Steel Hands Holiday Classic at Heathwood Hall: Akiem’s Top 5
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The 2023-24 regular season commencing means a number of schools are hosting early- and mid-season tournaments. One of those tournaments happened to be held at the home venue of the defending SCISA 4A champions. The Steel Hands Holiday Classic was…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023-24 regular season commencing means a number of schools are hosting early- and mid-season tournaments. One of those tournaments happened to be held at the home venue of the defending SCISA 4A champions.
The Steel Hands Holiday Classic was a two-day gathering that welcomed mostly South Carolina teams as well as one from North Carolina. And it was also one where Midlands teams, as expected, made up the lion’s share of the participants with one of the exceptions being 4A Aiken out of the CSRA.
With this latest tournament in the books, we recognize those who brought their best to Heathwood Hall.
Of course the Highlanders star freshman was going to bring her best to a tournament that, for all intents and purposes, she was the unofficial grand marshal of. Jacobs did plenty of Jacobs things on Tuesday evening as Heathwood Hall matched up against 4A Aiken. The Green Hornets had a grand total of zero answers for Jacobs as she tallied 29 points to lead her team to victory. Out of those 29, she put 22 on the scoreboard in the first half. There is a reason why the offers are beginning to pile up for the Highlanders star – and those recent offers include Ole Miss, Auburn, UNC-Charlotte and UCF.
In one of the more entertaining contests of Tuesday’s play, two 4A teams from the Midlands matched up and Richland Northeast got the better of Lugoff-Elgin with the final score being 60-48. Cebula paved the way to the Cavaliers victory as she scored 14 points in a winning effort. Cebula is listed at 6-foot-1 and plays primarily either at the four or at the five in the frontcourt. Not only is she an efficient scorer, but her height combined with her length enable her to win many rebounding battles. Cebula also understands the art of playing on contact and getting to the free throw line.
Kendra Wilson Kendra Wilson 5'5" | SG Lugoff-Elgin | 2026 State SC
Kendra Wilson Kendra Wilson 5'5" | SG Lugoff-Elgin | 2026 State SC
The result may not have been what Wilson and her Demons wanted in Friday’s contest against Richland Northeast as Lugoff-Elgin was on the receiving end of the 60-48 decision. Wilson still willed her team with a 16-point performance. She is listed at 5-foot-5 and primarily operates at the two in the backcourt. Wilson displayed throughout the contest her ability to score at all three levels – including the ability to draw contact to find her way to the free throw line. She knows how to make plays in the transition game and can create additional possessions for her team with the steals she collects.
Hyman’s Hammond Skyhawks was one of the final teams that took to the court at the Steel Hands Holiday Classic. She concluded her evening with a 14-point showing that led the Skyhawks to a commanding victory over 4A Rocky River out of North Carolina. Hyman displays her ability to organize an offense in a halfcourt set with her ability to play point. As a scorer, she is very efficient – particularly in the midrange game and when she is near the rim. She also has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. The game was so lopsided that she had plenty of time take in the action from the bench.
Jamison’s Aiken team was on the receiving end of a 66-46 decision to host school Heathwood Hall to begin the Tuesday slate of matchups. She still put forth a spirited effort as she scored 14 points. Jamison has already assumed team captaincy duties along with three seniors per the Aiken roster. At 5-foot-11, Jamison certainly has the look of someone who would obviously thrive playing in the low post. She can display her versatility on offense with her ability to drain 3-pointers and in terms of playing a variety of positions on the floor. She has also competed in track and field events throughout her athletic career.