Class 5A Division 1 Upper State Finals: J.L. Mann vs. Blythewood

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second consecutive season, we have arrived at its apex where the Florence Center is the epicenter of the Palmetto State's sports landscape.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As of Semifinal Saturday, the state championship games had already been determined for the 1A and 3A classifications. The 5A realm was split into two divisions prior to the school year and several Division 1 teams would determine who would return to Florence for a chance to compete for state glory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand for the day's festivities in the Pee Dee. With Summerville having been granted an automatic bye into the state championship game, only one girls contest was on the card for Saturday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Blythewood vs. J.L. Mann</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday was a big day for the Blythewood community as both its girls and boys teams were in action that day. The Bengals had steadily been building to this point the past few years. Blythewood suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Spartanburg in last season's tournament and only suffered two losses all 2024-25 (to Midlands teams in Dutch Fork and Ridge View). The Bengals defeated Byrnes and Rock Hill to earn its berth in Saturday's Upper State semifinal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>J.L. Mann does not have fond memories of the Florence Center from last season. After all, the Patriots were involved in last season's 5A Upper State championship game against Rock Hill and were on the receiving end of a 52-50 defeat to the Bearcats. J.L. Mann began this season's playoffs as one of the teams that earned a bye then defeated a pair of Midlands teams in Lexington and Dutch Fork en route to Florence.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerville would learn that its 5A Division 1 state opponent would be Blythewood which dispatched J.L. Mann by a final score of 64-59.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood will bring a 28-2 record and a region showing of 11-1 into that championship contest. As for J.L. Mann, its season finishes with a mark of 21-7 and a region record of 14-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early success with the 3-point shot would denote positive fortunes for Blythewood early on. The Bengals would connect on five 3-pointers in the first eight minutes and established a 20-8 lead over J.L. Mann following one frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the second quarter was any indication, it would tell the story of a high-scoring contest between the two 5A Division 1 Upper State combatants. At the break, Blythewood would lead J.L. Mann by a count of 37-28.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots would outscore the Bengals by a margin of 19-12 and briefly had a lead at the end of the third quarter, but a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Blythewood would allow it to hold a 49-47 lead with one stanza remaining.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals translated that buzzer-beater into momentum early in the fourth as they opened the closing minutes with a 9-2 run. It was a three-point game late, but the Bengals managed to hold off the Patriots en route to its first-ever championship contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208505,"width":"553px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0690-crop-2236x1469-1740918420.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208505" style="width:553px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As has typically been the case with Blythewood contests, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320742' first='Chase' last='Thomas']</strong> left plenty of Bengal paw prints all over the Florence Center. Blythewood's star junior finished with 22 points – including 15 in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208507,"width":"550px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0731-crop-2731x1793-1740918558.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208507" style="width:550px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also coming through with a big game with the Bengals would be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259994' first='India' last='Williams']</strong>. She would add 15 points to the Blythewood cause. Out of the 15 she scored, eight were tallied in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208510,"width":"551px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0865-crop-1833x1204-1740918715.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208510" style="width:551px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='895009' first='Sherron' last='Waters']</strong> would ensure her final time wearing the Bengals uniform would be with a chance to bring its first-ever state championship to the northeast Midlands. Waters concluded the game with 14 points. Waters also spearheaded Blythewood's efforts from deep as she connected on four 3-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208512,"width":"553px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0601-crop-1847x1213-1740918869.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208512" style="width:553px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even in another losing effort in an Upper State game, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610424' first='Jade' last='Hailstock']</strong> gave a championship-level performance. Hailstock led all scorers with 24 points. Her playmaking and crafty footwork gave Blythewood's defense a world of problems. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208514,"width":"540px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0634-crop-2131x1399-1740918963.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208514" style="width:540px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also providing a big game for the Patriots was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610465' first='Olivia' last='McKinney']</strong>. She would conclude her afternoon in the Pee Dee with 15 points. McKinney not only connected on three 3-point tries, but she had 10 of her 15 in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1208516,"width":"546px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_0840-crop-1833x1204-1740919095.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1208516" style="width:546px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>J.L. Mann's efforts were aided by the eight points placed on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610464' first='Imari' last='Richardson']</strong>. One of seven juniors on this year's Patriots roster, she tallied six of her eight points in the first half. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='196052' first='Breah' last='Franks'], Bella Lightcap and Makhia Norris are J.L. Mann's three 2025s.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->