Y.C. Winborn Showcase: Morning and Early Afternoon
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With December – and the calendar year of 2023 soon reaching its crescendo, it also means we are in the home stretch of the midseason tournament portion of the high school basketball schedule. Rock Hill HS was once again the…
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Continue ReadingWith December – and the calendar year of 2023 soon reaching its crescendo, it also means we are in the home stretch of the midseason tournament portion of the high school basketball schedule.
Rock Hill HS was once again the host site for its Winborn Showcase. It was a three-day event that welcomed teams from both Carolinas – and even one from outside of the continent.
We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up Interstate 77 for the final day of this year’s Winborn Showcase. Without further adieu, here is a look at the first four contests on the schedule for Saturday.
Great Falls vs. Indian Land
It was Palmetto State vs. Palmetto State to begin Saturday’s play at the Bearcats’ den.
The Red Devils of 1A Great Falls were not part of any Winborn Showcase festivities last season. This go-round seems to be emblematic of the hard luck the team has encountered all season as their portion of this year’s Showcase has began with losses to Bethune-Bowman and York.
For the Warriors of 4A Indian Land, they went 2-1 last season at the Winborn by virtue of victories over Bethune-Bowman and Airport but a defeat at the hands of 5A River Bluff. This year, Indian Land has earned a victory over Gilbert but a defeat to Airport.
The first matchup of Saturday’s play went the way of Indian Land with the final tally being 55-7 vs. Great Falls.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
That last time occurred in 2012 when the Red Devils claimed victory by a margin of 36-27 over Indian Land.
Quarter-By-Quarter
The opening frame was all Indian Land, all the time. The Warriors put together a offensive showing that the Red Devils simply could not keep up with. It was 19-4 in favor of Indian Land following the first eight minutes.
It seemed as if the ensuing eight minutes were simply a rerun of what took place in the first quarter. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, the first half was all Warriors – 31-6 over Great Falls.
As the third quarter elapsed, it became clear that it was no longer a matter of if Indian Land would pull off a victory but what the point margin would be. Great Falls had zero field goals in the third period with a free throw accounting for its only score of the frame. The Warriors had a commanding lead.
And that would be the case for the remainder of the game as the fourth quarter featured a continuously turning clock. Indian Land would complete what was a dominant victory over Great Falls.
Primetime Performers
Despite the dominant performance, it was a balanced scoring effort on the part of the Warriors. It was spearheaded by Skylar Young Skylar Young 5'6" | SG Indian Land | 2026 State SC . The sophomore Indian Land guard finished the morning’s game with 14 points.
Speaking of sophomores, Emily Callahan was a key element to the Warriors’ offensive onslaught. Callahan came off the bench to add 11 points to Indian Land’s overall total. While playing as a three, she also will play productive minutes as a wing.
It was a 10-point performance for Gia Tobie. The 5-foot-5 upperclassman keyed the efforts for the Warriors from behind the arc as she made two of the team’s 3-pointers. Tobie primarily plays as a guard.
Speaking of guards, Ava Pensule Ava Pensule 5'3" | PG Indian Land | 2027 State SC , also contributed nine points to Indian Land’s overall offensive output. Pensule had the other 3-pointer that the Warriors mustered. She, as did Callahan, also come in the game off the bench.
What’s Next?
The Warriors are slated to compete in the NC Battle of the East against Georgia-based 3A Cross Creek on Dec. 28. As for Great Falls, their next matchup will be at the Richard Winn Academy Christmas Tournament that same day against the host Eagles.
Ivanhoe Australia vs. Blythewood
It is not often that midseason tournaments have the privilege of welcoming teams from other countries – but that was the case for this year’s rendition of the Winborn Showcase.
Ivanhoe Australia was that team from the other part of the world. So far, it experienced its fair share of tough luck at this year’s event by virtue of defeats to A.C. Flora and host Rock Hill.
As for the Bengals of Blythewood, they have steadily risen up the 5A ranks these past few seasons. Last season’s Bengals rendition defeated Butler at last year’s Winborn, but suffered defeats to two other North Carolina-based assemblings in Chambers and Marvin Ridge. Blythewood picked up wins over Spartanburg and Marvin Ridge entering Saturday’s play.
The second victor of the day would be the Bengals as they defeated the Knights with the final being 75-41.
