SCISA 2A Championship: Laurens Academy vs. Cross Schools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four down, four to go.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the start of the 2A girls state championship game, four champions had been crowned – all from the 4A and 1A classifications. The 2A schools were next to have their turn at the mic.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It began with the 2A girls state championship game. Both Laurens Academy and Cross Schools were two of the four teams as part of the 12-team field that earned byes to the quarterfinals. The Crusaders defeated Charleston Collegiate and Dorchester Academy to get to the finals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The road to Sumter for Cross Schools – last season's 1A SCISA champions - would see the Stingrays earn victories over Oakbrook Prep as well as Lee Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Would Laurens Academy exercise the demons of previous state losses to Cambridge Academy and Curtis Baptist? Or would Cross Schools depart from Sumter with state hardware for the second consecutive season? </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202125,"width":"664px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_0101-crop-3463x2274-1740298338.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202125" style="width:664px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The answer was the latter by virtue of the Stingrays' 45-29 result over the Crusaders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A state championship is the ideal way to end a season that saw Cross Schools finish with a 19-10 record not to mention going 6-0 in region. Laurens Academy's 2024-25 will display that it went 18-8 plus 4-0 in its region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the opening minutes of the opening frame, it appeared both Laurens Academy and Cross Schools would encounter struggles from the field. Long-range shooting eventually righted the ship for both teams as four triples would be made between the two teams in the first half. Three of those were from the Crusaders who led the Stingrays by a margin of 11-7 following one quarter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cross Schools would win the second quarter as the Stingrays would outscore the Crusaders by a margin of 13-4 in the second. As halftime arrived, the scoreboard would display a 20-15 advantage for Cross Schools over Laurens Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That gap for Cross Schools would grow slightly into double digits as the third quarter concluded. With eight minutes left to decide this season's 2A state champion, the Stingrays had a 34-24 lead over the Crusaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The objective for Laurens Academy was clear – embark on a run to close the gap. Cross Schools had other ideas as the Stingrays outscored the Crusaders by a margin of 11-5. Between last season's 1A championship and this season's 2A crown, the Stingrays have swam through smooth waters at Sumter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202127,"width":"514px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_9886-crop-2633x1729-1740298556.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202127" style="width:514px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers']</strong> was an important piece to the winning puzzle last season for the Stingrays – and was that once again on Saturday afternoon. She placed 15 points on the scoreboard – including nine in the second half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202129,"width":"513px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_9950-crop-1833x1204-1740298702.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202129" style="width:513px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cross Schools also got a big game off its bench – primarily in the form of <strong>Caroline Wheat</strong>. She would add 11 points to the Stingrays' cause. Wheat particularly was effective from behind the arc as she was true on three of Cross Schools' five successful attempts from behind the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202131,"width":"514px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_9773-crop-2286x1501-1740298859.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202131" style="width:514px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pacing Laurens Academy's attack was freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197033' first='Sadie' last='Bruyere']</strong> who concluded her afternoon with 10 points. While she only had one successful try from the field, she made up for it by giving the Crusaders plenty of tries at the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202134,"width":"519px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_9954-crop-3780x2482-1740298970.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202134" style="width:519px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197055' first='Braylee' last='Burke'] </strong>also helped out her Laurens Academy assembling to the tune of nine points. Burke had two of the team's three successful tries from deep. While it was not the ending she and the Crusaders were in search of, an appearance in a state championship game is not a shabby way to conclude a seventh grade season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202137,"width":"518px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_0109-crop-2864x1881-1740299223.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202137" style="width:518px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers'] </strong>– Cross Schools</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Genesis Wilson </strong>– Cross Schools</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856286' first='Lexann' last='Maldonado']</strong> – Cross Schools</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Abby Howard</strong> – Laurens Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197033' first='Sadie' last='Bruyere']</strong> – Laurens Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197027' first='Emery' last='McClure']</strong> – Dorchester Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>So Long, Seniors</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby Howard is the only senior on this year's Laurens Academy team. Cross Schools will graduate Genesis Wilson and Alaysia Hollings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->