Previewing Region 1-AA

For the past couple of seasons, the path to the 2A state championship has gone through Andrew Jackson. The next few months will determine if that path still goes through the Volunteers.    The rest of the 2A field wants to experience the same euphoria that Andrew Jackson had the privilege of experiencing in March of the last two seasons. These include the seven teams that are part of Region 1-AA.    Prep Girls Hoops is extensively previewing every South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) region with the season drawing ever closer and teams beginning to release their schedules. Here is a look at Region 1-AA.   Blacksburg   (2024-25 Record: 18-9, 10-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7699.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1258447" style="width:494px;height:auto" /></figure>   The year was 2012-13. Prior to last season, that was the last time the Wildcats put together a season where they won at least 18 games. That year, Blacksburg won 20 games.    In 2024-25, Blacksburg earned a victory over Central in the first round of the 2A state tournament only to have its season conclude at the hands of Eau Claire – last season's 2A Upper State champions.    A reason why coach Bobby Rodgers' team was so successful was because of its region record. In addition, the Wildcats were road warriors. Blacksburg last season went 8-1 on the road with its lone road loss occurring last Dec. 10 at 3A Chapman.    Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='1318982' first='Essence' last='Rodgers'] put together one of the signature eighth grade seasons across South Carolina. Rodgers sported the Wildcats colors on 25 occasions last season and averaged 15.4 points and 1.4 steals per contest.    Great teams have a mix of young and veteran talent. [player_tooltip player_id='593223' first='Taylor' last='Tessner'] fills the veteran role for Blacksburg. She played in 23 of the Wildcats' 27 games in 2024-25, averaging nine points and 1.3 steals per contest.    [player_tooltip player_id='1318971' first='Cherysh' last='Gomez'] is advancing into her junior campaign with the Wildcats. After playing in 23 games last season where she averaged 5.3 points a game, Gomez is in search of an even bigger season this year for Blacksburg.    Landrum   (2024-25 Record: 15-14, 9-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_7364-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-829219" style="width:564px;height:auto" /></figure>   Going into last season, the Cardinals had plenty of question marks coming off its 2023-24 Upper State championship. That team graduated two seniors that were part of its core and had a change at coach.    Landrum was expected to experience a drop-off in the first season of the Kali Koenig era, but the Cardinals still held its own playing .500 ball. The Cardinals won its first-round 2A state tournament contest against American Leadership Academy prior a second-round, double-digit defeat to Clinton.    The Cardinals originally were to move up in realignment to 3A but won its appeal to remain in 2A.    Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='587300' first='Kylie' last='Fortner'] was part of that aforementioned big three from Landrum's 2023-24 version and is now the centerpiece of the current flock of Cardinals. She averaged 17.8 points and 2.5 steals per game.    Sulli Price is also part of Landrum's senior class. She is a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball in addition to her basketball accolades. Price averaged 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 26 games.    The third season at the varsity ranks is beginning for Emalynn Bright as she played her first season at that level in the eighth grade. Bright averaged 5.5 points, three rebounds and 1.4 steals in 2024-25.    Speaking of graduates, Kennedy Gardner-Speech gives the Cardinals depth in the frontcourt. She stands at 5-foot-10. Gardner-Speech wore Landrum's uniform in all 29 games last season averaging 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 points and 1.4 steals.    Hazel Cain is returning for her junior season at The Cage. Cain is a multi-sport athlete who also showcases her athletic skills on the soccer pitch. She not only led the team in assists, she was the Cardinals in steals last season.    Greenville Tech Charter   (2024-25 Record: 13-10, 7-5)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3785.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150857" style="width:457px;height:auto" /></figure>   If one were to look up the word “turnaround” in a physical or online dictionary, one may find a photo of last season's Greenville Tech Charter team.    The Warriors ascended from four wins in 2023-24 to 13 victories last season. Greenville Tech Charter's season may have concluded in the first round of last season's 2A state tournament at the hands of Chesterfield but it was a successful season by any measure for the Warriors.    Kelsey Lambdin's team also took care of home – Greenville Tech Charter won eight of its 11 home contests with its only three defeats coming against Blacksburg and 3A teams Southside Christian and Pendleton.    Key Players:   A good number of last season's Greenville Tech Charter team were juniors. Meaning they are part of the Warriors' senior class in 2025-26. One of them is [player_tooltip player_id='1318873' first='Gracyn' last='Schreel'] who also participates on the swim team. She averaged 12.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 23 games.    Speaking of two-sport athletes going into their senior seasons, [player_tooltip player_id='1237906' first='Alacyea' last='Killingsworth'] also plays volleyball as a defensive specialist at Greenville Tech Charter. Killingsworth also played in all 23 games last season for the Warriors and averaged nine points, four rebounds and four steals.   