Class 4A Lower/Upper State Championships: Monday’s Results

From the start of the season, there has been much debate as to who are the top 4A teams in the state. A strong case can be made that those top four teams were indeed the four remaining as Monday's 4A play emanated from Florence.    After previous days where the spotlight was on teams in the 1A, 3A and 5A Division 1 classification, said bright lights of the Pee Dee were on the four teams standing in the 4A realm.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to the Florence Center for Monday's schedule of games. Without further ado, here are our recaps of the day's two 4A contests.    Lower State Championship: Lower Richland vs. North Augusta   A pair of teams that are no strangers to the euphoria of state glory would go first when play commenced on Monday.    One of those teams was Lower Richland – which won its last state championship in 2013 when it was a 3A school. The Diamond Hornets moved up to the 4A classification this season and have become very familiar with the Pee Dee given many of its new region rivals are based there. Victories over Gilbert, Darlington and Bishop England got Lower Richland to this point.    The other was North Augusta which was last crowned 4A champions a couple years ago against Westwood at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center. This year's Yellow Jackets rendition would defeat Lakewood, Aiken and Gray Collegiate en route to Lower State.    North Augusta would be once again en route to 4A state after it defeated Lower Richland with the final being a low-scoring 42-34.    “We emphasize (defense) more than anything else,” North Augusta coach Al Young says. “We certainly like to score a lot of points, but I think if we can't stop (teams), then we're going to always have a problem because those shots are not going to always fall.”    Records   North Augusta remains with only one loss on its 2024-25 season. The Yellow Jackets' overall mark now stands at 29-1 along with finishing 14-0 in its region. For Lower Richland, it still posted another solid season with a 25-2 record plus running the table in its region going 12-0.    Quarter-By-Quarter   One could expect championship-level basketball from two programs with state pedigrees. North Augusta began the contest with a 5-0 run. The Yellow Jackets also made things difficult for Lower Richland on the glass and from the field. With one finished, North Augusta would build a 10-3 advantage on the Diamond Hornets.    Lower Richland had a bit more offensive success in the second quarter but North Augusta managed to still hold off the Diamond Hornets. As both teams would enter their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, it would be a Yellow Jackets advantage of 19-10.   The Diamond Hornets caught momentum in the third quarter which trimmed its deficit down to four (25-21) towards the conclusion of the third quarter. It would remain a four-point margin between the Yellow Jackets and Diamond Hornets at the close of the frame with the scoreboard signaling a 27-23 North Augusta lead.   The Yellow Jackets opened the fourth quarter as they opened the game – on a 5-0 run to push its lead to nine (32-23). The Diamond Hornets remained within striking distance late but North Augusta came up with clutch defensive plays and clutch free throws to hold off Lower Richland and return to Friday's 4A state matchup.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1549-crop-2305x1514-1741099396.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209545" style="width:580px;height:auto" /></figure>   No one on either team put up gaudy numbers, but efficiency matters more than flashy stats in late-stage playoff contests. [player_tooltip player_id='577618' first='Kenedi' last='Wright'] is a case in point of that. She finished with 13 points – seven of which occurred at the free throw line.    “We practice every day on those clutch free throws,” Young says. “We work on that every day.”   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1474-crop-1956x1285-1741099525.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209547" style="width:579px;height:auto" /></figure>   North Augusta also benefitted from the 11 points placed on the scoreboard courtesy of star junior [player_tooltip player_id='350281' first='Celena' last='Grant']. Out of the 11 she did place on the scoreboard, six occurred in the second half.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1496-crop-2138x1404-1741099691.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209549" style="width:600px;height:auto" /></figure>   Eight points was the margin between the two squads. Eight points was also the number of points placed on the scoreboard courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='304999' first='Messiah' last='Williams']. She stands at 6-foot-2 and is one of five juniors on this season's Yellow Jackets rendition.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1531-crop-2403x1578-1741099860.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209556" style="width:606px;height:auto" /></figure>   Speaking of 2026s, Lower Richland's efforts were spearheaded by [player_tooltip player_id='405364' first='Jhnai' last='Sumter']. She concluded her afternoon in the Pee Dee with nine points. In a matchup where every point mattered, that is a larger number than what it appears to be on paper.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1450-crop-2200x1445-1741099996.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209558" style="width:602px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Diamond Hornets' efforts were also aided by a pair of eight-point scorers. One of those was [player_tooltip player_id='496217' first='Chi'nya' last='Isaac'] who would sport Lower Richland's uniform one final time. Isaac will soon depart from The Creek to bring her talents to the college ranks at Texas A&M-International.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1419-crop-2682x1761-1741100375.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209562" style="width:601px;height:auto" /></figure>   The other eight-point scorer was [player_tooltip player_id='875403' first='Mikayla' last='Foster'] whose sophomore campaign came to a close at the Florence Center. Foster is the only 2027 on this year's team and has three years of varsity of experience under belt having started as an eighth grader.    So Long, Seniors   In addition to Isaac, [player_tooltip player_id='831277' first='Taelor' last='Hiller-Johnson'], Sydney Cunningham and Zamiyah Jackson are the four seniors that will soon call it a time at the Diamond Mine.    Upper State Championship: Westside vs. South Pointe   Which team would face off against North Augusta for the opportunity at this season's 4A state championship? That would be decided in other girls game of the day.    Westside's only two losses of the season were against Lower Richland and Central Pointe Christian out of Florida. Since that defeat to the Sunshine State team, the Rams have scored 12 consecutive victories – including playoff wins over Southside, Camden and Daniel.    