Region 2-AAA: Southside Christian vs. St. Joseph’s Catholic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With three weeks to go in the 2024-25 regular season, every team in the state wants to ensure it is running at peak performance with the state portion of the slate lurking.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Upstate 3A teams are among those. A few weeks ago, St. Joseph's Catholic were ranked in the 3A coaches poll but have since fallen out of said rankings. The Knights have fared well in region play thus far winning three of those four contests.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for Southside Christian, it entered play with only four defeats on the season with two of them coming against region foes. The other two were against the same team in Woodruff.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday's matchup at St. Joseph's Catholic was actually the second half of a home-and-home between the two combatants. The Knights routed the Sabres by a final of 67-20 this past Friday and Tuesday's matchup saw a massively different result – a 46-42 come-from-behind win for Southside Chrstian over St. Joseph's Catholic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The victory for Southside Christian improves its overall record to 9-4 and its region standing to 2-2. St. Joseph's Catholic falls to 8-7 and 3-2 in Region 2-AAA. Both Knights and Sabres are attempting to keep pace with what has been a surging Powdersville team at 12-7 and 5-0 in region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike the first game of the home-and-home when St. Joseph's Catholic opened up a 22-6 advantage on Southside Christian following the first eight minutes, this contest was more defensively driven. Both Sabres and Knights were knotted up at five points apiece with one complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A defensive-minded first quarter transitioned into an offensive-minded, up-tempo second quarter. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to mull over second half strategy, St. Joseph's Catholic established a 27-17 edge on Southside Christian.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southside Christian began its ferocious comeback in the third quarter by outscoring St. Joseph's Catholic by a margin of 14-5. With one quarter remaining, the Knights' lead was no longer as comfortable as it appeared to be. It was 32-31 with eight minutes remaining.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And in those eight minutes, improved defense and timely offense continued to pay dividends for the Sabres. Revenge was sweet for Southside Christian as it picked up the close win on St. Joseph's Catholic's home hardwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1169028,"width":"497px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_4561.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1169028" style="width:497px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A key factor in the Southside Christian comeback – and eventual victory – was junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1167950' first='Ansley' last='Becks']</strong>. She finished Tuesday evening's contest with 16 points. Becks also plays soccer in addition to basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1169029,"width":"495px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_4563.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1169029" style="width:495px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another important factor in that miraculous victory was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1167841' first='Christian' last='Glenn']</strong>. The seventh grade point guard was part of the Sabres' starting lineup and concluded the game with 15 points. Two of Southside Christian's four 3-pointers were courtesy of Glenn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1169041,"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/4/2025/01/IMG_4552-crop-2875x1888-1738136967.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1169041" style="width:494px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading all scorers for the game itself was St. Joseph's Catholic's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831267' first='Evie' last='Adams']</strong>. The 5-foot-10 freshman tallied 17 points. The Knights drained six 3-pointers on Tuesday evening. Four were courtesy of Adams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1169044,"width":"496px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_4455-crop-1833x1204-1738137149.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1169044" style="width:496px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other two came from junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1207787' first='Lola' last='Kelly'] </strong>– one of three team captains on this season's Knights rendition. Kelly would finish the evening with 12 points. She is one of three juniors wearing the St. Joseph's Catholic uniform.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Up Next</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Joseph's Catholic would be back in action hosting Palmetto on Friday. Southside Christian would return home for the opening half of a home-and-home with Christ Church the following day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Other Region 2-AAA Scores</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Powdersville def. Palmetto 83-30</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->