She Got Next Christmas Classic: Late Afternoon and Evening

December – always a memorable month on both the high school basketball schedule as well as on the Gregorian calendar. The arrival of a new year as well as one more group of midseason tournaments prior to region play beginning in January.    One of those many midseason tournaments once again returned to the court at 5A J.L. Mann HS. This year, the She Got Next Christmas Tournament utilized the home court of the Patriots as its only court as opposed to last year when both J.L. Mann and Mauldin played host to She Got Next contests.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trek up to the South Carolina Upstate for the day's worth of games. We recapped the morning and early afternoon in an earlier article and now move on to the late afternoon and evening slate.    Seneca vs. Greenville   The second half of games at the She Got Next Christmas Classic commenced with two teams that moved up in classification prior to the start of the season.    Seneca moved up from 3A to 4A yet Greenville moved up from 4A to 5A. Neither team was part of last year's She Got Next Christmas Classic. The Bobcats have had rough go of things thus far. Entering Saturday's play, Seneca only had three wins on the season. Two came against Pendleton and one was against Broome at the Varner Tip-Off at Woodruff HS.    The Red Raiders were back on the court a day after it participated in its lone game of the Winborn Showcase at Rock Hill. That contest resulted in a 70-44 rout of the Red Raiders at the hands of the host Bearcats.    The Bronze Bracket would start to fill in with Seneca going in the winner's direction because of a 53-43 victory over Greenville.    Remember What Happened Last Time?   It probably feels like ages ago when Seneca and Greenville were both in the 3A realm, but that is when their last meeting took place. In fact, it occurred during the opening round of the 2012 3A state tournament when the Bobcats earned a 67-51 win over the Red Raiders.   Quarter-By-Quarter   An early offensive flurry from Greenville was answered by an even bigger one from Seneca – one that allowed the Bobcats to wrest the lead from the Red Raiders. With one in the books the scoreboard read Seneca 11 and Greenville eight.   Despite a barrage of triples from the Bobcats, the Red Raiders still managed to keep things close through the first pair of frames. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Seneca led Greenville 23-18.   The good news for the Red Raiders is that they had their best offensive quarter up to that point in the third. The bad news – so did the Bobcats. With three complete, Seneca's lead reached double digits. The score was 43-30.   The margin was not entirely out of a reach – a Greenville run could have changed the entire complexity of the matchup. Fortunately for the Bobcats, that run never came and Seneca held off the Red Raiders for the 10-point victory.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2155.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117727" style="width:524px;height:auto" /></figure>   Karmandee Hall may have turned in, arguably, the most crowd-pleasing performance of anyone that day at J.L. Mann. The freshman guard wowed onlookers by dropping 26 points – including six 3-pointers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2158.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117728" style="width:519px;height:auto" /></figure>   Not to be outdone, but a couple of Greenville stars turned in impressive outings as well. One of them was Taliyah Johnson who scored 14 points. Johnson got the job done for Greenville both from the perimeter and from the interior.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2156.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117729" style="width:520px;height:auto" /></figure>   Also with 14 points was junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='258130' first='Ava' last='Owens']. Her performance for the Red Raiders included connected on six of her free throw attempts. One must remember Greenville was playing on short rest after taking part in a Winborn matchup vs. Rock Hill at Rock Hill the previous day.   Up Next   Monday's action would see Seneca go after the Bronze Bracket championship with Greenville looking ahead to its third-place matchup. As for the opponents for the Bobcats and Red Raiders, those would be determined in the ensuing get-together of the day.    Crestwood vs. Belton-Honea Path   And that game would see two teams that were absent from last year's She Got Next Christmas Tournament.    Simply put – something had to give between these two teams. A season after the Knights compiled a 16-9 record and a berth in the 3A Lower State semifinals, Crestwood has moved up to 4A and has encountered more than its fair share of hard luck. The Knights have began the 2024-25 campaign with an 0-7 mark, but to Crestwood's credit, four of those defeats (Sumter, South Florence, Dillon twice) have been by single digits.    To say that the Bears have began this season with a tough schedule is an understatement. When four of a team's first five games are against 4A titans such as Westside and Fountain Inn, one may be in the loss column more often than not.    Earning the right to be Seneca's opponent in the Bronze Bracket final (and earning its first victory of the season would be Crestwood by virtue of its dominant 64-26 victory over Belton-Honea Path.   Quarter-By-Quarter   Save for a made 3-pointer from Belton-Honea Path, Crestwood pitched a shutout which was complimented with an offensive onslaught. One quarter was in the books with the Knights establishing a commanding 27-3 lead.    When a first quarter lead resembles a halftime football score, a team is doing something right. When a first half lead resembles the final score of a football game, a team is really doing something correct. To the Bears' credit, its second quarter was a massive improvement over its first, but the scoreboard read Crestwood 44 and Belton-Honea Path 17 at the break.   The rout continued as the Knights continued to maintain its dominant edge over the Bears. One quarter remained in a game that was all Crestwood, all the time. The score was 53-19 in the Knights favor after three frames.   This game became one of those contests where the victor was anything but in doubt. The only thing to be determined was how big the margin of victory for Crestwood would be. The Knights would prevail over the Bears by a whopping 38 points.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2161.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117730" style="width:546px;height:auto" /></figure>   Crestwood is a veteran-laden team and a pair of seniors were among the double-digit point-scorers. The rout was spearheaded by senior [player_tooltip player_id='571845' first='Saniya' last='Williams']. The 5-foot-8 veteran star led all scorers with 16.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2162.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117732" style="width:541px;height:auto" /></figure>   A pair of 12-point scorers also aided on the offensive onslaught. One of them was [player_tooltip player_id='370272' first='London' last='Vaughn'] – another 2025. The 5-foot-3 guard is one of six seniors on this year's rendition of Crestwood.