Quarter-By-Quarter
In the opening moments of the first quarter, it appeared that the Bengals and Knights would match each other point for point before a late Blythewood run created a gap between them and Ivanhoe. The Bengals also converted on a buzzer-beating three to close the frame. With one in the books, Blythewood led the Knights by a margin of 24-13.
Ivanhoe displayed signs of life in the second quarter before Blythewood answered the Knights with a run of its own. As the eight minutes of halftime commenced, the Bengals’ edge over Ivanhoe would be 40-25.
The third quarter would see Blythewood extend its edge over Ivanhoe into the 20s – 20 to be exact when the frame concluded. With one quarter left to play, the Bengals edge over the Knights was 53-33.
Even though the contest appeared to be in the Bengals’ hands, Blythewood did not let its foot off the gas. The Bengals still put 22 points on the board in the fourth quarter en route to the 34-point win.
Primetime Performers
Hayley Hightower Hayley Hightower 5'6" | PG Blythewood | 2026 State SC led all point-getters with a 20-point performance. Out of the 20 she did score, 11 of those occurred in the first half of action. She displayed plenty of long range accuracy as she drained four from behind the arc.
Chase Thomas Chase Thomas 5'7" | CG Blythewood | 2026 State SC also aided the Blythewood cause with 17 points. The Bengals’ star sophomore got a great bit accomplished in the first half as 10 of her 17 points occurred in the first 16 minutes.
All of the Bengals’ big three had productive mornings at the office. That included India Williams India Williams 5'8" | PG Blythewood | 2026 State SC who placed 14 points on the scoreboard. Much of the damage she did was also in the first half – where 10 of her points came from.
With 11 points, Caitlin Toll led all point-getters for Ivanhoe. Seven of her 11 occurred in the first 16 minutes of play. A midrange jump shot is part of her overall offensive repertoire and she remains active away from the ball.
Lexie Gioskos contributed eight points to the Knights’ efforts. Along with what she gets accomplished when her team has the ball, she will match an opposing offensive player step for step as a defender.
What’s Next?
While the Knights of Ivanhoe Australia will continue its IKBC Girls USA Tour, the Bengals of Blythewood will have plenty of time to rest through the holidays and new year. Blythewood’s next matchup will be on Jan. 5 against fellow 5A Midlands team White Knoll prior to region play starting for the Bengals.
Hunter Huss vs. Airport
It was not until game three of Saturday’s eight-game card that a team from the Hoop State took to the court.
That team was Hunter Huss. The 3A Huskies did participate in last year’s Winborn festivities. Despite finishing with a 20-8 overall mark, the Huskies went 1-2 at last year’s event. Huss played all South Carolina teams, defeating 2A Chesterfield but losing to 4A Greenville and 3A Timberland. The Huskies had a rough go of things this time around entering Saturday’s play by virtue of defeats to 4A Easley and 2A Blacksburg.
As for the Eagles of 4A Airport, they have already bested its nine-win total from last year with 10 so far in 2023-24. At last year’s Winborn, the Eagles defeated York before losing to Indian Land and Fort Mill. Airport has earned victories over York and Indian Land to begin this year’s rendition of the Winborn Showcase.
Would the Eagles make it a perfect 3-0? The answer was yes as the final result was 60-53 with Airport prevailing over Hunter Huss.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Two attributes defined the first quarter between the Huskies and Eagles. The first was that offense ruled the day and it had an up-tempo nature. Airport was getting the better of that through one quarter as it was 19-18 in the Eagles favor after one.
Night and day. Yin and yang. The first quarter and the second quarter. Both teams tried to out-defense each other in the second half. As the halftime period commenced, Hunter Huss held on to the slimmest of leads – 28-27.
Unlike the first two matchups where one team was ahead of another by a wide margin, nothing was decided following 24 minutes of this contest. The Huskies and Eagles were all knotted up at 39 with one stanza to go.
As the fourth quarter wore on, Airport began to make more of the plays that extended its advantage over Hunter Huss late. When all was said and done, the Eagles would head home to the Midlands having completed a perfect weekend at Rock Hill HS.
Primetime Performers
With an 18-point performance, Ja’sia Booth Ja’sia Booth 5'4" | PG Airport | 2025 State SC was once again the key catalyst behind another Airport victory. Booth especially made things difficult for the Huskies when she attacked the rim and she has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line.
