She Got Next Thanksgiving: Day One Top 15 (11-15)
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Football was not the only sport that had the eyes of the South Carolina high school sports fan peered onto Red Bank. While White Knoll was doing battle with Summerville for the 5A Lower State crown, 32 of the state’s…
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Continue ReadingFootball was not the only sport that had the eyes of the South Carolina high school sports fan peered onto Red Bank.
While White Knoll was doing battle with Summerville for the 5A Lower State crown, 32 of the state’s premier high school girls teams converged onto the home of the Timberwolves to take part in this year’s She Got Next Thanksgiving Tournament.
We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trek to Red Bank – Lexington County, specifically – for the Friday slate of games. Following the unveiling of our top 10 performers, we close our coverage of this year’s She Got Next Thanksgiving Tournament by unveiling our 11-15 of Top 15 performers.
For many a Military Magnet adversary, this Dream is a nightmare. While coach Nathaniel Taylor’s Eagles have seen more than their fair share of hard luck at She Got Next tournaments recently, it is not because of Watson. She had another productive outing on Friday evening at White Knoll HS as she scored 14 points to lead all Eagles scorers against the SCISA 4A juggernaut that is Heathwood Hall. The ability to corral rebounds is another one of Watson’s strong points that she possesses. Watson is also a major reason why Military Magnet has established itself as a defensive-minded team over the years as the defense she plays can leave opposing ball carriers turnover-prone.
Leamon’s profile rose throughout the 2022-23 season as she was one of the key players in Mauldin’s run to a state championship last season. Now in her sophomore campaign, she was back for more. Leamon tallied 13 points that led the Mavericks to victory over 4A Ridge View. Leamon is coming into the 2023-24 rendition of Mauldin as a team co-captain. Leamon primarily plays as a one guard and has played at the varsity level since she was an eighth grader two seasons ago. In addition to her scoring prowess, Leamon can be counted on to bolster a team’s rebounding efforts and provide effective defense.
Highlights
Bailey’s 4A Ridge View team may not have achieved the result it was looking for against a tough 5A Mauldin team in defense of its state championship. Bailey still put forth a noteworthy effort with 13 points. If Bailey has the ball from behind the 3-point line, she is very likely to take – and make – those 3-point attempts. Bailey provides a veteran presence for a Blazers team looking to take that next step following a deep postseason run in 2022-23. One way she displays her veteran instincts is understanding that the game is played on contact and is willing to draw contact to get to the free throw line. When talking about teams to look out for among the 4A ranks in 2023-24, one must not overlook Ridge View.
Mikayla Foster Mikayla Foster 5'8" | CG Lower Richland | 2027 SC
Mikayla Foster Mikayla Foster 5'8" | CG Lower Richland | 2027 SC
While Foster’s Lower Richland team was on the receiving end of a 62-41 defeat to South Pointe, Sumter still had herself a productive game as she tallied 11 points to aid the Diamond Hornets’ cause. She is listed at 5-foot-7 and primarily operates as a guard in the backcourt. Foster particularly had success putting the ball through the basket from behind the arc – she had two of the team’s three successful 3-point attempts. She is playing her second season on Lower Richland’s varsity team after seeing playing time in 24 games last season. Foster has also competed in cross country events throughout her career and those attributes have certainly translated well to the basketball court.
Chinn’s 2A Strom Thurmond team led things off on Friday against another set of tough customers from the 2A ranks in Eau Claire. The Rebels were on the receiving end of a 44-20 decision to the Shamrocks but an eight-point performance proved to be a bright spot on what was a tough day at the office for Strom Thurmond. Chinn was a Preseason 2A Girls honoree by the SCBCA. She is a multi-sport athlete whose sporting plate is full between also competing on the volleyball court as well as on the soccer pitch. Her athleticism on the court can be seen in the points she scores, the steals she collects and the speed she displays.