SCISA First-Round Playoffs at Ben Lippen: Friday’s Results
In this article:
The postseason for SCISA’s teams got underway the Friday that was two days following Valentine’s Day. Several sites were announced throughout the state for Friday’s first-round girls matchups. These included Cathedral Academy, the Sumter Civic Center, Wilson Hall (with two…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe postseason for SCISA’s teams got underway the Friday that was two days following Valentine’s Day.
Several sites were announced throughout the state for Friday’s first-round girls matchups. These included Cathedral Academy, the Sumter Civic Center, Wilson Hall (with two gyms) and Ben Lippen School in Columbia.
Wilson Hall had five games with Sumter and Cathedral Academy each hosting four matchups. Three of the contests emanated from Ben Lippen. We at Prep Girls Hoops were on site at the Falcons’ nest in Columbia for those three games. Here is a recap of how all three unfolded.
Jefferson Davis Academy vs. Laurens Academy
Two of the games that occurred on Friday at Ben Lippen were from the 1A tournament. Those were quarterfinal matchups at the bottom of the 1A bracket.
One of the teams involved? Laurens Academy – the same Crusaders who were 1A runners-up from the previous year before suffering defeat in the championship game to Cambridge Academy. Laurens Academy dropped its season opener to New Covenant School and have reeled off 23 consecutive victories since.
As for the Raiders of Jefferson Davis Academy, they compiled two of its victories in its region. The matchup was actually a rematch of a first-round contest that occurred last year between these two teams.
This year’s would go the way of Laurens Academy with the final score being a lopsided 51-21 victory over Jefferson Davis Academy.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
That first-round contest was won by Laurens Academy. The result was a 51-44 victory over Jefferson Davis Academy.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Four seniors were included in Laurens Academy’s starting five. The Crusaders resembled a squad that had four seniors in its starting lineup. At the end of one quarter, Laurens Academy’s lead on Jefferson Davis Academy was 18-5.
An improved defensive effort led to a more evenly matched frame between the Crusaders and Raiders – but still with Laurens Academy maintaining its lead. As halftime commenced, the Crusaders’ edge on Jefferson Davis Academy was 29-14.
As Laurens Academy’s lead increased into the 20s, it was seemingly no longer a matter of if they would prove victorious over Jefferson Davis Academy but what the final margin of victory would be. With three in the books, the Crusader lead was 44-19.
It was all academic at that point. Laurens Academy knew that the semifinals of this year’s 1A SCISA tournament was in sight. It became official once the final buzzer sounded and the 30-point win was complete.
Primetime Performers
The Raiders defense had no answers for Olivia Huck Olivia Huck 5'7" | SG Laurens Academy | 2024 State SC as she scored 23 points to lead all scorers. If there was a lane to the rim, Huck would attack it and put a pair of points on the board. Unfortunately, she was taken out of the contest midway in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.
With their star senior out of the game nursing her ailment, others for Laurens Academy had to step up. One of those was Madisyn Graham. The sophomore for the Crusaders added eight points to her team’s total.
Laurens Academy also benefitted from the seven points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of Rylee Ballard Rylee Ballard 5'6" | PG Laurens Academy | 2024 State SC . She is also a senior. Running point and accuracy from 3-point range are among the centerpieces of her skillset.
With seven points, Rileigh York managed to pace a Jefferson Davis Academy attack that otherwise had a tough day at the Falcons’ nest. The eighth grade standout for the Raiders has also partaken in other sports – including volleyball, softball and cheerleading.
Up Next…
While Jefferson Davis Academy’s defeat concluded its season at 3-9, Laurens Academy’s victory advanced them into the semifinals. The Crusaders’ opponent would be determined with the next matchup on the docket.
Richard Winn Academy vs. Curtis Baptist
The 1A bracket would complete itself with the conclusion of the second game that took place at the Falcons’ nest.
One of the contestants was Richard Winn Academy, which was last in the SCISA tournament a couple of years ago but lost in the first round to St. John’s Christian. The Eagles concluded the season with a 10-7 record – including finishing a robust 7-2 on its home floor.
As for the Crusaders, they have had yet another stellar season. Curtis Baptist concluded the season with a 12-game winning streak along with finishing 20-5 overall. The Crusaders were bested by eventual champion Cambridge Academy in last season’s semifinals.
Four of Curtis Baptist’s defeats this season were against Georgia teams with only coming by way of a South Carolina opponent.
The Crusaders would earn a semifinal date with Laurens Academy by virtue of the 41-25 win over the Eagles.
Remember What Happened Last Time?
