SCISA 1A Championship Game: Cross Schools vs. Curtis Baptist

Three championships were to be decided on Friday at the Sumter Civic Center with the other five being decided on Saturday. That Friday, there was a chance that two of those SCISA crowns would be claimed by Georgia teams.    Curtis Baptist's girls had an opportunity to bring one of those SCISA crowns to the Peach State following victories over Richard Winn Academy and Laurens Academy.    As for Cross Schools, the Stingrays had a chance to finish a stellar season with an exclamation point. Entering Friday's play, Cross Schools was 25-4 and earned victories over Wardlaw Academy and defending 1A champion Cambridge Academy to earn a trip to this season's championship game.    SCISA 1A supremacy would be claimed by Cross Schools with the final score being 47-43 over Curtis Baptist.    Quarter-By-Quarter   A basketball equivalent of a pitcher's duel ensued between Cross Schools and Curtis Baptist as both teams went scoreless through the first three minutes of the first quarter. The Crusaders embarked on a 5-0 run only to be answered by the Stingrays. Curtis Baptist had a 6-5 lead with one complete.    The Stingrays looked to pull away early in the second quarter before the Crusaders found its offensive groove with pinpoint 3-point shooting. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to mull second half strategy, Curtis Baptist had a 19-18 lead over Cross Schools.    It looked as if Curtis Baptist would pull away late in the third quarter as the Crusaders edge grew to as much as eight. Cross Schools displayed that they were still in the game. With one quarter remaining to determine the first of eight 2023-24 SCISA titles this year, the Crusaders had a 33-29 lead on the Stingrays.   A close contest such as this one meant every point was precious – and when all was said and done, Cross Schools had four more than Curtis Baptist. The Stingrays had the honor of taking home championship hardware and cutting down the Sumter County Civic Center nets after a 47-43 win vs. Curtis Baptist.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2594-2-crop-3226x2118-1708787054.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860277" style="width:466px;height:auto" /></figure>   Big time players step up in big time moments in big time games. [player_tooltip player_id='616144' first='PJ' last='Benson'] is a big time player. She scored 17 points to lead her Stingrays to victory. She tallied twelve of her 17 in the second half. Oh…and she is a freshman.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2628-2-crop-2748x1805-1708787194.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860280" style="width:469px;height:auto" /></figure>   Contributing 15 points to Cross Schools' efforts was [player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers']. Nine of the 15 she placed on the scoreboard occurred in the first half. Mayers was instrumental in what the Stingrays looked to get accomplished in the frontcourt.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2712-crop-2279x1497-1708787307.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860282" style="width:471px;height:auto" /></figure>   Cross Schools also benefitted greatly from the eight points that were put on the board courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='856286' first='Lexann' last='Maldonado']. She also only had two personal fouls called against her for the game. Maldonado is one of three 2027s on this year's rendition of Stingrays basketball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2682-crop-2842x1866-1708787412.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860285" style="width:477px;height:auto" /></figure>   Even though it may not have been the result Curtis Baptist was looking for, Nyla Robinson led all Crusaders point-getters with 16 points. These included a game-high five successful attempts from deep.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2651-crop-3408x2238-1708787548.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860287" style="width:476px;height:auto" /></figure>   With 14 points, [player_tooltip player_id='975641' first='Mia' last='Price'] also put forth a winning effort even in an unsuccessful championship try for her Crusaders. She also had a productive afternoon from behind the arc with three 3-pointers.   Records   Cross Schools concludes the 2023-24 season with a 26-4 record (10-0 in region). The book closes on Curtis Baptist's 2023-24 campaign with a 22-6 mark (6-0 in region).    So Long, Seniors   While no 2024s are on Cross Schools' roster, The Crusaders will see Robinson, Rebekah Powers, Bella Ramp and Abby Coughlin soon trade their red and black Curtis Baptist uniforms for caps and gowns.   All-Tournament Team   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2741-crop-3593x2359-1708788053.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860293" style="width:538px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers'] – Cross Schools   [player_tooltip player_id='616144' first='PJ' last='Benson'] – Cross Schools   [player_tooltip player_id='975641' first='Mia' last='Price'] – Curtis Baptist   Maci Butler – Curtis Baptist   Madison Graham – Laurens Academy   [player_tooltip player_id='256831' first='Jillian' last='Mapes'] – Cambridge Academy

Three championships were to be decided on Friday at the Sumter Civic Center with the other five being decided on Saturday. That Friday, there was a chance that two of those SCISA crowns would be claimed by Georgia teams.