Region 3-A Preview

Back in March, Military Magnet reclaimed its place at the top of the 1A state food chain after the Eagles were knocked off their perch following the conclusion of 2023-24.    As the 2025-26 draws ever closer, every 1A team that is not Military Magnet wants to be where the Eagles are – including the eight teams that comprise Region 3-A.    One of the teams that earned a berth in the 1A Upper State championship is in Region 3-A – and it was not the team that won said region last season. Without further ado, here is a look at the region's octet of assemblings.   Williston-Elko   (2024-25 Record: 20-5, 13-1)   Since the COVID year of 2020-21, the Blue Devils have been on a steady climb out of the doldrums of a no-win season.    From five victories to eight wins to 15 in 2023-24 to the 20-win plateau last season.    Williston-Elko added on to a successful 2024-25 with wins in the 1A state tournament over Great Falls and C.A. Johnson. It was region rival North – eventual Upper State finalists – that brought an abrupt end to the Blue Devils' season.    The challenge for coach Mae Reed and her team is how to duplicate that same success after graduating seven seniors from last season.   Hunter-Kinard-Tyler   (2024-25 Record: 17-6, 11-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_7096.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-828647" style="width:552px;height:auto" /></figure>   The last couple of seasons have seen the Trojans finish seasons with identical 17-6 overall records. The last couple of seasons have also resulted in identical 11-3 region records for Hunter-Kinard-Tyler.    A big difference between the two teams is last season's version made a deeper run in the 1A state tournament. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler earned victories over McCormick and Lewisville but its season came to a close against Lee Central – eventual 1A Upper State champions.    Last year's Trojans team graduated three seniors – including two of its four team captains. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler maintained its 1A status with reclassification but was placed from one Upper State Region – 4-A – to 3-A.   Key Players:   One important player returning for the Trojans is Aysiah Bonaparte. She stands at 5-foot-4 and can play as either a two or at the point. Bonaparte has played at the varsity level since the seventh grade.   North   (2024-25 Record: 18-9, 11-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_16-06-2024_10-38-24-2350AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-925715" style="width:501px;height:auto" /></figure>   One would have to do an arduous search to find a team in the Palmetto State that had a more emphatic turnaround than North.   The Eagles went from a six-win season in 2023-24 to claiming 18 victories in 2024-25. On top of that, North advanced to the 1A Upper State championship game last season against Lee Central.    Coach I'Rek Hartwell, a former standout at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, is heading into this season with expectations and last season made North an attractive destination for the transfer portal.    North maintained its 1A classification during the realignment period but moved from Region 4-A to 3-A. Ironically, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler was responsible for two of the Eagles' region defeats last season.    Key Players:   The Eagles will likely be 1A contenders again in 2025-26 and a major reason is because of senior two guard Kailen Parks. She has received numerous collegiate offers. Parks played in 26 games last season and averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 steals and 5.7 rebounds.   While Parks leads North's efforts in the backcourt, Jailyn Williams will do the same for the Eagles in the frontcourt. Williams, who has also garnered collegiate interest, transfers to North from 5A Division 1 Sumter.   Another name opposing teams have to game plan for when playing the Eagles is Coco Charley who ran with Orangeburg Xpress during the spring and summer. Charley averaged 6.1 points and 2.3 steals in 2024-25.   Bolstering the Eagles' efforts in the backcourt is Amariyah Calloway who played in 17 games last season. Calloway averaged 5.9 points, 3.4 points and 2.8 steals per contest. She is listed at 5-foot-4.   Alayshia Mack is entering her senior season at North and gives depth to the Eagles' frontcourt standing at 5-foot-10. One can place Mack in a starting five as either a small forward or as a power forward.   Arielle Wilson will be advancing into her junior campaign with the Eagles. Wilson is listed at 5-foot-7 and primarily plays at the three. She wore North's signature blue hue on 22 occasions in 2024-25.   Ridge Spring-Monetta   (2024-25 Record: 15-11, 8-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/IMG_4659-crop-2639x1733-1738291242.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1171291" style="width:526px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Trojans continue to make strides in the right direction. Last season was the first 15-win season for Ridge Spring-Monetta since the 2016-17 campaign when the team went a perfect 13-0 in its region.   