Class 2A Newcomers: Lower State Teams

Use code “bailum30” for 30% off the first purchase of any subscription!   This new season has led to new athletic classifications for a number of South Carolina's high schools. Within 2A, it is a classification that has received a bit more attention for the teams that left it as opposed to those that will be joining it.    Regardless, the 2A classification is one that was affected as well by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). We have taken a look at 5A, 4A and 3A and have now put a spotlight on those teams that will be joining 2A.    Our focus began with teams that are in the Upper State. Now, we look at those teams that will be part of regions in the 2A Lower State.    Bridges Prep (5-12, 4-8)   In a Region 7-A landscape that included the likes of Allendale-Fairfax, Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Bethune-Bowman, it may be easy to see Bridges Prep as an afterthought.    The team played a grand total of 17 games last season and only five of those 17 were against non-region foes. And it was against Royal Live Oaks and Branchville where the Buccaneers encountered the bulk of their regional success from last season.    As the Buccaneers move to Region 5-AA, what awaits Odie Davis' team is a field where Hampton County will be seen as the favorite to win said region. Bridges Prep's new region will also include Barnwell, Edisto, Lake Marion and Whale Branch.    Whale Branch (7-17, 6-6)   Speaking of Whale Branch…   The Warriors' 2023-24 season is another example of where region play saved a team's season.    Prior to region play commencing, Whale Branch only picked up one victory – a low-scoring, 29-22 decision vs. Battery Creek in early December.    The Warriors' regional record is what got the team into the 1A playoffs, but reality for the team set in when the first round arrived and Whale Branch suffered a 73-13 blowout defeat to eventual state champion Lake View.    LaToya Mack's team awaits play in Region 5-AA that will also include Barnwell, Bridges Prep, Edisto, Hampton County and Lake Marion.    Burke (16-9, 9-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_17-06-2024_02-12-38-0590PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-926522" style="width:527px;height:auto" /></figure>   The region that the Bulldogs previously played in certainly could have been considered one of the more top heavy regions in the Palmetto State.    After all, Region 8-A included Burke as well as Cross and the behemoth that is Military Magnet not to mention St. John's as a wild card. Burke finished 9-3 – tied for second place in the region with Cross but struggled away from its home court going 5-5 in those contests.    Just as Whale Branch was one of the teams eliminated by eventual 1A state victor Lake View, the same applied to the Bulldogs. The Region 6-AA region rivals for Burke will include Academic Magnet, Andrews, Philip Simmons, Timberland and Woodland.    The Bulldogs are another team that presents a noteworthy 2028. That would be [player_tooltip player_id='925568' first='Nathaya' last='Phoenix'] who averaged 7.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 19 games as an eighth grader.    Atlantic Collegiate Academy (6-14)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/eZy-Watermark_21-01-2024_04-11-18-7450AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-842077" style="width:475px;height:auto" /></figure>   Charter schools have been quite the rage in South Carolina high school sports over the past few years.    In the case of Atlantic Collegiate, it was initially denied admission into the SCHSL but won its appeal. On the court, the Armada struggled out the gate. The team's first season concluded with a 6-14 showing, but perhaps the full-fledged move into the SCHSL will turn things around.    Two months ago, Atlantic Collegiate athletic director William Payne announced the hiring of another Bill to lead its program as head coach. That Bill is Bill Zatulskis who arrives in the Grand Strand from Yeshiva University in New York. The Armada will be in a region that features East Clarendon, Kingstree, Lake City, Manning, Marion and Mullins.    Among the talent Zatulskis will have to work with is 2026 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='821367' first='Micah' last='Davis'] and 2027 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='821381' first='Zaniya' last='Blackmon'].    Philip Simmons (13-10, 8-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_1657-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-856554" style="width:596px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Iron Horses were another prime example of the classic “tale of two seasons” saga many squads encounter throughout the winter months.    At one point last season, Philip Simmons was at 4-9 – not exactly where a team wants to be midway through. Then region play came along and the Iron Horses ran roughshod through its Region 8-AAA rivals. Philip Simmons ran the table, going a perfect eight for eight in region play, then following it up with a win over Aynor in the first round of the 3A playoffs.    