Previewing Region 3-AA

The last month without high school basketball has come and gone with October having transitioned to November.    At times, it feels not that long ago when six high school girls hoops champions were being crowned across the Palmetto State. With the travel and showcase schedules in the rear view mirror, that journey will soon begin in earnest for every team in the state.    As far as the 2A ranks are concerned, every team wants to be where Andrew Jackson ascended to for the second consecutive season in 2024-25. Two of the teams in Region 3-AA actually competed for the Upper State championship last season. Here is a look at the teams that comprise this region.    Clinton   (2024-25 Record: 23-6, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/IMG_2694-crop-2459x1614-1741182603.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1210114" style="width:565px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Red Devils were in one of the more interesting scenarios for any Palmetto State assembling last season. Clinton dropped down from 3A to 2A but the region it plays for football is different than where it plays for other sports.    Not that coach John Gardner was complaining given his Red Devils once again won its region – as Clinton did its final season in 3A. The Red Devils made a run last season to the Upper State championship but its season came to an end at the hands of region rival Eau Claire.    Three seniors graduated from last season's Red Devils team.     Key Players:   Teams looking score victories on the Red Devils have to find a way to contain McKenzie Clark – a two-sport athlete entering her senior season. Clark's second athletic discipline of choice is volleyball. She averaged nine points and five rebounds in 28 games.   Also entering her senior season is guard [player_tooltip player_id='855426' first='Mylayja' last='Thompson']. She played in 27 games last season for Clinton and averaged 6.7 points, a team-leading 3.7 assists and a team-leading 3.3 steals and 3.1 rebounds a contest.   The Red Devils have depth in its front court in the form of Kemaria Shelton. She stands at 6-foot-1 and primarily operates at the four. Shelton played in 27 games last season, led the team in blocks and was second on last season's team in rebounding. She averaged 5.7 boards, 5.3 points and 1.4 rejections a contest.   Clinton's graduating class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='1318860' first='Nah'shia' last='Wright'] who stands at 5-foot-4 and primarily operates at the two. The 3.3 rebounds she brought down a game had her third among 2024-25 Red Devils.   One of the more intriguing freshmen across South Carolina is [player_tooltip player_id='848229' first='Emma' last='Patterson'] who is a two-sport athlete also playing softball. She has played at the varsity level since the seventh grade. Expect a huge freshman campaign from Patterson.   Eau Claire   (2024-25 Record: 18-9, 7-3)   It goes without saying that last season was a banner campaign for the Shamrocks as they were crowned Upper State champions. Eau Claire had its eye on the 2A classification's big prize – but Andrew Jackson had other ideas.    Coaches begin pondering the upcoming season as soon as the previous campaign is in the books – even if a state championship is won. That time of pondering for coach Ashley Gilmore had to include the reality that much of that veteran corps that got the Shamrocks to state last season has graduated.    Six seniors in total graduated from last season's Eau Claire version.    Fairfield Central   (2025-25 Record: 11-12, 6-3)   The “what will this team resemble this season?” question is a query that is not unique to Eau Claire as fellow Midlands squad Fairfield Central is also encountering a similar predicament.    At one point, the Griffins were 3-7. This was prior to a strong showing in region play enabled Fairfield Central third in its region – and nearly a .500 record. The Griffins earned a first-round victory over Cheraw prior to a second-round elimination at the hands of Clinton.    Fairfield Central encountered plenty of turnover this offseason. A pair of star seniors graduated, one of its signature players transferred to SCISA 4A Hammond and former coach Shaunzinski Gortman is now at the helm of 5A Division 2 White Knoll.   Mid-Carolina   (2024-25 Record: 10-16, 3-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/02/IMG_0505-crop-3017x1981-1707450005.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-851974" style="width:540px;height:auto" /></figure>   The 2024-25 campaign was not as kind to the Rebels as 2023-24 was. Last season's Mid-Carolina version experienced a seven-win drop-off from that squad of two seasons ago but the Rebels still managed to earn a berth into the state tournament.    That team may have put together a better regular season record but last season's Mid-Carolina version earned a first-round upset win over Saluda then bested Chesterfield to advance to the Upper State semifinals. The Rebels were eliminated by Eau Claire with a berth in Florence up for grabs.    The team from two seasons ago was eliminated by Gray Collegiate following a first-round victory over Fox Creek.   Key Players:   Returning for one more season with Mid-Carolina is Brea Boyd. She stands at 5-foot-5 and can be placed in a team's lineup as either a two or at the point. Boyd worked her way up from junior varsity as an eighth grader and has since proven she is more than worthy of varsity recognition.   Chester   (2024-25 Record: 9-9, 1-7)   In similar fashion as Clinton, Chester also moved down from 3A to 2A beginning with the 2024-25 campaign. The region rivalry with the Red Devils was maintained even with reclassification but at least the Cyclones no longer had to worry about Woodruff and Emerald being trouble spots.    Chester still encountered region struggles. The Cyclones did earn a 54-51 overtime win over Mid-Carolina in mid-January. Unlike in 3A two seasons ago, Chester's 2024-25 season concluded in mid-February sans a berth to the tournament.    At one point, Chester had an 8-1 record – that was before January occurred. A key for this year's Cyclones has to be to improve against region foes.   Key Players:   Leading the way is Talaya McVay for the Cyclones. McVay is a two-sport athlete who also excels as a softball player in addition to her basketball accolades. She primarily operates in the backcourt at the point.   Columbia   (2024-25 Record: 1-17, 0-8)   The 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons appeared to denote the beginning of a turnaround for Columbia. That 2022-23 Capitals team went 16-10 and barely was on the outside looking of the tournament.    The last couple of seasons have been anything but memorable for Columbia. The team went winless two seasons ago and only won one contest all last year. That occurred in early January against another 2A Midlands foe in Batesburg-Leesville – on the road.    Columbia maintained its 2A classification following realignment but its region status shifted from Region 4-AA to Region 3-AA. Its regional rivalries with Eau Claire and Fairfield Central remained intact as well.    Key Players:   If there is to be a turnaround for the Capitals, one would expect Aalisah Davis to be the primary catalyst for said turnaround. She stands at 5-foot-11 and gives Columbia a presence in the interior. Davis is a two-sport athlete who also plays softball.

The last month without high school basketball has come and gone with October having transitioned to November.