SCISA 2A Quarterfinals: Top 5 Performers
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SCISA’s 2A tournament commenced this past Friday with matchups being split between Wilson Hall and the Sumter Civic Center in the Midlands as well as Cathedral Academy in the Lowcountry. Then came the quarterfinals on Monday. While a site was…
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Continue ReadingSCISA’s 2A tournament commenced this past Friday with matchups being split between Wilson Hall and the Sumter Civic Center in the Midlands as well as Cathedral Academy in the Lowcountry.
Then came the quarterfinals on Monday. While a site was not revealed until the day prior to said second round, it was only appropriate that one of the sites would be Northwood Academy given the number of teams participating from the Lowcountry.
We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trek to the home of the Chargers for Monday’s games. Here is who stood out among the field this past Monday.
Paige Shelton
Paige Shelton
Dorchester Academy brought such a large contingent with them to Northwood Academy the Raiders probably felt like they were playing back at home. Shelton did her part to ensure those fans went home happy as she placed 14 points on the board to lift Dorchester Academy into the semifinals of this year’s SCISA 2A tournament. The Raiders defeated Colleton Prep by a final score of 46-31. In a game that was as competitive as Monday’s was, converting on high-percentage shots is crucial and Shelton played like the veteran anchor of the Raiders frontcourt that she is. Out of the 14 points she put on the board, eight of those happened in the second half when Dorchester Academy began to pull away from Colleton Prep (who was one of the four teams that earned a bye into the quarterfinals).
As defending 2A state champions, Griffin understands every team they face will give the Generals their best effort. She will make sure Cathedral Academy matches its opponent’s best with its own best given the Generals have been a tough out for many comers as of late. One of those latest adversaries was Beaufort Academy who the Generals would face in the 2A quarterfinals. With 20 points, Griffin ensured Cathedral Academy’s defense of its 2A crown would continue. Ball handling is one of the areas of her game she puts plenty of emphasis on and she embraces her on-court leadership role. She has no problems drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. If she misses a shot, she is likely to corral an offensive rebound.
Saquoia Sexton
Saquoia Sexton
Northwood Academy saved its best for last on Monday evening. Following a pair of games that were decided by double digits, Patrick Henry Academy’s clash with a tough St. John’s Christian assembling was only decided by three points. It was a 48-45 win and Sexton’s 16 points were highly instrumental in getting her Patriots to a semifinal contest against defending 2A champion Cathedral Academy. Sexton is every bit as effective a rebounder as she is a scorer. Another key attribute that makes Sexton so effective in the interior is her understanding that the game is played on contact – particularly in the interior and she is willing to draw contact to get to the free throw line.
Kylie Finley
Kylie Finley
Who knows where St. John’s Christian would have fared on Monday night without the performance of their star sophomore. The Cavaliers needed every bit of the 31 points they got from Finley to keep her team in the contest from start to finish. While Finley is listed as a shooting guard, she displays her versatility by making plays close to the basket. She connected on four of her 3-point attempts for the game and also showcased how efficient she can be as a rebounder. Finley has a full athletic plate as it includes the home plate of softball as well as the volleyball court.
The star senior for the Eagles was hoping her high school career did not come to a close with a defeat to Cathedral Academy. Unfortunately for Beaufort Academy that is what happened in the 50-33 decision that took place on Monday night. Freeman still had herself a game to be proud of as she tallied 20 of her team’s 33 points to keep her Eagles in the contest. Freeman delivers strong finishes at the basket and has no problem drawing contact to get to the free throw line. She maintains a high level of activity even away from the ball the speed and quickness she displays particularly shows itself when she gets out in transition.