The season for Dustin Williams' Philip Simmons team ended in the second round at the hands of Darlington, but the Iron Horses now look ahead to Region 6-AA. Its foes in that field will include Academic Magnet, Andrews, Burke, Timberland and Woodland.    The returning cast for Philip Simmons includes [player_tooltip player_id='1045318' first='Kenira' last='Holmes'] who will be entering her junior season. A small forward and wing, Holmes averaged 9.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Another name to be on the lookout for is [player_tooltip player_id='555430' first='Germany' last='Moore']. The junior Iron Horses power forward averaged 8.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 2023-24. [player_tooltip player_id='555431' first='Sophia' last='Wirsing'] gives a boost to the team's frontcourt at the three and [player_tooltip player_id='945429' first='Harper' last='Cohen'] does the same as a combo guard.    East Clarendon (19-6, 6-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_18-06-2024_01-31-27-2880AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-926862" style="width:529px;height:auto" /></figure>   The doldrums of when East Clarendon used to be seemingly one of the losingest teams in South Carolina appear like a very distant memory – one that becomes more distant with every time the Wolverines get in the win column.    As far as both of those region losses were concerned, both of them were at the hands of another 1A power in Carvers Bay (who is remaining in 1A). East Clarendon got into last season's 1A tournament and encountered a narrow defeat at home to Allendale-Fairfax.    The Demetrus Adams-Ludd era for the Wolverines got off to a strong start and the goal is to build upon that success this season with East Clarendon moving up to 2A. Atlantic Collegiate, Kingstree, Lake City, Manning, Mullins and Marion await the Wolverines in Region 7-AA.    [player_tooltip player_id='833029' first='Cherish' last='Cochran'] is returning for her sophomore season. The talented point guard for the Wolverines posted average number of 10.5 points and 1.8 steals in 20 games as a freshman. On the other end of the ledger, 2024-25 will be the swan song season for [player_tooltip player_id='258134' first='Jasmyne' last='Lloyd']. After posting numbers of 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds a game, Lloyd will want to end her high school career with an exclamation point. [player_tooltip player_id='848223' first='Kierstin' last='Woods'] made plenty of noise as an eighth grader last season. She played in 23 games last season and averaged 7.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.   Lake City (7-14, 2-8)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/eZy-Watermark_20-01-2024_08-20-53-4920AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-842083" style="width:599px;height:auto" /></figure>   The 2024-25 season for Lake City could be one of those seasons where a team has a chance to prove it is better than its record displays.    After all, one may have to take a closer look at the region the Panthers were in as a 3A participant. Region 6-AAA last season included Camden, Crestwood and Darlington not to mention Lakewood as a wild card. All four aforementioned teams are moving to 4A and two of those teams were 3A Lower State finalists.    The lone region wins the Panthers earned last season were by way of Marlboro County. Shaquetta Cooper will be entering her first season with Lake City. The region she will look to navigate through includes Atlantic Collegiate, East Clarendon, Kingstree, Manning, Marion and Mullins.    Key returners for the Panthers include center [player_tooltip player_id='832067' first='Jayda' last='Burgess']. She averaged 11.6 points and 7.7 rebounds last season. Another is [player_tooltip player_id='832074' first='Na'shira' last='Starks'] who, as a power forward, adds to Lake City's frontcourt depth. She averaged 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. An intriguing freshman to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='672402' first='Shaniya' last='Graham'] who will play primarily at the four. An eighth grader to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='672385' first='Hannah' last='Riles']. She averaged 11.7 points and 1.1 steals per game last season as a seventh grader.   Manning (2-22, 2-8)   If one is a Manning fan, one has to hope that a change of scenery will certainly do the Monarchs good.    Last season did Manning a grand total of no favors. The Monarchs were only victorious in two games in 2023-24 – a 13-game drop off in terms of victories from the previous season. In all fairness to Manning, that 2022-23 team did graduate five seniors.    Both of those wins were region victories at the expense of Georgetown. With a new region and classification awaiting the Monarchs, Hilton is hoping that 2024-25 will be the start of a turnaround in Manning. Also new with the Monarchs is their coach - Justin Johnson who is returning to his alma mater.   And if there is a turnaround, a key element of that effort will be senior small forward [player_tooltip player_id='262016' first='Tahirah' last='Wellington'], who averaged 7.4 rebounds, six points and 3.2 blocks per game last season.

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