SCHSL Class 5A: Upper State/Lower State Championships

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The table is set for the Class 5A State Semifinals. We are down to 4 teams currently - 2 Upper State and 2 Lower State. Who are these teams? This Friday afternoon starting at the Florence Center in Florence will be the Upper State and Lower State Championships. <strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence</em></strong> starts today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rock Hill HS (26-3) vs JL Mann HS (21-4)</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Kenny Orr (244-108) 13th year </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":831317,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/eZy-Watermark_01-01-2024_01-04-18-4360PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-831317" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Bearcats are led by Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='190149' first='De'Ashaj' last='Crawford']</strong>. Crawford is currently averaging 17.8 ppg this season. She currently has 1,018 career points. Crawford is a table setter who really can get the ball into the gaps utilizing the old school bounce pass. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='253658' first='Aubrey' last='Stevenson']</strong> a point guard can really stuff the stat sheet with her play. Aubrey is currently averaging 10.8 ppg, 6.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds this season. Stevenson enters the game with 989 career points. Stevenson brings a swagger and confidence to the floor with her crafty passing skills while keeping the ball on a string at times. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='452369' first='Chloe' last='Hudson']</strong> can really dial in from downtown for the Lady Bearcats. Hudson is averaging 16.3 ppg, 7.6 rebounds while connecting on 116 three-pointers. Chloe just a sophomore enters the contest with 954 career points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275924' first='Sarah' last='Anderson-Wildy']</strong> will look to control the middle and paint area for the Lady Bearcats. Anderson-Wildy will contest and alter shots on the defensive end of the floor. She's currently averaging 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losses - 2 Losses to South Pointe HS 70-52 and 56-48, Marvin Ridge HS (NC) 60-57 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Bearcats have won 20 straight games since Mid-December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>JL Mann HS </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Lamont Wakefield </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":812500,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/IMG_5483.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-812500" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='303245' first='Caitlin' last='Bowling']</strong> will bring some leadership to the floor for the Lady Patriots. Junior post player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196052' first='Breah' last='Franks']</strong> patrols the pain area. The left-handed Franks is averaging 6.8 ppg and 5.6 rebounds this season for the Lady Patriots. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610464' first='Imari' last='Richardson']</strong> a sophomore will provide help around the paint area for the Lady Patriots. Richardson is averaging 10.8 ppg and 8.2 rebounds this season. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610465' first='Olivia' last='McKinney']</strong> averages 6.2 ppg this season from out top for the Lady Patriots. Freshman point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610424' first='Jade' last='Hailstock']</strong> was a nice addition this off season after transferring in from nearby Legacy Early College. Hailstock is averaging 12 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='387003' first='Anastasia' last='Gillam']</strong> will provide some help to the backcourt with her play at times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Patriots finished 2nd in Region 1-5A this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losses - 2 Losses to Wren HS and 2 Losses to Mauldin HS. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Patriots have only shot 225 Three-pointers all season long. (68-225) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Sumter HS (23-0) vs Summerville HS (22-7) </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Jeff Schaffer (298-103) 22nd year </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":850142,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/eZy-Watermark_05-02-2024_07-14-02-7220PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-850142" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Gamecocks defeated Ashley Ridge in the Quarterfinals to advance to the Lower State Championship Game. The Lady Gamecocks will rely on the Senior Trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='171802' first='Kiara' last='Croskey'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='190150' first='Rickell' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195517' first='Keziyah' last='Sanders']</strong>. Croskey who missed all of her junior season is currently averaging 20.4 ppg, 6 rebounds and 4.8 steals this season. She has connected on 36% (35-96) from downtown. Croskey really likes to get out in transition and work her magic at times. She has a nice mid-range game to boot. Brown is currently averaging 16.1 ppg this season. Rickell brings a fierce competitive edge to the floor at times with her play. She has attempted 183 three-pointers this season from behind the arc. Sanders isn't very big in size, but she surely makes up for it with her heart and grit on the floor. Sanders will jump on the deck for a loose ball at any time. This trio of seniors are looking to be standing last this time around. <strong>Dalashia Brunson</strong> brings a blue-collar attitude to the floor and paint area for the Lady Gamecocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":850144,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/eZy-Watermark_05-02-2024_07-13-48-2770PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-850144" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='553681' first='A'raina' last='Ross']</strong> is just an 8th grader for the Lady Gamecocks. Ross is averaging 13.8 ppg and 6.3 rebounds this season. Araina plays mature for her age and does a really nice job of playing active and doing what needs to be done on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Summerville HS </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Calvin Davis </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":825716,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/eZy-Watermark_22-12-2023_05-31-21-3630AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-825716" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Wave (22-7) finished in 2nd Place in Region 7-5A this season behind Ashley Ridge HS. The Lady Wave defeated St James HS, Dutch Fork HS 45-42 and Goose Creek HS 38-25 to get Florence today. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404108' first='Emma' last='Daugherty'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453217' first='Molly' last='Daugherty']</strong> both have committed to play at Abilene Christian University in Texas after high school. Molly is currently averaging 13.2 ppg this season while Emma chimes in at 11.2 ppg, 5.4 rebounds and 3 assists. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662508' first='Madison' last='Thomas']</strong> a junior post player will provide some muscle in the paint. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Jayden' last='Bennett']</strong>, <strong>Neveah Mathews</strong>, and <strong>Madelyn Marsa</strong> should anchor the backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lady Wave average 42.8 ppg on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in Feb 2022 - Summerville Defeated Sumter HS 39-35 to advance to the Class 5A State Championship Game vs Rock Hill. Rock Hill Won the 2022 Class 5A defeating the Lady Wave 52-44. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losses - 2 Losses to Ashley Ridge HS, Andrew Jackson HS, Camden HS, Carolina Forest HS, Bishop O'Connell and Frederick Douglass </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong> <strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence </em></strong> <strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong> <strong><em>#TheRoadToFlorence </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->