Steel Hands Holiday Classic at Heathwood Hall: Day Two Results

It may only be the start of the season, but the litany of talent there is representing both Carolinas are in midseason form.    One of the latest tournaments we had the privilege of attending, the Steel Hands Holiday Classic at Heathwood Hall Episcopal, was another indication of that.    Of course, any girls basketball tournament that takes place at the home of the Highlanders holds added significance given it is the home court of the defending SCISA 4A champions.    We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand at Heathwood Hall with the opportunity to take in three contests – two of them being championship games. Here are the three we watched.    Aiken vs. Heathwood Hall   The first contest saw a couple of 4A teams doing battle – with one of those 4A teams being from the SCHSL ranks.    That team in question is the Green Hornets out of Aiken. They began the tournament by defeating another SCISA 4A combatant in Hammond by a final tally of 60-53.    The Skyhawks are a tough team. The Highlanders are a juggernaut and will likely be that way for the next couple of seasons given their core is made up of juniors. When all was said and done, the first game – which would decide the champion of the tournament's Plaid Division – went the way of the Highlanders by virtue of its 66-46 defeat of the Green Hornets.    How The Game Progressed   Heathwood Hall was the designated road team – despite the tournament being held in their building. Home or away, home whites or road navy blues – the Highlanders are a force to be reckoned with. This was proven again in the first quarter as Heathwood Hall held a 19-11 lead over Aiken with eight minutes having elapsed.    As the second quarter wore on, the Highlanders began to impose their offensive and defensive will that overwhelmed the Green Hornets on both ends of the floor. With two quarters in the books, Heathwood Hall's lead was 18 – 40-22 over Aiken.    The third stanza was not the offensive clinic for Heathwood Hall that the second was when one looks at the scoreboard. The Highlanders only outscored the Green Hornets by a margin of 14-8, but Aiken was still outscored. It was 54-30 with three in the books.    The Green Hornets displayed that they would not go down without a fight in the fourth quarter. Aiken actually outscored Heathwood Hall 16-12 in the final frame. But enough distance was put between the two teams to ensure another Highlanders victory.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5302.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810550" style="width:347px;height:auto" /></figure>   As is often with Heathwood Hall contests, [player_tooltip player_id='185040' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs'] paved the way to victory. She finished her evening with a 29-point performance. Out of those 29 were 22 she tallied in the first half – as many as the entire Green Hornets team.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5300.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810552" style="width:392px;height:auto" /></figure>   Also instrumental in the victory was the 14 points placed on the scoreboard courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='185041' first='Camillea' last='Gore']. She did a great bit of damage from the free throw line as seven of her 14 would come from the charity stripe.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/AB3A4375-5E6B-4D14-B5DE-8D299080D28D.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-563839" style="width:391px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='216959' first='Sabreya' last='Monsanto'] also had herself a productive evening at the office for Heathwood Hall. Monsanto helped out in the scoring barrage for the Highlanders by placing nine points on the scoreboard.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/IMG_5231-crop-1889x1241-1672214445.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-573056" style="width:385px;height:auto" /></figure>   With an eight-point outing, [player_tooltip player_id='452092' first='Shamarie' last='Hayes'] joined the points parade. With the game out of reach for the Green Hornets, Hayes keyed a late Heathwood Hall scoring binge that left no doubt as to who the better team was on Tuesday night.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5305.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810553" style="width:379px;height:auto" /></figure>   Teams that match up against Heathwood Hall usually encounter rough days at the office. Aiken did have a couple of bright spots. One of them was senior [player_tooltip player_id='253112' first='Norriyah' last='Bradley'] who finished with 14 points. Attacking the rim, ball handling and organizing a halfcourt offense are among Bradley's strong points.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5307.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810554" style="width:381px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='558729' first='Malasia' last='Jamison'], the Green Hornets' 5-foot-11 standout also tallied 14 points. Even though she has the height of a three, four or five, Jamison can display her versatility in terms of offensive production and where she can play on the floor.   What's Next?   The Highlanders will be part of the upcoming She Got Next Thanksgiving Tournament at White Knoll HS. Heathwood Hall's first game will be the nightcap on Friday against Military Magnet. Speaking of the Timberwolves, that will be Aiken's next opponent as they are slated to take on White Knoll next Tuesday at White Knoll.    Lugoff-Elgin vs. Richland Northeast   In the girls basketball realm, the Demons and the Cavaliers may not be two teams that ring too many bells nowadays. But they are a pair of 4A teams and they did win their respective games on Monday to advance to the Blue Division championship game.    The Demons earned a 68-41 victory over Northside Christian to advance to Tuesday's Blue Division championship game. As for the Cavaliers, they advanced by virtue of the 44-31 victory they scored against High Point Academy.    This contest of Midlands-based 4A squads (and regional rivals, by the way) would go the way of the Cavaliers as they dispatched of the Demons with the final being an entertaining 60-48.    Remember What Happened Last Time?   As 5-AAAA regional rivals, Lugoff-Elgin and Richland Northeast see plenty of each other. They split the two matchups they played last season. On January 13, the Cavaliers defeated the Demons with the final score being 42-36. On February 3, Lugoff-Elgin got the better of Richland Northeast in a 47-32 decision.    How Things Progressed   The first quarter was won by Lugoff-Elgin and a major reason for it was their free throw line was serving as a valuable sixth woman for the Demons. Eight of the 20 points Lugoff-Elgin scored in the opening stanza were tallied at the charity stripe. With one complete, the Demons led Richland Northeast by a margin of 20-9.   