SCISA Tournament First Round at Cardinal Newman: Friday’s Results

Fittingly with this season's SCISA state play commencing on Valentine's Day, the teams that found themselves in brackets for their respective classifications to put forth performances themselves, their coaches and their fans would surely love.    The opening round of the SCISA playoffs once again utilized a number of different venues – including the Sumter County Civic Center, Calhoun Academy, Cathedral Academy, Wilson Hall, Northwood Academy and Cardinal Newman.    The Cardinals girls team opened state play on the road at Northwood Academy (and the Cardinals boys took on Wilson Hall at Wilson Hall). Cardinal Newman itself played host to four games – three of which were in the 4A bracket.    We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand at the Cardinals home court for the opening round's festivities. Here is how that Friday slate of games unfolded.    3A: Thomas Sumter vs. Greenwood Christian   Beginning the day's play at Cardinal Newman was the lone 3A game on the day's card.    It was three years ago when Thomas Sumter last made a state tournament – and it was when the Generals were in the 2A realm. The Generals suffered an early exit that year to Pee Dee Academy. Thomas Sumter was in search of better fortunes this time around after a 2024-25 regular season that saw the Generals claim region victories over Calhoun Academy and Clarendon Hall.    The Generals' opening round opponent would not be an easy one to beat – a Greenwood Christian team that entered Friday's play with a 12-6 record – but four of those losses occurred in its region Greenwood Christian particularly had problems against the likes of Spartanburg Christian, Spartanburg Day and Shannon Forest.    Greenwood Christian would advance to the second round of the 3A tournament with its hard-fought 51-46 win over Thomas Sumter.    Records   The win bumps up the Hawks' 2024-25 showing to a 13-6 overall record plus its 3-4 showing in its region. The book closes on the season for the Generals with a 9-9 overall mark and going 3-5 in its region.    Quarter-By-Quarter   Both teams' offenses were clicking in the opening moments of the first quarter but cooled off throughout its latter portions. Following one frame, Thomas Sumter would assume a 10-9 advantage over Greenwood Christian.   The second quarter appeared to be going mostly the Generals' way, but the Hawks managed to stay within striking distance. With halftime arriving for both teams to strategize for the stretch run, Thomas Sumter led Greenwood Christian by a margin of 24-20.   Thomas Sumter and Greenwood Christian continued to showcase how evenly matched they were as both scored the same number of points in the third quarter – 11. With one quarter remaining, the Generals led the Hawks 35-31.   With just over three minutes to play, Greenwood Christian and Thomas Sumter were all knotted up at 44 apiece. Both teams were tied at 46 apiece but a clutch 3-pointer and a couple of free throws would seal the deal to get the Hawks into the quarterfinals.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7613.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192290" style="width:583px;height:auto" /></figure>   A good portion of Greenwood Christian's offensive production came via its starters. One of those was [player_tooltip player_id='855804' first='Emma' last='Hudgens']. The eighth grade standout for the Hawks concluded her afternoon with 15 points. She also plays volleyball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7608.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192291" style="width:582px;height:auto" /></figure>   Formidable teams such as Greenwood Christian typically have a deep threat – Anna Claire Watkins is that long range markswoman for the Hawks. She finished with 10 points – including three 3-pointers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7610.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192292" style="width:577px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Hawks also benefitted greatly from the nine points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of Audrey Fredere. She is listed at 5-foot-10 on the Greenwood Christian roster and is a formidable rebounder as well.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7606.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192293" style="width:577px;height:auto" /></figure>   Kenadie Slay made clutch plays in crunch time. Slay concluded her afternoon having placed eight points on the scoreboard. She also plays volleyball alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7570-crop-2863x1880-1739633095.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1192295" style="width:577px;height:auto" /></figure>   Greenwood Christian came away with the win despite a 24-point offensive onslaught courtesy of Thomas Sumter sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='563329' first='Malayia' last='English']. Out of the 24 she did score, 16 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_7529-crop-1833x1204-1739633331.