Bethune-Bowman MLK Showcase: Saturday’s Results
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A number of games and showcases across the state were either cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather. Despite the less-than-desirable conditions, at least one of those showcases still went off without a hitch. That showcase was the one hosted…
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Continue ReadingA number of games and showcases across the state were either cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather. Despite the less-than-desirable conditions, at least one of those showcases still went off without a hitch.
That showcase was the one hosted by 1A Bethune-Bowman. This year’s rendition featured 18 games spread out at four locations. Those were the home court of the Mohawks themselves along with North HS, Lake Marion HS and Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS.
We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to Bethune-Bowman for the six games that took place at that venue – four girls games and two boys contests. Without further adieu, here is a recap of those four girls matchups.
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler vs. Bethune-Bowman
Showcases usually begin with the host school either going first or last. In the case of Bethune-Bowman, it had both first and last dibs on the schedule.
The 1A Mohawks suffered defeat at last season’s MLK Showcase thanks to 2A Columbia in a 55-31 decision. Bethune-Bowman, to its credit, has already had a better season in terms of amount of victories than last season.
As for the Trojans of Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, it recently was blessed with a top 10 ranking in the latest SCBCA coaches poll. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler entered Saturday’s play with a 10-2 record with the only blemishes on its 2023-24 schedule coming against 3A Swansea and 1A Denmark-Olar.
One of the first winners at this year’s Bethune-Bowman MLK Showcase would be the host Mohawks as they defeated the Trojans with the final score being 40-33.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
It was in 2021 when the Trojans and Mohawks last shared the same court. That contest resulted in a 29-21 victory for Bethune-Bowman.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Bethune-Bowman’s lead was as much as nine in the first quarter. A late run by Hunter-Kinard-Tyler managed to trim the deficit. With one in the books, the Mohawks’ lead over the Trojans was three (13-10).
An improved defensive effort by the Mohawks managed to keep the Trojans scoreless from the field in the second quarter. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms for halftime, Bethune-Bowman was defending its home court by a margin of 19-11 over Hunter-Kinard-Tyler.
A 7-0 run from the Trojans began the third quarter before that run was snapped by a made Mohawks free throw. One frame remained in this highly competitive matchup of 1A adversaries with Bethune-Bowman leading 25-21.
The fourth quarter proved to be the highest scoring frame for Hunter-Kinard-Tyler. That was the good news for the Trojans. The bad news was it was also Bethune-Bowman’s. Said frame was 15-12 in favor of the Mohawks and they pulled out a 40-33 win over the Trojans.
Primetime Performers
Paving the way to Bethune-Bowman’s ninth victory of the season was Zaniyah Pelzer Zaniyah Pelzer 5'2" | PG Bethune-Bowman | 2027 State SC . The freshman guard for the Mohawks led all of the home team’s scorers with 13 points. Pelzer connected on three of her 3-point tries.
Makiayah Johnson had herself another productive afternoon at the office for Bethune-Bowman. She tallied 11 points to aid the Mohawks’ offensive efforts. The sophomore is also the team’s captain.
Some players have those “put the team on my back” type of games. Aysiah Bonaparte Aysiah Bonaparte 5'4" | SG Hunter-Kinard-Tyler | 2028 SC had one of those for the Trojans. Bonaparte had 21 of the 33 points for Hunter-Kinard-Tyler. Did we also mention she is an eighth grader?
What’s Next?
Both teams will resume play against region opponents on Tuesday. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler will be at home to host Ridge Spring-Monetta while Bethune-Bowman will travel to Bamberg-Ehrhardt.
Eau Claire vs. Ridgeland-Hardeeville
Following the Trojans and Mohawks being on the court, the next contest featured a pair of 2A groups – one from the Midlands and another from the Lowcountry.
The Shamrocks are typically one of the schools in South Carolina hosting its own MLK Showcase. Eau Claire’s girls basketball team was on hand at Bethune-Bowman and entered play with a 7-6 record.
Meanwhile…remember the three-win season that Ridgeland-Hardeeville posted last season? The Jaguars have already outdone that by one win with a four-win campaign so far in 2023-24.