The stakes were a bit less than Friday’s matchup, but was during a midseason tournament contest when Curtis Baptist and Richard Winn were on the same court. The Eagles notched a 44-23 victory over the Crusaders in Dec. of 2018.
Quarter-By-Quarter
Defense would take center stage between Richard Winn and Curtis Baptist as a grand total of 16 points were put on the scoreboard between the two teams in the first eight minutes. Nine of those came courtesy of the Crusaders as they led 9-7 over the Eagles at the conclusion of the first period.
Curtis Baptist opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run, allowing the Crusaders’ lead to balloon to eight (15-7). A strong close from Richard Winn Academy trimmed the gap to only three. At the break, it was Crusaders 15 and Eagles 12.
For much of the third quarter, it appeared Richard Winn would remain within striking distance of Curtis Baptist before an extended run upped the Crusaders’ lead into double digits. With a date with Laurens Academy up for grabs, Curtis Baptist appeared to be in the driver’s seat with a 33-21 edge.
Both teams brought healthy contingencies of fans to the Falcons’ nest for Friday afternoon’s get-together. When all was said and done, Crusaders Nation would have more to cheer about than Eagles Nation and Curtis Baptist knew it would advance to the semifinals.
Primetime Performers
With 15 points, sophomore Maci Butler paved the way to victory for the Crusaders. The 5-foot-11 sophomore particularly displayed how effective she is near the rim and plays with plenty of confidence.
Mia Price added 11 points to Curtis Baptist’s offensive output. Price is an eighth grader who thrives as a backcourt stalwart. She also displays plenty of toughness with her willingness to fall to the floor to complete a play.
In what turned out to be the final contest of Meagan Brigman Meagan Brigman 5'10" | PF Richard Winn Academy | 2024 State SC ‘s high school career, she put together a spirited effort with 10 points. Brigman is a multi-sport athlete who has also played volleyball and softball throughout her athletic career.
The Eagles also benefitted from the eight points that were placed on the scoreboard from sophomore Abby Lewis. As Brigman has been an anchor of the Richard Winn frontcourt, Lewis does the same for the team’s backcourt.
Up Next…
Curtis Baptist will face Laurens Academy for a berth in this year’s SCISA 1A championship game. Richard Winn Academy finishes the 2023-24 season with a 10-8 mark.
So Long, Seniors
Brigman is one of four seniors on the Richard Winn Academy roster. The other are Delaney Young, Brinson Baker and Ella Grace Harrison.
Greenwood Christian vs. Pee Dee Academy
The final game of the day at Ben Lippen would see a pair of 3A teams battle it out for a get-together with Palmetto Christian in the quarterfinals. The Eagles were one of three teams (Hilton Head Christian, Orangeburg Prep, John Paul II) that earned byes to the quarters.
Both Greenwood Christian and Pee Dee Academy were 20-win teams from last season. The Hawks and Eagles have not had the seasons they put together last year, but still were enough to qualify for this year’s postseason. Greenwood Christian was 4-4 in region while Pee Dee Academy was 3-2.
Palmetto Christian learned its opponent in the second round would be Pee Dee Academy as it prevailed over Greenwood Christian by a final score of 36-15.
Quarter-By-Quarter
It is a good omen for a team’s defense when said defense holds its opponent to only seven points and those seven account for said team’s best offensive output of the quarter. That was the case for Pee Dee Academy against Greenwood Christian. With one complete, the Eagles led the Hawks by a margin of 18-7.
The second quarter was literally all Pee Dee Academy all the time. Not only did the Eagles tally 10 more on the board, Greenwood Christian was held off the scoreboard. At the half, Pee Dee Academy had a commanding 28-7 advantage.
Pee Dee Academy’s 28-7 lead is a final score seen in many a football game. What the scoreboard read with three complete was also very football-esque as the Eagles led Greenwood Christian 31-10 with eight minutes left to play.
Those eight minutes would make it official that one of the SCISA 3A quarterfinal contests would be a clash of Eagles vs. Eagles. Pee Dee Academy indeed had earned a date with Palmetto Christian in the ensuing round of the playoffs.
Primetime Performers
With 12 points, junior Rebecca Hammond Rebecca Hammond 5'8" | PF Pee Dee Academy | 2025 State SC would lead all scorers for either team. Hammond’s evening at Ben Lippen included displaying her accuracy from long range as she drained two of Pee Dee Academy’s three 3-pointers.
The interior proved to be the nucleus of Greenwood Christian’s offensive efforts as sophomore Audrey Fredere led the Hawks with nine points. Fredere has also competed in track events throughout her athletic career.
Up Next…
Pee Dee Academy next will face Palmetto Christian in the quarterfinals of the 3A playoffs. Greenwood Christian’s record finishes at 9-11.