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1192297" style="width:578px;height:auto" /></figure>   With 11 points, freshman Annabelle Connell also gave a lift to the Generals' efforts. Her work in the interior gives a major boost to the team's rebounding efforts. Connell is one of three freshman on this year's Generals team.   Up Next   Greenwood Christian moves to a Monday matchup with Orangeburg Prep in the quarterfinals of the 3A tournament. Orangeburg Prep earned an automatic bye to the second round.    So Long, Senior   Sylvia Burrows is the lone 2025 on this season's Thomas Sumter roster.    4A Lower State: Laurence Manning vs. Northside Christian   The remaining games on the docket at Cardinal Newman all featured 4A teams.    One of those was Laurence Manning. The Swampcats appeared to be having a promising season prior to entering tournament play having lost five of its previous seven games. Those lone wins came against Hilton Head Christian and Pinewood Prep and the Swampcats' lone two wins were against Hilton Head Christian.    Northside Christian, of course, has been one of the stories of girls basketball across South Carolina this season. The Crusaders moved up to 4A this season and concluded the regular season with a 22-2 record. The one team responsible for those two blemishes? Heathwood Hall.   Would Northside Christian keep its winning ways going? Or would Laurence Manning pull off a shocking upset? The answer was the former as the Crusaders advanced to the second round of the tournament by virtue of its emphatic 67-35 win vs. the Swampcats.   Records   With the win, Northside Christian runs its 2024-25 mark up to 23-2 plus its 8-2 region showing. Laurence Manning concludes its season having gone 11-9 and 2-4 in its region.    Remember What Happened Last Time?    While Northside Christian has become used to double-digit victories, Laurence Manning actually was responsible for the Crusaders' slimmest margin of victory during its non-region schedule. The Crusaders only defeated the Swampcats by a final score of 61-53 back in December.    Quarter-By-Quarter   In that Dec. 13 matchup between Northside Christian and Laurence Manning, the Crusaders had a 10-point advantage after the first half. The same was true in Friday's matchup even though this contest featured more points being put on the board than during the holidays. It was a 23-13 lead for the Crusaders over the Swampcats following one frame.   All Northside Christian, all the time was the theme of the second quarter – so much that the Crusaders would come close to already eclipsing the 61 points they scored back in December. At the half, the Crusaders were in cruise control, leading the Swampcats by a margin of 51-20.   The third quarter was nearly evenly matched in terms of points – and given the advantage that was already built by Northside Christian, it was advantage Crusaders. The lead was 67-35 at the conclusion of three frames.   Game number two of the day's play at Northside was a far distance from the first contest between Thomas Sumter and Greenwood Christian. While that matchup had high drama going into the fourth, this one had virtually had zero as the Crusaders would prevail in commanding fashion.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7698.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192298" style="width:544px;height:auto" /></figure>   Laurence Manning's defense had more than a hard time containing [player_tooltip player_id='831289' first='Campbell' last='Childers']. She concluded her late afternoon having placed 23 on the scoreboard. Her performance also included five 3-pointers – three in the first quarter alone.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7692.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192299" style="width:546px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='560668' first='Evie' last='Godfrey'], per usual, also had another productive day at the office. She finished with 14 points. Among the 14 she scored, nine were tallied in the first half. Godfrey leads the Crusaders in assists and steals entering Friday's play.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7696.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192300" style="width:540px;height:auto" /></figure>   Northside Christian also benefitted greatly from the 12 points that were placed on the board courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='520657' first='Chaelyn' last='Tifre']. The Crusaders' resident frontcourt force is the team's rebounding leader.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7693.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192302" style="width:542px;height:auto" /></figure>   Giving Northside Christian even more of a 3-point shooting dimension than it already had was Riah Beckwith who concluded her day with nine points. All of Beckwith's field goals were of the 3-point variety.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7686-crop-3401x2233-1739634031.