SCISA 3A Championship: Pee Dee Academy vs. Orangeburg Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the time this game tipped off, three of the four SCISA classifications had crowned state champions on both the boys and girls sides. The lone holdout was the 3A realm.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pee Dee Academy entered play on Saturday having only dropped four contests all season – the Golden Eagles' blemishes had come against Florence Christian and Palmetto Christian along with a pair of 5A Horry County public schools in Carolina Forest and Socastee. Victories over Shannon Forest and Spartanburg Christian were what got Pee Dee Academy to Saturday's championship contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In recent years, Orangeburg Prep has consistently been one of the teams to beat on the private school circuit – and 2024-25 was no exception. This was proven by only dropping one game on the entire schedule – on Nov. 26 against 4A public Richland Northeast.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202143,"width":"623px","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_0319-crop-3226x2118-1740299821.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202143" style="width:623px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of the two 3A state victors would be Pee Dee Academy, finishing its season with a 37-34 win over Orangeburg Prep that had more than enough drama. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only did Pee Dee Academy conclude its 2024-25 with the state championship, but it also did so with a 23-4 record plus its region showing of 7-1. The book closes on Orangeburg Prep's 2024-25 by finishing 23-2 and 6-0 in region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Remember What Happened Last Time? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was in December of 2023 since these two teams last shared the court. The final result was a 54-30 victory for Orangeburg Prep.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the seven first quarters that had taken place up to that point, Pee Dee Academy and Orangeburg Prep would have the lowest scoring opening frame. Points were evenly distributed from both teams at 5-5 with one complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 7-0 run would ensue from Pee Dee Academy but Orangeburg Prep would convert on one more two-point try to make it a five-point game at the break. The scoreboard would read 12-7 in the Eagles' favor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A dramatic contest was emanating on Saturday evening to close out the SCISA girls basketball season – and the low-scoring nature of the matchup may have only added to said drama. With three quarters in the books, Pee Dee Academy would lead Orangeburg Prep by a margin of 22-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A contest this close would come down to the final possessions – and final seconds. Pee Dee Academy managed to hold off Orangeburg Prep and would be the final team standing in the SCISA girls 3A realm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202147,"width":"525px","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_0214-crop-3226x2118-1740300085.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202147" style="width:525px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her final time wearing the blue and gold colors of Pee Dee Academy, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243544' first='Rebecca' last='Hammond']</strong> saved some of her best for last. Hammond would finish her evening with 17 points to lead all scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202149,"width":"520px","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_0185-crop-3142x2063-1740300256.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202149" style="width:520px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Claire Owens</strong> was also wearing the Eagles uniform one final time – and made the most of it. Owens would add 10 points to the Pee Dee Academy cause. The Eagles made three 3-pointers on Saturday night – two were hers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202152,"width":"523px","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_0129-crop-3505x2302-1740300384.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202152" style="width:523px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hannah Lambrecht </strong>did everything she could to ensure it would be her Orangeburg Prep squad that would experience the euphoria of state victory. Lambrecht spearheaded Orangeburg Prep's efforts with 10 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202154,"width":"527px","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_0201-crop-1833x1204-1740300615.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202154" style="width:527px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orangeburg Prep also benefitted greatly from the nine points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>Izzy Exum</strong>. Exum typically operates in the frontcourt as a three forward. She is another senior soon saying farewell to Orangeburg Prep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1202156,"width":"530px","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_0325-crop-2961x1944-1740300880.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202156" style="width:530px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='243544' first='Rebecca' last='Hammond']</strong> – Pee Dee Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Claire Owens </strong>– Pee Dee Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Claire Eskridge</strong> – Pee Dee Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Hannah Lambrecht </strong>– Orangeburg Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='460546' first='Jane' last='Walker Yonce']</strong> – Orangeburg Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='363182' first='Courtney' last='Campbell'] </strong>– Hilton Head Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Pee Dee Academy, Madison Baxley, Claire Eskridge, Caroline Elvington, Kyndal Larymore and Katie Estes will be departing their school as champions in addition to Hammond and Owens. Orangeburg Prep will graduate Exum, Annabelle Hunter and [player_tooltip player_id='460546' first='Jane' last='Walker Yonce'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->