmed the deficit to four (56-52) with under two minutes to play.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0118-crop-2957x1941-1677995251.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609583" width="313" height="204" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='468191' first='Zara' last='Leamon'] may be a freshman, but she played like a multi-year veteran under the bright championship lights of USC-Aiken. Leamon led all scorers with 24 points – 15 of which were placed on the scoreboard in the second half. She was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line and made four of her six 3-point attempts.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0125-crop-2721x1787-1677995388.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609585" width="323" height="211" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='242932' first='Trinity' last='Jones']' 20 points went a long way in establishing the Mavericks as queens of 5A girls basketball. She also had plenty of opportunities at the free throw line – 10 in fact and Jones was true on seven of those. Jones also added seven assists, three steals and a 6-12 shooting performance to her evening.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0110-crop-2974x1953-1677995547.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609587" width="333" height="218" /></figure>   With nine points, [player_tooltip player_id='185426' first='Delilah' last='Soltys'] finished her sophomore season in stirring fashion. Soltys also brought down four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in the 30 minutes of playing time she garnered.   “The future is so bright,” McGowans says. “I'm so very proud of them and their growth from (last) year to (this) year and I can't wait to see their growth next year.”   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0172-crop-2623x1722-1677995666.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609589" width="305" height="199" /></figure>   It may not have been the result that [player_tooltip player_id='299566' first='Yasmine' last='Cook'] wanted, but she had herself a top-tier performance to cap her high school career. Cook had 23 points, five rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. She made eight of her 18 attempts from the field and was 6-9 as a free throw shooter.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0149-crop-2680x1760-1677995794.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609591" width="309" height="202" /></figure>   The Knights' cause was greatly helped by the 15 points that were put on the board by [player_tooltip player_id='529245' first='Ciara' last='Mustapher']. She was particularly effective from behind the 3-point line as she made four of Stratford's five made attempts from behind the arc. Mustapher also came through with five rebounds, four steals and two assists.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/IMG_0161-crop-2607x1712-1677995901.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-609593" width="318" height="208" /></figure>   Another of the Knights' veterans – [player_tooltip player_id='606874' first='Ta'Liya' last='Griffin'] – put together a productive evening. Griffin led Stratford's rebounding efforts with nine of the team's 38 off the glass. Seven of those nine were offensive rebounds. Griffin also scored eight points and sent out two assists.   Closing the Book   Mauldin's championship season ends with a 24-5 record. Runner-up status is now attached the 2022-23 rendition of the Knights along with a 25-5 record.    “(I'm) so thankful to be the leader of this program and be the one to be able to grow these young girls on and off the court. So thankful,” McGowans says.   So Long, Seniors   A litany of seniors have worn Stratford's uniform for the final time – including [player_tooltip player_id='299566' first='Yasmine' last='Cook'], Brookelyn Buckley, [player_tooltip player_id='175385' first='Kaleyia' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='588286' first='Kirstin' last='Prudhomme'], [player_tooltip player_id='606874' first='Ta'Liya' last='Griffin'] and Ariyl Jackson. Ella Davenport and Kailyn Gaskins are the two seniors graduating from Mauldin.

At this point, the USC-Aiken Convocation Center has seen champions crowned in the 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications. Class 5A was first on the 10-game slate in last season's championship schedule where Rock Hill's girls were the first to leave the Pacers' stable with state hardware.