Also part of the Warriors' senior class is guard Sophie Chasteen. She too wore the Greenville Tech Charter uniform in all 23 games and averaged 5.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and a team-leading 4.9 rebounds.    One of the important pieces to the Warriors' frontcourt is [player_tooltip player_id='1237917' first='Charlotte' last='Lawrence']. She played in 22 games last season and led the team in rebounds with 7.3 boards per contest. Lawrence also averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 steals.    Another vital name in the Greenville Tech Charter frontcourt is [player_tooltip player_id='1237925' first='Jayla' last='McGill'] who also plays volleyball in addition to her basketball achievements. McGill averaged seven rebounds in 21 games.    Chesnee   (2024-25 Record: 8-19, 5-7)   The Eagles opened last season with a pair of victories over Greer Middle College and Chase out of North Carolina.    Then came the 14-game losing streak. Then came Chesnee winning five games in its region to earn the Eagles a berth in the 2A state tournament. After a 2024-25 that was turned around during region play, Chesnee's flight came to a halt in the first round of the tournament at the hands of Cheraw.    If the Eagles are to improve in 2025-26, a good place to start is on the road. Chesnee finished a dreadful 1-11 away from its home court with its lone road victory occurring against on Feb. 13 in the season finale at Liberty.    Key Players:   Olivia Tolleson put up career numbers last season for the Eagles. She competed in 24 contests last season for Chesnee and averaged 11.6 points, 2.8 steals and 2.3 rebounds. Tolleson also plays softball.    Tolleson may represent the present of the Chesnee program, but freshman guard Dacie Green symbolizes the Eagles' immediate future. Green put up impressive stats in her eighth grade Chesnee campaign, averaging 8.8 rebounds, 8.5 points and 3.5 steals in 26 games.    Moving into her junior season with the Eagles is Tayte Calvert following a 2024-25 where she proudly sported Chesnee black and gold on 25 occasions. Calvert averaged 6.4 points and 1.8 steals.    Liberty   (2024-25 Record: 5-19, 4-8)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_3853.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1150882" style="width:490px;height:auto" /></figure>   At one point in 2024-25, the Red Devils were 0-6. At another point in 2024-25, Liberty stood at 1-12.    Then came the region schedule and it enabled Liberty to claim the final tournament berth from the region last season. The lone victory the Red Devils scored in region occurred in January against 4A Brookland-Cayce.   Liberty's time in the 2A state tournament was short lived as Clinton – 2A Upper State finalists – dealt the Red Devils a first-round exit. Liberty did graduate three seniors from last season's team – including one of the team's captains. Pat Jackson will begin his second season at Liberty's helm after a stint with the junior varsity boys squad.    Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='1157663' first='Natalie' last='White'] is a standout in the backcourt for the Red Devils. White averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals last season for Liberty. She is beginning her junior season with the Red Devils.    After a solid freshman season with Liberty, Reagan Swafford looks to translate that into even bigger numbers as a sophomore. She also plays volleyball and averaged 6.6 rebounds, 6.3 points and 1.6 steals per game.    Stanout freshmen are always intriguing – especially after putting together stellar seasons as eighth graders as was the case with [player_tooltip player_id='1089831' first='Madison' last='Henderson']. She averaged 9.5 rebounds and 6.1 points in 2024-25.    High Point Academy   (2024-25 Record: 5-17, 4-8)   It was not that long ago when High Point Academy was a top-tier state contender in the 1A ranks.    Except the Grizzlies are no longer a 1A team. High Point Academy moved up from 1A to 2A and had a notoriously rough go of things. This was particularly the case outside of region play as the Grizzlies only won one contest that was not against a region foe. That was on Dec. 10 early in the season when High Point Academy matched up against Greer Middle College.    A key for High Point Academy has to be to improve its fortunes on the road. Last season, the Grizzlies finished 1-8 away from High Point Academy with the only won occurring against Brashier Middle College.    Key Players:   High Point graduated a large senior class from last season's team – seven 2025s in total. This creates an opportunity for a Johnasia Wilkins to step up and assume a larger role as she heads into her junior season.    Brashier Middle College   (2024-25 Record: 7-11, 4-8)   Following a pair of seasons at the 1A level, reclassification moved the Bengals back up to 2A.    Brashier Middle College did get out to a promising start at 4-2 with wins over 1A Dixie, 3A Palmetto, region rival Chesnee and 3A Greer Middle College. The Bengals were unable to duplicate that early success for much of the remainder of the season.    One bright spot for Brashier Middle College is that it did earn victories over the two teams that finished first and second in the region in Blacksburg and Landrum, respectively. In addition, the win the Bengals got over the Wildcats was on the road. Also, last season's team only graduated three seniors.

For the past couple of seasons, the path to the 2A state championship has gone through Andrew Jackson. The next few months will determine if that path still goes through the Volunteers.