Western Alamance vs. Stuart Cramer: 3A Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 high school girls basketball season is only a few days away from coming to a close across the Hoop State. It is also the final season where four classifications take place before that number doubles to an astounding eight beginning with the 2025-26 campaign.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nevertheless, as was the case last season, the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Wake Forest is once again the focal point all week for the North Carolina high school basketball fan.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Championship Friday, the 1A and 3A classifications will determine its state champions. Because of the results of the East and West regionals, we now know which teams will return to the home of the Demon Deacons in hopes of bringing state hardware to their respective schools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Western Alamance (27-4, 12-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":910921,"width":"401px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/Allie-Sykes-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-910921" style="width:401px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Warriors' championship hopes were dashed in an East Regional semifinal at the hands of South Central.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, Western Alamance tapped Tooey Loy to take the ascent of the Warriors to new heights. The results have been very positive this season as only Greensboro Day, Chapel Hill, Southern Alamance and T.W. Andrews have placed the Warriors in the loss column all season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since that defeat to the Red Raiders, Western Alamance has reeled off 10 consecutive victories. Another huge reason why the Warriors have had so much success this season is a perfect 10-0 record on the road.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Warriors' Road to Winston-Salem</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 25 – 78-26 win vs. Northern Nash</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 56-41 win vs. Carrboro</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 4 – 81-49 win vs. Seventy-First</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 7 – 66-52 win vs. Union Pines</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 10 – 64-48 win vs. Terry Sanford</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A major reason for another successful season at Western Alamance has been its veteran core. One element of that experienced nucleus is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302220' first='Allie' last='Sykes']</strong> – a senior guard who has committed to Lenoir-Rhyne. She has averaged 17.6 points and 1.9 steals per game.&nbsp;Sykes dropped 32 points in the win over Terry Sanford.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the noteworthy 2025s that make up this rendition of Western Alamance is <strong>Tina Bowers</strong>. Another stalwart in the Warriors backcourt, Bowers has averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists (leads the team in that category) and 2.5 steals a contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game planning for Western Alamance means game planning for <strong>Emma Johnson</strong>, another senior in the backcourt. Johnson is averaging 10.7 points, three rebounds and 1.3 steals per matchup. She stands at 5-foot-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Representing the junior class well is 5-foot-11 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1219572' first='Regan' last='Averett']</strong> who is a force to be reckoned with in the Warriors' frontcourt. Along with scoring seven points a game, Averett is also one of the team's leading rebounders with 6.7 a game along with 1.4 blocks per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cayden White</strong> is another of the seniors whose final game in Western Alamance navy blue will be with a state championship up for grabs. White is the team's leading rebounder hauling in 9.8 per contest plus also has given her team six points, 2.1 blocks (also leading the team) and 1.2 steals a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2025-29 Reclassification: </em></strong><em>5A</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Stuart Cramer (29-2, 13-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1213929,"width":"481px","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/Oshauna-Holland-FT.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1213929" style="width:481px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2024-25 season unfolded, one had the feeling that Stuart Cramer had the opportunity to pull off something special.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last three seasons where the Storm went a combined 75-14 was a sign that coach Carey Pohlman was building something in the western suburbs of Charlotte. Last season, Stuart Cramer's championship hopes came to an end at the hands of East Lincoln.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only Hibriten and Hunter Huss have been successful in placing the Storm in the loss column in 2024-25. Stuart Cramer did an excellent job taking care of home this season as the Storm went a perfect 17-for-17 in contests in front of its home fans.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Storm's Road to Winston-Salem</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 25 – 67-49 win vs. Enka</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 49-32 win vs. Rockingham County</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 4 – 65-47 win vs. Dudley</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 7 – 67-41 win vs. Jay M. Robinson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 10 – 62-38 win vs. North Lincoln</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The focal point for all things Stuart Cramer this season has been junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406923' first='Oshauna' last='Holland']</strong>. She tallied 21 points in the Storm's West Regional victory over North Lincoln. For the season, Holland is averaging 28.1 points, nine rebounds, 6.5 assists and 5.5 steals a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team that makes it as far as Stuart Cramer has this season has to have several playmakers – not just one. One of those playmakers is sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='890646' first='Lauren' last='Humphrey']</strong> who can play as a pure big. Humphrey is averaging 12.8 points, nine rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm also benefitted from the 22 points placed on the scoreboard in that West Regional courtesy of senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885004' first='Hadley' last='Womack']</strong> – a multi-sport athlete who also has her baling cleats on in the softball realm. Womack has averaged 11.8 points, 3.2 assists and three steals this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolstering the rebounding efforts for Stuart Cramer is <strong>Unique McDowell</strong> who is one of four 2027s that make up this year's rendition of Storm basketball. McDowell has averaged 5.4 boards throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm's rebounding depth has also occurred in the form of <strong>Alana Franklin</strong> – one of the team's four 2025s it will graduate soon. Franlkin is a multi-sport athlete who also has competed in volleyball as well as swimming. She is averaging 4.1 steals a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2025-29 Reclassification: </em></strong><em>4A</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>6:05 p.m., Friday Mar. 14, Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->