She Got Next MLK Showcase: Morning Matchups

January, of course, is when region play takes center stage over the beginning of the season where midseason tournaments make up the bulk of the high school basketball schedule. Towards the middle of the month, that changes.    A1 Hoops Report – which puts together three She Got Next events throughout the season – did its third around the time of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with its She Got Next MLK Showcase. Last season's did not take place because of inclement weather at the time and this year's was originally slated to happen at J.L. Mann HS but was moved to Carolina Academy.    Regardless of the site, we at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to the Upstate for the day's games. Here is our recap of the three morning contests.    Greenville Tech Charter vs. Pendleton   One would expect an Upstate-based showcase to have the bulk of its participating teams hail from that part of the state. That was certainly the case in the first contest of the day.    The Warriors of Greenville Tech Charter entered Saturday's play with a .500 mark of 7-7. The Warriors have struggled a bit in region play but did manage a big Region 1-AA victory over Landrum in overtime. Greenville Tech Charter's other region win was over Brashier Middle College Charter.    As for 3A Pendleton, the whole 2024-25 has been one big struggle. The Bulldogs entered play with only two wins on the season – only one of which came against an in-state opponent in Liberty.    The game proved why basketball is played on hardwood and not on paper or on the interwebs. Pendleton would be the first victor of the day as the Bulldogs dispatched the Warriors by a final of 54-35.   Records   The win runs Pendleton's record to 3-15 along with its 0-2 region mark. Greenville Tech Charter fell to 7-8 following the loss and is 2-4 in its region.    Quarter-By-Quarter   A game of runs ensued early in the day as Pendleton opened the first quarter with a 5-0 scoring binge. That was answered with six consecutive from Greenville Tech Charter. The Bulldogs had an 11-8 lead on the Warriors after one.    The Warriors outscored the Bulldogs by a margin of 13-8 in the second quarter to pull ahead as the first half concluded. As the half arrived, Greenville Tech Charter would assume a 21-19 lead over Pendleton.   Then the third quarter happened – and it was all Pendleton all the time. The Bulldogs began the third stanza with a 13-0 run and outscored the Warriors by a margin of 21-2 that frame. Pendleton's lead was 40-23 at the end of three.    Pendleton's advantage was more commanding as minutes continued to elapse in the fourth quarter. At the game's conclusion, the Bulldogs would put the finishing touches on a 17-point victory.   Primetime Performers   Three for the Bulldogs concluded in double-digits for points. One of those was junior big Alexis Mattress. She concluded her morning having scored 15 points. Mattress is listed at an even six feet and is one of six juniors on this season's Pendleton rendition.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3782.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150848" style="width:469px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the three sophomores that comprise this year's team is Blakely Branyon and she would add 11 points to the Bulldogs cause. The 5-foot-9 Pendleton standout can either play as a traditional big or can operate as a forward.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3783.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150849" style="width:468px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the three seniors on the team is Tianna Guess and she finished her morning having scored 10 points. Guess is listed as a small forward but her ability to switch between the frontcourt and the backcourt means she gives a team worthwhile minutes at the wing.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3785.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150857" style="width:471px;height:auto" /></figure>   Greenville Tech Charter was paced by a valiant effort courtesy of junior Gracyn Schreel. She concluded her morning with 14 points. Listed at 5-foot-6, she also can give a team wing production as a shooting guard and small forward.   Up Next   Pendleton will resume region play on as the Bulldogs play host to Belton-Honea Path. As for Greenville Tech Charter, its ensuing region contest will be this Friday at Blacksburg.    Belton-Honea Path vs. Carolina   Speaking of Belton-Honea Path…   The last time we saw the 3A Bears at a She Got Next event, it was the Christmas Tournament at J.L. Mann. Belton-Honea Path did not have a memorable time at the Patriots' home court as it suffered blowout losses to 4A Crestwood and 5A Greenville. In fact, the Bears' lone victories of the season entering play were road wins at Abbeville and at Palmetto.    One may look at this game and ask why is the host team second on the card. The showcase was originally slated to take place at J.L. Mann. One of the victories the Trojans have managed this season actually came at the She Got Next Christmas Tournament – a 47-36 win over 5A Wade Hampton. Others have occurred against Palmetto and Southside Christian.    Would Carolina be successful in defending its home court? The answer was no as the Bears pulled off the 42-41 victory over the Trojans.    Remember What Happened Last Time?   