SCISA 4A Championship: Heathwood Hall vs. Northwood Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more things change, the more they stay the same.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heathwood Hall and Northwood Academy were the final two teams standing at the conclusion of last season's SCISA 4A championship game at the Sumter Civic Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bring on the rematch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's contest was one Chargers fans would rather forget given the result was a 79-49 rout from the Highlanders. This season, both Heathwood Hall and Northwood Academy would prove themselves to be perched once again atop SCISA's 4A food chain.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both the Chargers and Highlanders earned byes to the second round. Heathwood Hall's path to the championship game included a win over Porter-Gaud and an overtime victory over First Baptist. Northwood Academy bested Cardinal Newman and Hammond to get to Saturday's game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heathwood Hall's repeat effort was successful by way of its exciting 58-56 win over Northwood Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the first quarter of the first girls championship game between Cross Schools and Curtis Baptist could be described as pedestrian, the opening stanza of Heathwood Hall vs. Northwood Academy was high octane. The Highlanders got the better of that highly uptempo exchange as they led the Chargers 22-13 with one in the books.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the opening moments of the second quarter were any indication, Heathwood Hall was planning to run and hide with this one before a strong response from Northwood Academy to keep within striking distance. At the break, the scoreboard read Highlanders 35 and Chargers 29.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers managed to draw even at 37 all midway through the third quarter prior to play being temporarily halted due to a Highlanders injury. Both Heathwood Hall and Northwood Academy then went cold for the field for the ensuing few minutes before a few Highlanders buckets near the rim gave the defending champions the advantage once again. Heathwood Hall led 45-40 with eight minutes remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the Highlanders ahead by a margin of 56-53, the Chargers connected on a late 3-pointer to bring Northwood Academy all square at 56 even. A game-winning putback off an offensive rebound was the final basket of the game – and how Heathwood Hall was successful in its repeat bid.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860253,"width":"464px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2962-crop-2236x1469-1708785672.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860253" style="width:464px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185040' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs']</strong> continued to add to her impressive resume at the high school level with a 23-point performance. Throughout Friday's contest she showcased why she continues to receive Division I offers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860255,"width":"460px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2900-crop-2236x1469-1708785775.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860255" style="width:460px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heathwood Hall also got another big game from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='216959' first='Sabreya' last='Monsanto']</strong>. She added 21 points to the Highlanders' victorious total. Out of the three 3-pointers Heathwood Hall finished with for the game, she had a pair of them.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860257,"width":"460px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2909-crop-2236x1469-1708785863.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860257" style="width:460px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185041' first='Camillea' last='Gore']</strong> concluded her time this year at the Sumter County Civic Center with eight points – but she had the two biggest of the game as her putback late in the fourth quarter sealed a second consecutive 4A championship for the Highlanders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860259,"width":"458px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2912-crop-2236x1469-1708786006.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860259" style="width:458px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even in a losing effort, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='171805' first='Alayah' last='Birch']</strong> played like a winner in what was her final time sporting the Northwood Academy colors. The senior Chargers star finished with 21 points to lead all Northwood Academy point-getters.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860261,"width":"462px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2857-crop-2236x1469-1708786098.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860261" style="width:462px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alayah's younger sister, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324560' first='Maliyah' last='Birch']</strong> added 12 points to the Chargers total. Northwood Academy was true on six of its attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Birch had a pair of those triples. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860263,"width":"466px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2840-crop-2400x1576-1708786330.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860263" style="width:466px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='364921' first='Morgan' last='Jones']</strong> is another of the five seniors that make up this year's rendition of the Chargers. She contributed eight points to the Northwood Academy cause. Rebounding is another one of Jones' strong points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860265,"width":"462px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_2854-crop-2236x1469-1708786433.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860265" style="width:462px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258138' first='Ashton' last='Wyndham']</strong> would conclude her game with seven points. Wyndham would provide one of the late-game highlights as she connected on a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter that tied both teams up at 56.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heathwood Hall's 2023-24 finishes with a 20-3 record along with going 8-0 in region. As for this year's runner-up Northwood Academy, its 2023-24 book closes with a 26-3 showing also with an 8-0 region mark.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with Birch, Jones and Wyndham, [player_tooltip player_id='243455' first='Virginia' last='Byrd'] and McKenzie Roper are also among the seniors graduating from Northwood Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":860267,"width":"494px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_3245-crop-3226x2118-1708786577.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-860267" style="width:494px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='185040' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs'] – Heathwood Hall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='216959' first='Sabreya' last='Monsanto'] – Heathwood Hall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='171805' first='Alayah' last='Birch'] – Northwood Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='258138' first='Ashton' last='Wyndham'] – Northwood Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='451803' first='Ava' last='Rush'] – First Baptist</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>[player_tooltip player_id='185222' first='Samira' last='Khalil'] - Hammond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->