Lady Red Raider Thanksgiving Invite @ Carolina HS: Akiem’s Top 5

Huskey’s 3A Travelers Rest team may not have got the result it was looking for in what was a tough contest against 4A Pickens. Huskey was the reason why the Devildogs remained in striking distance nearly from start to finish. Huskey concluded her evening with an 18-point effort – 18 of Travelers Rest’s 24 points overall. She particularly proved how accurate she can be from behind the 3-point line as she connected on three 3-pointers. Huskey gets the job done on the defensive end as well as she can create additional possessions for her team with the steals she collects.

As the Blue Flame’s contest against the Devildogs wore on, it appeared Chambers managed to get stronger. Chambers concluded her evening having led all Pickens point-getters with a 16-point showing. She is listed as a small forward on the Pickens roster, but she can display her versatility with her ability to shoot from behind the arc as well as display point guard-type handles. Chambers also bolsters the Blue Flame’s rebounding efforts and provides a valuable veteran presence for a team entering the 2023-24 season with major expectations.

On paper, a matchup between Earl’s 5A T.L. Hanna squad and 3A Pendleton would result in a blowout victory for the Yellow Jackets. That is indeed what happened as T.L. Hanna scored an emphatic victory over the Bulldogs. Earl keyed those efforts with a 13-point performance. Much of those 13 points occurred in the third quarter when T.L. Hanna turned a contest where Pendleton appeared to be in striking distance into a laugher. Earl is listed at 5-foot-8 and can effectively finish at the rim and has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line. Both of the Yellow Jackets’ double-digits point scorers for the game were freshmen – a microcosm of the bright future that awaits the girls basketball program at T.L. Hanna.

The Cavaliers star big began her sophomore season in emphatic fashion as her 5A Dorman team claimed an emphatic victory over 3A Powdersville. The final score was 69-38 and White led the way to victory with an 18-point game. With her 6-foot-4 frame, she presents plenty of matchup problems for many an opposing five. It appeared if she had the ball in her hands in the interior that she was virtually an automatic two points. White’s ability to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities is complimented by her ability to draw contact and connect on her opportunities at the free throw line.

The defending 3A runners-up resembled one of the premier teams in the Palmetto State on Friday night when Wren matched up against Hillcrest. McGowens, as she has done throughout her Hurricanes career, led the charge for her team. McGowens led the way to victory with a 19-point effort. She understands how to turn defense into offense and also has a knack for knowing when to score and when to pass. McGowens can also score at all three levels and has no problems absorbing contact to get to the free throw line. There is a reason why she will be playing at the Division I level at UNC-Asheville starting fall 2024.