SCHSL Championships: Top 9 Performances

With a grand total of 12 champions departing from the Florence Center with state hardware, the 2024-25 basketball season has come to a close.    Of course, this does not mean the basketball calendar is coming to a halt as those in the 2026 and later classes will be shifting their hoops foci from the end of the high school season to the start of the AAU campaign.    We at Prep Girls Hoops had the entire week at Florence Center covered from the Lower and Upper State finals to the six championship games themselves. Without further ado, here is our list of those who brought their best to the Pee Dee.     In her final time sporting the signature orange of 2A Andrew Jackson, Watkins gave Volunteers backers something to remember her by. Watkins led her team with 31 points en route to a rout of Eau Claire in the 2A state championship game. She had nearly as many points as the entire Shamrocks team managed to place on the scoreboard – which was 36. Watkins' performance was a double-double as it also included her grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds. She also dished out four assists and rejected two Eau Claire shots. She may be saying farewell to the high school ranks but will soon wear the maroon and gold of the Elon Phoenix.     One would be hard-pressed to find a program that defines “rags to riches” more than 5A Blythewood. Three years ago, the Bengals were 0-19. Williams was on that team as an eighth grader. Fast forward three seasons and she's scoring 22 points to lead Blythewood to a 5A Division 1 state championship in a 62-56 decision over Summerville. Not only is it a state championship, it is the first state championship in the still relatively young history of Blythewood's program. The Bengals connected on six 3-pointers in its get-together with the Green Wave. Four of those were from Williams as she attempted nine shots from behind the arc.     If one had the last name of Williams, one likely had a great time at the Florence Center. Military Magnet aficionados vividly remember winning three consecutive state championships when said games were held at USC-Aiken's Convocation Center. Last season in Florence, the Eagles lost unceremoniously to eventual champion Lake View. Williams ensured Military Magnet would return to the top of the 1A mountain as she tallied 18 points to lead her Eagles to a 59-40 victory over Lee Central. Ten of Williams' 18 occurred at the free throw line and she was true on 10 of her 14 tries from the charity stripe. Williams was also three rebounds shy of a double-double as the 5-foot-9 four forward brought down seven boards. It is Williams' third state championship.     Speaking of multi-time state champions, the same now applies to this veteran star of the state power that is 4A North Augusta. The Yellow Jackets were matched up against Westside – a team that had previously had North Augusta's number (see the 2021-22 4A final as well as last season's Upper State semifinal). Grant would score 17 points to ensure a 50-37 victory for her Yellow Jackets over the Rams. The win gives North Augusta its sixth state championship in the past nine seasons (alongside seven overall appearances). Grant also grabbed six rebounds, collected two steals and made six of her seven free throw attempts.     McCray's athletic accomplishments include those in volleyball as well as basketball. McCray added a significant hoops accolade to her sporting resume when she contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead her Stags to a 60-54 victory over Greenwood to claim this season's 5A Division 2 crown. McCray also sent out four assists. She has competed at the varsity level ever since she was a seventh grader – before Berkeley was the state power it is currently. McCray in many ways is a symbol of where the Stags are as a team – it is a young team that plays like seasoned veterans. She and her Berkeley assembling will have the opportunity to put their stamp on the state's basketball landscape for the next several seasons.     The year on the minds of many within the Walhalla community going into its 3A championship date with Dillon was 1952 – the last time a team championship was claimed by the Razorbacks. Thanks to the number 14 – the number of points scored by White - Walhalla broke its 73-year state drought via its 52-37 win over the Wildcats. White finished with a double-double as 13 rebounds were also part of the junior's performance. She played 29 minutes and connected on seven of her 11 tries from the field. White was a key reason why the Razorbacks outscored Dillon by a margin of 34-19 in the second half en route to state victory.     Summerville did not plan on returning to the Lowcountry as 5A Division 1 state runners-up. That was the status placed on the Green Wave following its 62-56 defeat to Blythewood. Daugherty had one more outstanding performance in the high school ranks in her as she led Summerville by tallying 22 points. Daugherty also made nine of her 21 attempts from the field and grabbed four rebounds. She not only competed in basketball but also at volleyball. On the court, she consistently displayed her versatility with her ability to play at the one, two, three and wing. Daugherty departs from the high school realm having scored over 1000 points in her career and will play her college ball at Abilene Christian.     Oliver's Greenwood group may have been on the receiving end of a six-point, 60-54 defeat at the hands of Berkeley in the 5A Division 2 state championship game. Oliver was a major reason why the Eagles were in a position to claim victory from start to finish. She placed a game-high 22 points on the scoreboard. Greenwood would connect on five 3-pointers for the game – three of those departed from Oliver's hands. Oliver also brought down five rebounds. She played all 32 minutes and did so in large part because she stayed out of foul trouble – Oliver only had one personal called against her all game.     Westside backers had to feel confident going into its 4A state matchup with North Augusta – a team the Rams have scored a few notable playoff victories against in years past. This year's Yellow Jackets rendition had other ideas – but this year's Yellow Jackets rendition had problems with the Rams' star sophomore big. Hartwell concluded her 2024-25 season with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds as well as three blocks. She made 10 of her 14 tries from the field. Hartwell is finishing her sophomore campaign holding a laundry list of Division I offers and one can expect for that continue to be the case as her game evolves.

With a grand total of 12 champions departing from the Florence Center with state hardware, the 2024-25 basketball season has come to a close.