One could paint the second quarter in Cavaliers colors since the ensuing eight minutes were all Richland Northeast all the time. The Cavs defense held the Demons offense to only three points while they placed 18 on the scoreboard. The 18-3 run equaled Richland Northeast going into halftime leading 27-23.   The momentum that was on the Cavaliers side through much of the second quarter continued into a good portion of the third quarter. With eight minutes left to play, Richland Northeast's lead was 12 – 45-33.   Lugoff-Elgin showed signs of life in the fourth quarter as they began the final frame with a 7-0 run to make it a 45-40 game. Richland Northeast managed to hold the Demons off and leave Heathwood Hall with the 60-48 win.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5376.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810556" style="width:400px;height:auto" /></figure>   With 14 points, [player_tooltip player_id='811001' first='Sasha' last='Cebula'] led the scoring charge in what was a highly competitive and intense matchup. Cebula can play either the four or the five and is listed on the Richland Northeast roster at 6-foot-1.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5378-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810557" style="width:397px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='816495' first='Zimarika' last='Moorer'] also was instrumental in the Cavaliers victory. She tallied 13 points to help the Richland Northeast cause. One of the many strong points to her game is the ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5380.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810558" style="width:398px;height:auto" /></figure>   Ajaela Brown is a junior guard for the Cavaliers. She finished with 12 points. Brown led the attack for Richland Northeast from deep by draining a pair of 3-pointers. She had two of the team's three triples.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5310-crop-2207x1449-1700666689.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-810573" style="width:396px;height:auto" /></figure>   On the Lugoff-Elgin end of the ledger, [player_tooltip player_id='811223' first='Kendra' last='Wilson'] led the way – and all scorers – with 16 points. She is listed at 5-foot-5 on the Demons roster and primarily plays as a two guard in the backcourt.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5351-crop-2115x1389-1700666798.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-810575" style="width:393px;height:auto" /></figure>   Where Wilson anchored what the Demons were hoping to get accomplished from the backcourt, they had a pair of freshman standout who made things difficult for the Cavs. One of them was [player_tooltip player_id='637607' first='Teryn' last='Hobson'] who finished with 14 points. She can log valuable minutes as either a four or as a one or two in the backcourt.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5314-crop-2115x1389-1700666874.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-810577" style="width:394px;height:auto" /></figure>   Another 2027 that played highly productive minutes for Lugoff-Elgin was [player_tooltip player_id='637609' first='Jillian' last='Rush']. She added 10 points to the Demons' total. She is listed at 5-foot-10 and primarily plays in the frontcourt as either a four or a five.   What's Next?   Both teams will take some time off then be back in action next week. Lugoff-Elgin will host River Bluff on Nov. 27 and Richland Northeast will be at Lakewood the following day.    Rocky River vs. Hammond   The final two matchups of the day were both consolation contests. One of those contests would pit a team from South Carolina against a team from North Carolina.    The assembling in question from the Hoop State was Rocky River. The 4A Ravens did not play the first day of the tournament, but was in action in one of the final matchups of the two-day get-together.    Their opponent was a SCISA 4A team in Hammond who, as mentioned earlier, were on the receiving end of a hard-fought, 60-53 defeat to Aiken.    This one would go the way of the Skyhawks with the final score being 45-24 over Rocky River.    How Things Progressed   The Skyhawks had an efficient defensive eight minutes at the start of the contest as they did not allow a single Rocky River field goal. Where it counted was on the scoreboard and that was also advantage Hammond by a margin of 11-1 after the opening stanza.   A few more shots for the Ravens fell in the second quarter – that was the good news for Rocky River. The bad news is the shots also continued to fall for the Skyhawks. With both teams entering their respective locker rooms for halftime, the score was 26-10 in Hammond's favor.    Hammond continued to efficiently execute its offense and, for the most part, keep the Ravens off the scoreboard. By virtue of a 15-3 quarter in the Skyhawks' favor, Hammond was cruising to a victory with one period remaining.    Ultimately, Hammond's Skyhawks would indeed cruise to a victory on Tuesday night at Heathwood Hall – a victory that featured at least a 20-point margin to dispatch of their foes from North Carolina.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5391.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810578" style="width:370px;height:auto" /></figure>   With 14 points, [player_tooltip player_id='356921' first='Kayce' last='Hyman'] led all scorers en route to the Hammond victory. With the game out of reach for virtually the entire second half, Hyman had plenty of time to rest on the bench, giving more playing time to that bench.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5395.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810579" style="width:365px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='185222' first='Samira' last='Khalil'], the commit to Elon, finished her evening with an 11-point performance. She hurt her right wrist in the third quarter and had it taped up. Later in the third quarter, Khalil returned to the court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5393.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810581" style="width:359px;height:auto" /></figure>   Hyman and Khalil combined outscored the entire Rocky River team – and [player_tooltip player_id='256830' first='Anna' last='Katherine Adams'] added to the dominance. She tallied nine points in this contest with all of her points coming by way of the 3-pointer.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5388.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-810589" style="width:363px;height:auto" /></figure>   Rocky River's leading scorer turned out to be Tristin Jarrett as she concluded her evening with eight points. Jarrett is listed on the Ravens' roster at 5-foot-11 and displays her versatility with the number of positions she can play with the minutes she earns.   What's Next?   Following the Thanksgiving break, the Skyhawks will be back in action on Dec. 5 vs. C.A. Johnson. Before that, the Ravens will be at North Meck on Nov. 28.

It may only be the start of the season, but the litany of talent there is representing both Carolinas are in midseason form.