The last time Carolina and Belton-Honea Path shared the same court together was in 2021. The Trojans got the better of that exchange as they defeated the Bears with the final score being 38-33.   Quarter-By-Quarter   If the first quarter was any indication, it appeared as if Belton-Honea Path would run and hide with this one. Those opening eight minutes were all Bears, all the time as they opened up a 16-4 advantage on Carolina.    The Trojans began resembling a team defending its home court in the second quarter as they ferociously rallied back into the game. As halftime arrived, what was a double-digit margin was only seven (25-18) in Belton-Honea Path's favor.    A metaphor for Carolina in the third quarter could have been “Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear.” As more time ticked off the clock in the third, the Trojans continued to draw closer and closer to the Bears.    Carolina's ferocious comeback efforts would prove to be worth it in the fourth quarter as they drew all even with Belton-Honea Path. Those efforts would see this one needing additional minutes to determine a winner.   As is typically the case, overtime periods come down to which teams makes more of the plays. Belton-Honea Path faced plenty of periods of adversity throughout the contest but managed to hold off Carolina by the slimmest of margins.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3822-crop-1833x1204-1737307085.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1150862" style="width:480px;height:auto" /></figure>   In a game that was decided by one point, Belton-Honea Path needed every single one of the 10 points that were placed on the scoreboard by Charlea Lusk. The sophomore shooting guard is one of three 2027s on this year's Bears roster.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3788-crop-3394x2228-1737307228.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1150873" style="width:476px;height:auto" /></figure>   Senior Janaria Taylor managed to keep her Trojans in the contest from start to finish. Taylor finished her morning with a 19-point performance. Both of the 3-pointers Carolina connected on were courtesy of Taylor.   Up Next   Both Trojans and Bears will be on the road this Tuesday for their next region contests. Carolina will travel to Powdersville and Belton-Honea Path faces a tough test in Walhalla – top-ranked in the most recent 3A coaches poll.    Brookland-Cayce vs. Liberty   One of the teams involved in the third contest of the day was looking like one of the surprises of the 2024-25 season before region play started.    That team was Brookland-Cayce. Moving up from 3A back to 4A starting with this season, the Bearcats at one point were 8-5. Then came the reality of Brookland-Cayce being in one of the toughest regions in the state as evidenced by defeats to Gray Collegiate, Aiken, Gilbert and North Augusta.   The 3-12 record that the Red Devils had may be unimpressive on paper. What should catch a few eyebrows is the fact that all three of Liberty's victories were against region foes in Greenville Tech Charter, High Point and Brashier Middle College Charter.    Would the short break from Region 4-AAAA play do wonders for Brookland-Cayce? The answer was no as the Red Devils earned the 30-28 win to dispatch the Bearcats.    Quarter-By-Quarter   In similar fashion to how the opening contest between Pendleton and Greenville Tech Charter did, a game of runs ensued with both Brookland-Cayce and Liberty trading scoring runs. The game was tied at eight apiece after one.    The second quarter was a bit more advantage Bearcats than than the even first frame was - but not by a wide margin. As halftime arrived, Brookland-Cayce would establish a 21-16 lead over Liberty.    Most of the third quarter was defensive-centric with both teams finding a bit of success towards the conclusion of the stanza. With eight minutes left to play, it was Brookland-Cayce 26 and Liberty 24.   This one would come down to the final seconds with the Red Devils clinging to a 30-28 lead. Liberty managed to move the ball efficiently to drain time off the clock which gave little time for the Bearcats to either tie to force overtime or win it with a 3-pointer.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3853.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150882" style="width:502px;height:auto" /></figure>   Instrumental in the Red Devils win were the 12 points that were delivered courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='1157663' first='Natalie' last='White']. One of only two sophomores on this year's Liberty team, her toughness was every bit as eye-catching as her scoring capabilities.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-45-47-1670PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123445" style="width:498px;height:auto" /></figure>   Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1123436' first='Dalacia' last='Rouse'] was the Bearcats' leading point-getter with nine. She is finding her footing on a Brookland-Cayce team that is filled with freshman. Rouse is one of six 2028s on this team.   Up Next   Brookland-Cayce and Liberty will both be at home for their next region contests this Tuesday. The Trojans will play host to Airport and the Red Devils will await Crescent.

January, of course, is when region play takes center stage over the beginning of the season where midseason tournaments make up the bulk of the high school basketball schedule. Towards the middle of the month, that changes.