It was also the Trojans' first season with a double-digit win total since 2021-22. Both last season and in 2021-22 saw Ridge Spring-Monetta win its first-round playoff game only to be ousted in the ensuing round.    In 2024-25, the Trojans defeated Calhoun Falls Charter in the 1A state tournament only to have its season end at the hands of Lee Central. The 2021-22 version saw Ridge Spring-Monetta defeat Lewisville only to lose to High Point in the second round. Both years also saw the Trojans win eight region games.    Key Players:   One more season awaits in Trojans gold and powder blue for Taylah Leaphart. The 5-foot-6 combo guard played in 25 games last season and averaged 13.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals.   Ny'Asia Young has also been a key piece in Ridge Spring-Monetta's ascent. Young also played in 25 games last season for the Trojans. She was the team's leading rebounder with 14.2 boards and the team's leading shot blocker at three per contest. Young contributed a double-double a game with 13.1 points per contest along with 3.1 steals.   Young is returning for her sophomore season and the same applies to Kennedy Ligons. She primarily plays as a guard and suited up for Ridge Spring-Monetta on 24 occasions last season. Ligons averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals per contest.   Bri Hendley is entering her senior season and adds depth to the Ridge Spring-Monetta frontcourt. Hendley stands at 5-foot-6. She can be reliable even off the Trojans' bench and is effective in getting high-percentage shots.   Calhoun County   (2024-25 Record: 7-11, 6-8)   Five seasons ago, the Saints appeared to establish themselves as one of the premier teams in the 1A ranks. The only problem is Calhoun County has not duplicated that success since.    The Saints have gone from 15 to 11 to nine to seven victories. Calhoun County is another team that moved from Region 4-A to Region 3-A with realignment. The six region wins the Saints scored were enough to qualify the team for the 1A state tournament prior to being ousted in the first round by Abbeville.    If the Saints are to improve from last season's showing, it starts with performing better away from its home court. Calhoun County concluded the 2024-25 season with a dreadful 2-7 record on the road.    Key Players:   If Calhoun County is to improve from last season's showing, more big numbers from Cassidy Pough will help. She is a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball alongside her basketball accomplishments. Pough played in all 18 games last season for the Saints and averaged a double-double of 12.8 points and 11.7 rebounds plus 3.6 steals a contest.   Blackville-Hilda   (2024-25 Record: 5-11, 5-9)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_7133.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-828658" style="width:513px;height:auto" /></figure>   Five wins may get a team into the tournament in many a region but not when one's schedule is set up where a team only plays two games out of region.    That was the case for last season's Hawks. The lone opponent Blackville-Hilda faced off against last season outside of its region was in mid-December against 2A Barnwell. That contest would see a narrow 32-31 victory for the Warhorses.    If one is a Blackville-Hilda fan, one is likely still stewing about the Feb. 4 contest last season against Calhoun County that was effectively a play-in game. It was a close contest but it also saw a 40-36 victory for the Saints.    Key Players:   Breyanna Williams, who is listed at 5-foot-11 on the Hawks' roster, is returning for her senior season at Blackville-Hilda. She also plays volleyball alongside her basketball achievements. In 11 games, Williams averaged 13.2 points, 6.2 steals and 5.9 rebounds.   Horse Creek Academy   (2024-25 Record: 3-16, 2-12)   The school was originally founded in 2002 as Midland Valley Prep as it was originally based in Graniteville before taking on its current identity when it later moved to Aiken.    The Stallions only had three victories last season – one was against Augusta Prep on the Georgia side of the Savannah River. The other two happened to be region victories and both of them were at the expense of Wagener-Salley.    Horse Creek Academy only graduated a pair of seniors from last season's team. Continued improvement against its many region opponents is crucial if the Stallions are to go forward with its ascent.    Wagener-Salley   (2024-25 Record: 0-17, 0-14)   It was only a few years ago than an 8-11 season (in 2022-23) appeared to indicate that Wagener-Salley was on an upward trajectory. Then the last couple of years happened.    The War Eagles two years ago concluded its season with a very forgettable 3-19 then an even more forgettable 0-17 last year. Wagener-Salley also played three of its contests outside of its region. Two of those games were against 2A Pelion and the other was against another 1A school in Thornwell.    At least when a team concludes the previous season sans a victory there is only one way to go and that is up.

Back in March, Military Magnet reclaimed its place at the top of the 1A state food chain after the Eagles were knocked off their perch following the conclusion of 2023-24.