Santana Reese Santana Reese 5'7" | CG Airport | 2024 State SC also chimed in with 17 points. Reese assumes co-captaincy duties for the Eagles along with Booth. Both she and Booth are anchors of what is a talented backcourt for 4A Airport.
The Eagles’ veteran leadership is a reason why Airport’s noteworthy start to the season has been one of the stories in Palmetto State high school hoops. That included senior Keyosha Hammond Keyosha Hammond 5'6" | SG Airport | 2024 State SC who added 15 to her team’s total.
Brooklyn Swann Brooklyn Swann 5'8" | SF Huss | 2025 State NC led all point-getters with 25 points. Her quickness when attacking the rim is one attribute of her game that will certainly get the attention of those that witness her game. Swann has played for Team Curry during AAU season.
Myla Hoover Myla Hoover 5'7" | CG Huss | 2024 State NC finished her afternoon with an 18-point showing. The offers are starting to come in for Hunter Huss’ talented senior guard. Over the summer, North Central and Fort Lauderdale extended offers to Hoover.
What’s Next?
Hunter Huss will be back in action on Wednesday at the Bennie Bennett Memorial Tournament at Newberry HS against 3A West Charlotte. As for Airport, the team begins region play on Jan. 5 at Aiken.
Spartanburg vs. Fort Mill
Following the Huskies and Eagles sharing the court, it was time for another get-together between a pair of Palmetto State combatants from the 5A ranks.
Spartanburg was absent from any Winborn proceedings last year – and this year’s tournament has been a microcosm of what has been a down year so far for the Vikings. The team’s first two Winborn Showcase games have resulted in defeats to Blythewood and A.C. Flora.
As for Fort Mill, the Yellow Jackets were an undefeated 9-0 entering this year’s event. Its only loss of the season came on the Winborn Showcase’s first day against Charlotte Country Day before bouncing back with a win over Butler.
The fourth victor of the day would be the Yellow Jackets as they dispatched the Vikings with the final result being 53-44.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
When Fort Mill and Spartanburg last shared the court, it was during the COVID season of 2020-21. The Vikings defeated the Yellow Jackets by a margin of 45-35 in late November.
Quarter-By-Quarter
The first eight minutes gave off the impression that the result of this contest would be different than three years ago. With those eight minutes having ticked off the clock, the advantage for Fort Mill over Spartanburg was 13-6.
As the second wore on, the Yellow Jackets began to build up a double-digit advantage over the Vikings. That advantage would be maintained as halftime arrived. The midway point would see Fort Mill lead Spartanburg by a margin of 28-17.
All things considered, the Yellow Jackets and Vikings had a rather evenly matched frame throughout the third. It was still advantage Fort Mill since it had the edge. It was 43-29 in the Yellow Jackets’ favor with one period to go.
It became a single-digit game in the fourth quarter, but the Yellow Jackets managed to hold off the Vikings for their 10th victory of the season – and a 2-1 weekend at the Winborn Showcase.
Primetime Performers
The two leading point-getters fort this game were both sporting the Fort Mill colors. Starting with Julienne Chambliss Julienne Chambliss 5'6" | PG Fort Mill | 2026 State SC . The junior point guard for the Yellow Jackets concluded her afternoon with a 16-point performance.
Fort Mill was also the beneficiary of a 14-point performance courtesy of senior guard Reagan Reyes. She only made a pair of field goals but managed to get to the free throw line on many occasions.
Genesis Young Genesis Young 5'10" | PF Spartanburg | 2024 State SC concluded her afternoon with 12 points to lead the Vikings. Eight of those 12 occurred in the second half of play. In addition to converting on high-percentage shots, Young is also a gifted rebounder.
It was a nine-point outing for Kam Sainvil Kam Sainvil 5'6" | CG Spartanburg | 2025 State SC . Her talents enable her to play at a varity of spots on the court – including either of the backcourt guard positions or in the frontcourt as a three. She is a gifted ball handler and has plenty of speed and quickness.
What’s Next?
Spartanburg is scheduled to participate in this year’s Carolina Invitational where it will match up against Greensboro Day and Cane Bay. The Yellow Jackets will take part in the Catawba Ridge Christmas Tournament where it will face off against Marvin Ridge the first day on Thursday.