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1192304" style="width:543px;height:auto" /></figure>   On what was a rough game for the Swampcats to bring their 2024-25 campaign to a close, [player_tooltip player_id='600161' first='Ashley' last='Rae Hodge'] still put together a winning effort. The Laurence Manning guard led her team with 14 points.    Up Next   Northside Christian moves to the quarterfinals of the 4A tournament where it would take on Northwood Academy (which defeated Cardinal Newman) on Monday.   So Long, Seniors   Carol Ann Briggs, Jessica Griffith, Laini Kosinski and [player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Olivia' last=''] Danback are the four from this year's Swampcats team that will soon trade their blue and orange uniforms for caps and gowns.   4A Upper State: Wilson Hall vs. Augusta Christian   The first day of the 4A Upper State slate was split between Cardinal Newman and Cathedral Academy. Games at 8 p.m. put a lid on the day's play at both locations.    Both Wilson Hall and Augusta Christian were among the eight teams that converged on the Cardinals' nest. In region, the Barons fared well against Hilton Head Christian and Laurence Manning but encountered expected struggles among the likes of Trinity Collegiate and John Paul II – both tabbed by pundits as 4A championship contenders.    The Lions of Augusta Christian may not have compiled the 20-win season they did in 2023-24 but still made this season's tournament as a top seed. Augusta Christian was in the throes of a four-game winning streak before it was snapped in its regular season finale – at Cardinal Newman, ironically.   Augusta Christian was hoping for better fortunes at Cardinal Newman than in that contest the previous Tuesday against the Cardinals themselves. What happened was a 52-36 win for the Lions to send them to the next round of the 4A state tournament.    Records   The season continues for Augusta Christian which will be going into play on Monday with a 16-14 record (5-5 in its region). The 2024-25 chapter of Wilson Hall concludes having gone 9-17 and 4-4 in its region.    Remember What Happened Last Time?    Wilson Hall and Augusta Christian met up earlier this season in non-region play. That get-together at the Barons' home court would go the way of the Lions in a 50-42 decision on Dec. 13.    Quarter-By-Quarter   At one point early in the first quarter, Augusta Christian's lead was 3-2 before the Lions managed to extend its edge to 8-2. As the first quarter came to a close, the Lions' lead on Wilson Hall was 12-7.   Augusta Christian's edge on the Barons would grow to double digits – and would be such as the first half concluded. As both teams would mull second half strategy, the Lions would lead the Barons by a margin of 28-16.    What was a 12-point Augusta Christian advantage at the break would be a 15-point Lions edge at the conclusion at the third quarter. With one frame remaining to determine which team would claim a berth in the 4A state semifinals, Augusta Christian led Wilson Hall by a margin of 44-29.   It became clearer and clearer as the fourth quarter elapsed that there would not be a Barons comeback run to deny Augusta Christian in the closing minutes. The Lions would prevail by a margin of 16 points.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7893.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192305" style="width:555px;height:auto" /></figure>   Makenna Ellis ensured that her high school career would not come to a close in the South Carolina Midlands. The Augusta Christian star senior led her team to victory by dropping 28 points.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7890.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1192306" style="width:548px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Lions also benefitted from the nine points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of Avery Schwarz. She also brings rebounding, efficient floor running and versatility to any team. The junior also plays softball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_7884-crop-2333x1532-1739634519.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1192308" style="width:545px;height:auto" /></figure>   Logan Mims did indeed play her final game in the Wilson Hall uniform, but she gave Barons fans something to remember her by. The star senior small forward led the Barons with 17 points. An effective scorer and rebounder who has also participated in track and field events throughout her career.    Up Next   The Lions will look ahead to its Monday matchup with First Baptist after it defeated Hilton Head Christian.   So Long, Seniors   Along with Mims, Emma Howle and Lucy Buxton will also soon trade in Barons uniforms for caps and gowns.

Fittingly with this season's SCISA state play commencing on Valentine's Day, the teams that found themselves in brackets for their respective classifications to put forth performances themselves, their coaches and their fans would surely love.