The second win of the day would be claimed by the Shamrocks as they defeated the Jaguars by a final score of 55-46.
Quarter-By-Quarter
While the two teams stayed relatively close to each in the opening moments of the first half, a combination of effective offense and stifling defensive pressure allowed Eau Claire to put a bit of distance between them and Ridgeland-Hardeeville. With one quarter complete, the Shamrocks built an 18-10 lead on the Jaguars.
Three-point accuracy and clutch production from the Eau Claire bench was crucial in extending the Shamrocks lead into the double digits. As halftime commenced, it was Eau Claire 32, Ridgeland-Hardeeville 19.
What was a double-digit advantage for the Shamrocks was whittled down into the single digits. Ridgeland-Hardeeville pulled to within two towards the close of the third quarter before a late Eau Claire 3-pointer extended the lead. The Shamrocks were clinging to a 46-42 lead with three complete.
While both teams missed a number of good looks throughout the contest, a close game such as this one would come down to which team made more of those timely plays. Eau Claire made more of those timely plays en route to the nine-point win.
Primetime Performers
Milaysha Chisholm led all point-getters for the Shamrocks with 15. Out of the 15 she tallied, nine of those occurred in the first quarter. Chisholm showcased her ability to score at all three levels.
Destinee Tiller Destinee Tiller 5'5" | CG Eau Claire | 2025 State SC also had herself another productive game with 13 points. Despite some early struggles, Tiller managed to come up with clutch plays for the Shamrocks on both offense and defense.
Eau Claire may have found itself in the loss column if not for the heroics of Ayjiah Motley off the bench. She added 10 points to the Shamrocks’ cause. All 10 came in the first half – including a pair of 3-pointers.
The Jaguars’ efforts were spearheaded by a talented junior in Jaden Exley Jaden Exley 5'7" | SF Ridgeland-Hardeeville | 2025 State SC . She led all scorers with 17 points. Ten of those 17 points occurred in the second half, and she was a crucial element in Ridgeland-Hardeeville’s comeback efforts.
Denasia Haynes was also a key player in the Jaguars’ attack Saturday afternoon. Haynes finished with 13 points and was an anchor for Ridgeland-Hardeeville in its interior. She scored 10 of her 13 in the first half.
What’s Next?
The Shamrocks will have a week off before resuming region play on Friday at Keenan. Ridgeland-Hardeeville’s next matchup will also be in region on Tuesday vs. Barnwell.
Goose Creek vs. Oceanside Collegiate
Following the first boys’ matchup of the day which was between 3A Dreher and 2A Ridgeland-Hardeeville, the girls once again had their turns on the court. This one would feature Lowcountry vs. Lowcountry.
Both of the remaining girls games would feature teams from the 5A ranks. One of those was Goose Creek, who entered play on Saturday with 11 victories – one more than all of last season. The Gators also entered play as winners of five of their previous six contests.
Oceanside Collegiate has had another Oceanside Collegiate-esque season. The Landsharks recently received a ranking of sixth in the latest SCBCA coaches poll. Sumter, Lucy Beckham and Darlington have been the only three teams to put blemishes on Oceanside Collegiate’s 2023-24 slate.
This one went the way of the Gators by virtue of a 52-45 dispatching of Oceanside Collegiate.
Quarter-By-Quarter
On paper, a contest between Oceanside and Goose Creek would be evenly matched. On the court in the first quarter, that is what happened. Following the first eight minutes, the Landsharks would lead – but only by a margin of 12-9 over the Gators.
That advantage for Oceanside would be short lived as Goose Creek made a number of plays to pull ahead of the Landsharks. As halftime commenced, the Gators would lead by a margin of 24-18.
It was a lead that would only grow into double digits in the third quarter for the Gators. Twenty-four minutes of completed basketball had saw Goose Creek establish a 42-30 advantage over Oceanside.
The Landsharks displayed signs in the fourth quarter that they would have one more run in them but the Gators managed to hold them off. When all was complete, this Lowcountry clash would break the way of Goose Creek.
