Region 1-AAA Game Recap: West-Oak vs. Walhalla

Ever since Walhalla was reclassified down from 4A to 3A and it was placed in the same region as West-Oak, it has appeared that the Warriors and Razorbacks have been at the top of their region standings. That is once again the case with the regular season winding down.    West-Oak has put together another stellar season – and when one looks at the caliber of teams that has placed the Warriors in the loss column (Greenwood, Powdersville, Daniel among others), one can see that West-Oak is once again playing winning basketball.    Walhalla's winning ways have led to a spirited debate among Palmetto State high school sports pundits as to if the Razorbacks are the 3A team to beat in the state. When two of a team's three losses are against one of the best 4A squads in Daniel, that bolsters one's case.    The most recent 3A poll had Walhalla first and West-Oak eighth. The same was the case with our recently released Prep Girls Hoops 3A rankings. The top-ranked team got the better of the eighth-ranked team as the Razorbacks prevailed with the final score being 65-49 to claim this season's Region 1-AAA crown.   “Every day, we just take it day by day,” Walhalla coach Byron Wimphrie says. “So we just work on ourselves in practice. I feel like every game's Walhalla vs. Walhalla. It depends on how we play. Offense doesn't travel most times, but defense should always be there…So we just focus on our defensive game and trying to get stops when we need them.”   Records   With the win, Walhalla's mark improves to 21-3 along with a region showing of 7-0. As for West-Oak, it drops to 15-7 and 5-2 in Region 1-AAA.    Remember What Happened Last Time?   As region rivals, these two teams face off against each other twice a year. When the scene was at West-Oak, Walhalla came out as victors once again in a 53-38 decision.    In fact, the Warriors have been unsuccessful in bids to defeat the Razorbacks dating back to 2018 when Walhalla played in the 4A ranks. Entering Friday's play, the Razorbacks had an 11-game winning streak against West-Oak.    Quarter-By-Quarter   The two teams atop the Region 1-AAA standings traded the first eight points apiece before Walhalla closed the opening stanza on a 7-1 run. With one in the books, the Razorbacks built a 15-9 lead over West-Oak.   At one point in the second quarter, the Razorbacks opened up an 18-11 lead only for the Warriors to answer with an 8-0 which prompted a Walhalla timeout. The Razorbacks managed to widen the gap in their favor in the latter moments of the frame. As both teams went into their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Walhalla led West-Oak by a margin of 29-22.    The Razorbacks opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run which would this time prompt a timeout from the Warriors. Walhalla's advantage would be in the double digits as the third ended with the scoreboard reading 42-31 in its favor.    What needed to happen for West-Oak was an early fourth quarter run that could have made things interesting. Instead – what happened was Walhalla continuing to prove why it has established itself as the 3A team to beat this season – and why it won the region championship by a 16-point margin over the Warriors.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5966.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1183139" style="width:574px;height:auto" /></figure>   As is typically the case with Walhalla contests, [player_tooltip player_id='587302' first='Kami' last='Roach'] had herself a productive game. Roach concluded her evening with 19 points. Out of the 19 she scored, 13 occurred in the second half.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5969.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1183141" style="width:574px;height:auto" /></figure>   Also causing problems for West-Oak was another junior – Miley White. She typically is in the Razorbacks' starting five, but came in the game off the bench and contributed 17 points to the Walhalla cause.   “She's just aggressive and tenacious,” Wimphrie says about White. “And does the small things and she also can put the ball in the basket. She prides herself on effort and rebounding and you could see that tonight.”    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5971.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1183143" style="width:582px;height:auto" /></figure>   Since it was Senior Night at Walhalla, it was only fitting that the Razorbacks' star senior give her team a big game. That 2025 was [player_tooltip player_id='529247' first='Gianna' last='Ortiz']. She finished with 16 points and also provided plenty of rebounding and a stout defensive presence.   “Obviously, Kami, GiGi and Miley did a good job of putting the ball in the basket when we need them to, just getting the ball in their spots and then being successful,” Wimphrie says.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5774-crop-1903x1250-1739028211.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1183145" style="width:578px;height:auto" /></figure>   Speaking of seniors, a 2025 would lead the efforts for the Warriors. That 2025 was [player_tooltip player_id='399198' first='Reagan' last='Mobley']. She led all West-Oak point-getters with 14. Mobley especially found plenty of success attacking the rim.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5861-crop-1833x1204-1739028637.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1183147" style="width:579px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Warriors also benefitted from the 11 points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='884943' first='Emma' last='Simpson']. West-Oak was successful on five of its 3-point attempts. Three of those were Simpson's.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5720-crop-2193x1440-1739028796.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1183151" style="width:585px;height:auto" /></figure>   A pair of nine-point scorers also boosted West-Oak. One was junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='577617' first='Joey' last='Burgess'], who is listed at 5-foot-9. Burgess tallied all nine of her points in the first half but fouled out in the second half.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5700-crop-2598x1706-1739029009.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1183155" style="width:585px;height:auto" /></figure>   Another who stepped up was [player_tooltip player_id='1174777' first='Kinady' last='Marcengill']. The 5-foot-9 freshman has had one of the signature freshman campaigns of anyone in the Palmetto State this season and also plays volleyball alongside her hoops accomplishments.   Up Next   Both teams have one game remaining in their respective seasons prior to 3A state play – and they will both be against the same opponent. Walhalla will travel to Belton-Honea Path on Tuesday while West-Oak will host the Bears two days later.    Other Region 1-AAA Scores   Pendleton def. Belton-Honea Path 59-33   Seneca def. Crescent 63-31 ([player_tooltip player_id='1068170' first='Savannah' last='Weston'] 22 pts, 12 rebs)   Region 1-AAA Standings   Walhalla 21-3 7-0   West-Oak 15-7 5-2   Pendleton 6-17 3-4   Belton-Honea Path 4-14 1-5   Crescent 6-15 1-7

Ever since Walhalla was reclassified down from 4A to 3A and it was placed in the same region as West-Oak, it has appeared that the Warriors and Razorbacks have been at the top of their region standings. That is once again the case with the regular season winding down.