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2165.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117733" style="width:532px;height:auto" /></figure>   Another 12 points were also placed on the scoreboard by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='929458' first='Javiah' last='Martin']. Opposing teams have to game plan for Martin on both ends of the floor as she is one of Crestwood's leaders in steals as well as points.   Up Next   While Crestwood would advance to the Bronze Bracket championship game with Seneca, the third-place contest for Monday was also set with Belton-Honea Path taking on Greenville.    Goose Creek vs. J.L. Mann   It is common for the team representing the host school to go last in a mid-season tournament setting. But this one would see said school go next to last.    The Gators would go 1-1 at last season's She Got Next Christmas Classic. Goose Creek began their play last season at the event with a narrow loss to Wade Hampton. That was then followed up with victory over Carvers Bay.    Surprisingly enough, J.L. Mann only participated in one game at last season's She Got Next Christmas Classic despite being one of the co-hosts. At the very least, the Patriots made its lone game count by virtue of a victory over Pickens.    Daniel's opponent on Monday would be J.L. Mann as it defeated Goose Creek with the final score being a resounding 51-24.    Quarter-By-Quarter   The first quarter would see Goose Creek match J.L. Mann almost point for point in a frame that that foretold a possible track meet between these two teams. At the end of one, the Patriots had a 16-14 edge over the Gators.    The ensuing quarter was all Patriots, all the time. J.L. Mann resembled one of the premier 5A squads playing on its home court. An offensive and defensive clinic allowed the Patriots to go into halftime leading Goose Creek 34-14.    Gator offensive woes continued into the third quarter – but J.L. Mann went into somewhat of an offensive lull as well. The clock was the Patriots' friend – as was the scoreboard as it read their 41 to the Gators' 17 following three frames.   What looked like it would be one of the games of the evening became a laugher when all was said and done. In J.L. Mann's fourth victory of the season, the Patriots did indeed resemble a team that was Upper State finalists from 2023-24.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2167.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117735" style="width:549px;height:auto" /></figure>   As was the case with Daniel earlier in the day against Fountain Inn, J.L. Mann also benefitted from a balanced scoring effort. Three for the Patriots finished in double figures for points – including [player_tooltip player_id='610424' first='Jade' last='Hailstock'] who concluded her evening with 12.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2171.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117736" style="width:541px;height:auto" /></figure>   A pair of 10-point scorers also were key elements in the Patriots' winning formula. One of those was [player_tooltip player_id='387003' first='Anastasia' last='Gillam']. All 10 of her points were scored in the first half. Her scoring talents are complimented by her ability to organize an offense in a half court set.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2168.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117737" style="width:533px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='610464' first='Imari' last='Richardson'] is also part of the nucleus for the Patriots. She also added 10 points. Richardson came off the bench for J.L. Mann but still provided what she does on a game-by-game basis – consistent play on offense and defense (including rebounding).   Up Next   While the Patriots and Lions would do battle on Monday for the Platinum Bracket championship, this set up a third-place Platinum Bracket contest between Goose Creek and Fountain Inn.    Carolina Academy vs. Wade Hampton   One game remained on Saturday's She Got Next Christmas Classic schedule – and said contest was to determine Berea's opponent for the Silver Bracket championship.    It also featured two teams that are returning to the She Got Next Christmas Classic after being two teams that were in it last season. The Trojans began said tournament with a loss to Irmo before getting back on the right track with a win over C.A. Johnson.    As for the Generals, it went 2-0 at last year's event at the expenses of Goose Creek and T.L. Hanna.    Finishing the day with a win – and a Platinum Bracket championship date with Berea would be Carolina Academy. The Trojans put a lid on the day's play with a 47-36 win over Wade Hampton.    Remember What Happened Last Time?   This represented the first meeting for these two teams since early January of 2012. Wade Hampton fans fondly remember that day – not so much for Carolina Academy aficionados as the Generals earned an emphatic 67-21 over the Trojans.    Quarter-By-Quarter   The end of the first quarter of the earlier Crestwood vs. Belton-Honea Path get-together resembled a football score. That of Carolina Academy and Wade Hampton was more of a baseball score as the Generals led the Trojans by a margin of 7-6 with one complete.    Points continued to come at a premium as this defensive-minded contest was all even with 16 minutes having been played. As both teams discussed second half strategy, both Wade Hampton and Carolina Academy were tied at 15.    The Trojans managed to find a bit of offensive rhythm in the third quarter but were only able to put a small amount of distance between themselves and the Generals. With three complete, it was Carolina Academy 32 and Wade Hampton 26.    Carolina Academy continued to pull away more and more in the fourth quarter by giving Wade Hampton problems in the interior. At the end, a game that appeared as if it would be decided by single digits evolved in a double-digit victory for the Trojans over the Generals.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2173.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117738" style="width:476px;height:auto" /></figure>   A couple of seniors powered the victory for the Trojans. One of those was Trinity Mangle who concluded the day's play at J.L. Mann with 15 points. The more touches she received later in the game, the worse the news got for Wade Hampton.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2176.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117739" style="width:476px;height:auto" /></figure>   Janaria Taylor contributed 11 points to the Carolina Academy cause. Taylor had one of the only two 3-pointers the Trojans made as a team. She primarily plays either as a two or a three. Taylor and Mangle are the only two seniors on the team.   Up Next   Carolina Academy's win meant a Monday contest for the Silver Bracket championship with Berea. It also made official a third-place Silver Bracket clash between Emerald and Wade Hampton.

December – always a memorable month on both the high school basketball schedule as well as on the Gregorian calendar. The arrival of a new year as well as one more group of midseason tournaments prior to region play beginning in January.