Primetime Performers
Aiyanna Moses Aiyanna Moses 5'2" | PG Goose Creek | 2026 State SC continues to be a key reason why the rest of the 5A field has to take notice of the Gators. The sophomore’s 16 points – which included several made 3-pointers and several free throws – made a huge difference in the Goose Creek win.
With a 10-point performance, freshman guard Jaliaya Jacobs Jaliaya Jacobs 5'5" | CG Goose Creek | 2027 State SC also contributed productive minutes as part of the Gators’ starting five. Jacobs is listed at 5-foot-4 per the Goose Creek roster.
The Gators also plenty of worthwhile production off its bench in the form of junior guard Saniya Sanders Saniya Sanders 5'5" | PG Goose Creek | 2025 State SC . She added nine points to the Goose Creek cause. Sanders only made two shots from the field but made five from the free throw line.
As is commonly the case with Oceanside Collegiate contests, Josie Hanks Josie Hanks 5'7" | CG Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2026 State SC led the charge. The star sophomore guard led all Landsharks point-getters with a 15-point performance. Nine of those 15 were in the first half.
The Landsharks also benefitted from the 10 points that senior big Tynasjia Ford Tynasjia Ford 6'0" | C Oceanside Collegiate | 2024 State SC gave them. Ford struggled early on, but managed to get into an offensive groove as the game wore on as much of her production was in the second half.
What’s Next?
As is the case for much of the state, it will be back to region play for both the Gators and Landsharks for their next contests. Oceanside Collegiate will be at Timberland on Monday while Goose Creek will be home to host Wando.
Denmark-Olar vs. Rock Hill
The final girls game of the six-game slate at Bethune-Bowman featured two of the premier programs in their respective classifications.
The Vikings dropped their first two games of the season – which both came at the She Got Next Thanksgiving Tournament at White Knoll – to 4A Greer and 2A Gray Collegiate. Since then, Denmark-Olar has looked like the Denmark-Olar that made it to back-to-back 1A state championship games as they have reeled off 11 consecutive victories.
As for Rock Hill, the 5A Bearcats have resembled the team that won a state championship in 2021-22 over Summerville. Rock Hill entered Saturday’s play with a 13-3 record – with two of those defeats coming by way of 4A South Pointe.
The final girls victor of the day would be the Bearcats, emphatically triumphing over the Vikings with the final being a score of 59-27.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Denmark-Olar placed the first pair of points on the board before a Rock Hill run allowed the Bearcats to assume a 9-6 lead. This prompted a timeout from the Vikings. As the opening stanza concluded, Rock Hill’s lead was 17-9.
With near-pinpoint efficiency from behind the 3-point line, the Bearcats managed to grow its lead to double digits. As halftime commenced, the advantage for Rock Hill over Denmark-Olar would be 29-17.
Then the third quarter happened – and it was all Rock Hill, all the time. The Bearcats outscored the Vikings by a margin of 16-2 to assume a commanding advantage – 45-19 – with three in the books.
On paper, Denmark-Olar and Rock Hill may have been the girls game to watch that day at Bethune-Bowman. On the court, it resembled a 1A team playing a 5A team. At the final buzzer, it was Bearcats by plenty.
Primetime Performers
Denmark-Olar’s defense had no answers for the proficient shooting displayed by De’Ashaj Crawford De’Ashaj Crawford 5'6" | PG Rock Hill | 2024 State SC . Her 23 points were the key catalyst in the Bearcats’ rout. Crawford tallied 20 of her 23 in the first half and she made five from deep.
On what was a rough evening overall for the Vikings, the team’s star junior Aveion Walker Aveion Walker 5'10" | SF Denmark-Olar | 2025 State SC proved to be a bright spot. She scored 15 points to aid Denmark-Olar’s cause. Walker had 12 of her 15 in the first half.
What’s Next?
Both the Bearcats and Vikings will be at home for their next region contests on Tuesday. Rock Hill’s next opponent will be Nation Ford and Denmark-Olar’s next foe will be Wagener-Salley.