As for South Pointe, it was heading into Florence looking to exercise the demons of previous tournament defeats. This year's Stallions rendition earned victories over Bluffton, Wren and Lancaster to punch its ticket to the Florence Center.    North Augusta would learn its 4A state opponent on Friday would be Westside. The Rams completed a comeback after trailing by as many as 18 to stun South Pointe by a final score of 59-58.   “I'm just so proud of my team,” Westside coach Nicole Hood says. “They played extremely well, they didn't quit whatsoever. They believed that they could win this game.”    Records   It is win number 24 on the season for Westside and the Rams will carry an overall mark of 24-2 with them to Friday's state championship game plus a 10-0 region mark. The season concludes for South Pointe following a superb 29-1 overall showing plus its region mark of 12-0.    Remember What Happened Last Time?    Friday's Upper State get-together between South Pointe and Westside represented the first time these two teams did battle in two years. Back in mid-January of 2023, it was all Stallions all the time as they routed the Rams by a final of 70-36 at a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day showcase.    Quarter-By-Quarter   Plenty of accuracy from behind the 3-point line for South Pointe ensured the Stallions would build a double-digit lead towards the end of the first quarter. With one in the books, the Stallions would lead Westside by a margin of 23-13.   The good news for the Rams was that this game did not get any more out of hand than what than how appeared to be the case in the second quarter. South Pointe's lead would be 37-26 at the break.    “At halftime, the coaching staff challenged them to a three-stop challenge,” Hood says. “So, they took the challenge to get three consecutive stops and that kind of got us back in the game. We knew it was goingt to be our defense all along (that got us the win). They've got good shooters on (South Pointe) so it was going to be challenging to prevent them from shooting, but try to limit them from shooting.”   Westside made things even more interesting as the third quarter commenced. The Rams embarked on an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to five (39-34) which prompted a timeout from South Pointe. The Rams would tie it up at 39 but the Stallions reclaimed the lead. One quarter remained to decide North Augusta's Friday opponent with South Pointe ahead of Westside by a tally of 50-45.   High drama ensued as the Rams would pull ahead by one (57-56) before a transition layup from South Pointe allowed the Stallions to reclaim a 58-57 edge with under a minute to play. A Westside inbounds play that became a layup would ultimately put the Rams ahead by one - a lead Westside would maintain through the remainder of the contest.   Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1884-crop-1949x1280-1741100837.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209569" style="width:507px;height:auto" /></figure>   Makyhia Paul was the hero for Westside on Monday evening. She concluded the game with a 14-point performance. Paul also had the most important bucket of the contest as her go-ahead layup late in the fourth quarter put the Rams ahead for good.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1808-crop-1833x1204-1741100959.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209571" style="width:506px;height:auto" /></figure>   A duo of 13-point performances also were instrumental in the Rams' come-from-behind victory. One of those occurred courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='324541' first='Khalia' last='Hartwell']. Out of the 13 she placed on the scoreboard, nine occurred in the first half.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1905-crop-2043x1341-1741101083.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209573" style="width:509px;height:auto" /></figure>   Also finishing with 13 points was eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='921724' first='Tiana' last='Marshall']. Seven of the 13 she scored occurred in the second half. Not only is Marshall a playmaker on offense, she is willing to accept tough defensive assignments.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1949-crop-2668x1752-1741101246.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209575" style="width:509px;height:auto" /></figure>   Also lifting Westside's efforts was the 11 points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of [player_tooltip player_id='1302470' first='Mariah' last='Randolph']. Seven of the 11 she scored occurred in the first half of play. Randolph is one of seven juniors on this year's Westside roster.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1766-crop-1833x1204-1741101420.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209578" style="width:513px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the matchups to watch heading into Monday's matchup was Hartwell vs. South Pointe's patroller of the paint in [player_tooltip player_id='324542' first='JaNyia' last='Cunningham']. The Stallions star sophomore more than held her own as she led her team with 18 points.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1802-2-crop-1833x1204-1741101560.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209583" style="width:518px;height:auto" /></figure>   South Pointe also benefitted from the 13 points that were put on the scoreboard from freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='429828' first='Kaleigh' last='Lucas']. Eleven of the 13 she scored occurred in the first half when the game was more to the Stallions' advantage.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1853-crop-2870x1885-1741101711.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209586" style="width:525px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='185416' first='Serenity' last='Woods']' high school career did not end the way she wanted it to, but she can be proud of how she did everything she could to get a win in what would be her final time in South Pointe red. She scored nine points – including three 3-pointers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_1842-crop-2242x1472-1741101828.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1209591" style="width:527px;height:auto" /></figure>   Just as Westside has a rising star eighth grader on its team, the same applies to the Stallions. That eighth grader is [player_tooltip player_id='671661' first='Kemoni' last='Hardy']. She tallied eight points. Hardy came away with a steal and layup late which gave South Pointe a 58-57 advantage in the tardier portions of the fourth quarter.   So Long, Seniors   [player_tooltip player_id='185416' first='Serenity' last='Woods'], Laila Lewis and Zyan Hinnant are the three seniors who will soon depart from South Pointe.

From the start of the season, there has been much debate as to who are the top 4A teams in the state. A strong case can be made that those top four teams were indeed the four remaining as Monday's 4A play emanated from Florence.