SCISA Championship Weekend: Top 6 Performers

Another scintillating season in the SCISA ranks has come to a close with eight state champions departing the Sumter County Civic Center with championship hardware.    Tournament time is always when talents and teams want to bring their absolute best. In fact, a strong performance in a state championship game can also translate into momentum heading into the AAU season.   Late February is typically when the premier teams and players of the SCISA ranks usually bring their best to Sumter. We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand for every single championship matchup. Without further ado, here are the six performances that stood out to us from championship weekend 2025.    There are few sweeter feelings a high school athlete (or collegiate athlete for that matter) can experience than strolling off into the sunset as a state champion. Terry made sure she (and Curtis Baptist's two other seniors) could experience that at the end of its 1A state matchup with Wardlaw Academy. The contest was all Crusaders, all the time from the second quarter on and Terry spearheaded those efforts with 20 points. She had 16 of her 20 in the first half. Terry is listed at 5-foot-9 and her game includes plenty of speed and quickness as well as superb ball handling. She can operate either as a one or a two but had more success with attacking the rim as a one on Friday afternoon. She gets herself in position to corral rebounds, can play tough defense and has the leadership qualities state champions such as her typically possess.     Hurricanes did not have much of an effect during Autumn this past Friday. The 4A SCISA girls championship game between Trinity Collegiate and First Baptist was an unexpected one-sided get-together in large part thanks to 22 points from the Titans star junior. Kind is one of two team captains on this season's Trinity Collegiate rendition. Kind primarily operates as a two guard but can make defensive plays anywhere on the floor – including near the rim. Out of the 22 points she placed on the scoreboard, 12 occurred in the second half when the Titans put the contest well out of reach.     Pojani's First Baptist assembling went from the emotional peak of a thrilling win over Heathwood Hall in the semifinals to a crushing defeat to Trinity Collegiate in the championship game. Even though the Hurricanes struggled from start to finish against the Titans, Pojani proved to be a bright spot for First Baptist as she led her team with 15 points. In what was a microcosm of how things went for the Hurricanes, she fouled out in the fourth quarter, but she was First Baptist's most consistent playmaker on Friday. This included her ability to connect on long range attempts. She had three of the team's six makes from deep. Pojani gives a team productive minutes at either the one or the two and is a leader for First Baptist's defensive efforts. As she is only a freshman, her game will only continue to improve.     Mayers has established herself as a major player with Cross Schools. The Stingrays were last season's 1A state champions and followed up with a 2A state win by virtue of a 45-29 win against Laurens Academy. Mayers led all scorers with 15 points to bring a fitting close to her junior campaign. While the bulk of what Mayers does occurs in near proximity to the basket, she drained a 3-pointer late in the contest that showcased her versatility. Rebounding and defense are two other strong points to her well-developed skillset. Out of the 15 points she did score, nine occurred in the second half when the combination of an efficient Cross Schools attack and the turning clock put the contest more and more out of reach for the Crusaders.     Wardlaw Academy did not exactly have a memorable 1A championship game against Curtis Baptist. The result was a 56-36 Crusaders win but Hill still turned in a strong performance with 13 points to lead all Patriots scorers. Hill keeps a very active athletic schedule between competing in volleyball alongside thriving with a basketball in her hand. Hill was also one of the two Patriots ho was part of the six who earned All-Tournament honors. She is one of three 2026s on this season's rendition of Wardlaw Academy. Included in the 13 she did score were seven that took place in the second half.     The most competitive girls matchup of the weekend in Sumter pitted Hammond's Pee Dee Academy team against a tough Orangeburg Prep group. As a senior, she would be representing the Eagles one final time on the court – so why not save some of the best for last. She tallied 17 points in a 37-34 nail-biter that saw Pee Dee Academy become 2024-25 SCISA 3A champions. Hammond understands how to get out of tough situations that a defense could throw at her. Her scoring prowess will attract many double teams from opponents. Hammond is also proficient rebounder and knows how to make big plays in the clutch.

Another scintillating season in the SCISA ranks has come to a close with eight state champions departing the Sumter County Civic Center with championship hardware.