Class 3A Newcomers: Upper State Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Use code “bailum30” for 30% off the first purchase of any subscription!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When reclassification becomes a reality, this opens up the possibility that the team that was the previous season's state champion does not even return to the classification it achieved state glory in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The&nbsp;3A&nbsp;realm is experiencing this. With it having swept the state's high school landscape, we have teams that are leaving the classification as well as those that are coming in.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops are looking at every South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) classification and the new teams in each. Previously, we penned articles that placed the focus on 5A and 4A teams. Now, we shift our attention to the new&nbsp;3A&nbsp;teams in the&nbsp;Upper&nbsp;State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Christ Church (10-13, 4-4)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":854960,"width":"491px","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_1161.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-854960" style="width:491px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was not that long ago when the Cavaliers were crowned 2A state champions. This was prior to a round of realignment occurring where Christ Church moved down to 1A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Originally, the Cavaliers were set to make what would have been an extremely difficult jump. The plan was for Christ Church to go to 4A but they won an appeal and were placed in the&nbsp;3A&nbsp;classification.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between region play and that third round playoff matchup Christ Church saw plenty of St. Joseph's Catholic last season. The Knights were who bounced Christ Church out of the postseason. Jordan Fillatreau's team will continue to see plenty of the Knights as they will share the same Region 2-AAA together along with Carolina, Palmetto, Powdersville and Southside Christian.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Southside Christian (16-6, 7-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":584428,"width":"531px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/IMG_8400-crop-3462x2274-1674048334.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-584428" style="width:531px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of the Sabres…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southside Christian put together an excellent season in 2023-24. When teams such as Walhalla, St. Joseph's Catholic and Denmark-Olar (last season's 1A&nbsp;Upper&nbsp;State champion) are responsible for the bulk of one's blemishes that team did something correct. It was the Vikings who ended Southside Christian's season in the third round of last season's 1A state tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to Christ Church, the Sabres are also undergoing an interesting transition. They were once a 2A team before dropping down to 1A and ultimately going up to&nbsp;3A. The Region 2-AAA field that awaits coach Kate Vanderhoff's team includes Christ Church, Carolina, Palmetto and Powdersville.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='387116' first='Devyn' last='Blackwell'] is returning to sport the Southside Christian colors as she moves into her junior season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>St. Joseph's Catholic (21-9, 8-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":926847,"width":"527px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_18-06-2024_01-35-37-8030AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-926847" style="width:527px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From 2010 to 2014, there was a stretch during the Grace Franklin era where the Knights reached the 20-win plateau three out of four seasons. All of this coming when St. Joseph's Catholic was a 1A participants.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Natalie Satterfield is now at the helm of the Knights and not only did her team reach 20 victories but it advanced to the&nbsp;Upper&nbsp;State finals. And while Denmark-Olar may have dealt St. Joseph's Catholic an unceremonious end to the Knights season last March in Florence, the stock has to be up for St. Joseph's Catholic.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How the team will perform against&nbsp;3A&nbsp;competition remains to be seen yet there were a bevy of promising signs last year. Christ Church, Southside Christian, Carolina, Palmetto and Powdersville will be the team's regional rivals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='380650' first='Tiffany' last='Helmer'], a premier&nbsp;3-point specialist, is returning for her junior season after averaging 12.1 points and 2.2 steals last season. The future is bright for the Knights in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='831267' first='Evie' last='Adams']. As an eighth grader she averaged 8.8 points and 1.2 steals per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Greer Middle College (5-16,&nbsp;3-7)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers of Greer Middle College are moving from 2A to&nbsp;3A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a rough 2023-24 for the Blazers with only those five victories. Greenville Tech Charter, GREEN Upstate, Oakbrook Prep, Chesnee and Liberty all suffered defeat at the hands of the Blazers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And considering the region Greer Middle College has been placed in for the upcoming seasons it likely will not get any easier. Mountain View and Union County are in Region&nbsp;3-AAA but also it has Woodruff, Chapman and Broome.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What does the future hold for coach Murray Long's team given its new classification and its new region? Only time will tell.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Mountain View&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain View Prep is a new school that will play in&nbsp;3A&nbsp;and is based in Spartanburg. Their mascot? The Stars.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->