Region 4-AAA Preview: Can Anyone Challenge Keenan?

November is always a transitionary month on the high school sports calendar. It is a month where state playoffs in volleyball and football are reaching their respective apexes and the opening stanza of the basketball season takes place.    When it comes to 3A teams, every one across the Palmetto State is looking to experience the championship euphoria that was felt by Walhalla last season after its triumph back in March over Dillon at the Florence Center.    Throughout the last several weeks with the start of the season becoming clear and clearer into focus, Prep Girls Hoops has released in-depth, comprehensive region-by-region previews.    With our Upper State 3A previews having been released, our attention now turns to 3A Lower State regions – beginning with Region 4-AAA which mostly features teams in the Midlands and CSRA.    Keenan   (2024-25 Record: 19-7, 8-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_20-12-2024_10-00-26-8010PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1116792" style="width:593px;height:auto" /></figure>   Much of the success Keenan experienced during its recent dynasty years occurred while the team was in 3A. It had to be extremely fitting for the Raiders to return there after a brief cup of coffee within the 2A field.    Coach Reggie McLain's team encountered zero problems when the region slate commenced in January. Keenan won its region going away then earned double-digit 3A tournament victories against Aynor and Loris before the Raiders' season ended at the hands of Oceanside Collegiate.    Over the offseason, McLain was also one of the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association's (SCBCA) inductees into its Hall of Fame. Much of last season's team is returning to The Cove given only two seniors graduated.     Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='637593' first='Taelor' last='Lee-Sutton'] has been playing at the varsity level since she was in the seventh grade and continues to build a larger profile. Playing in all 26 games last season, she averaged 19 points, 4.5 steals and three rebounds per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='651709' first='Kristin' last='Brown'] provides an excellent blend of talent with veteran leadership. Brown is entering her senior season in Keenan's navy blue and gold hues. A two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball, Brown averaged 13.8 points and 2.9 steals last season.   The Raiders also have another intriguing young talent who will begin her freshman season at The Cove. That talent is [player_tooltip player_id='1116864' first='Tiana' last='Randall'] who previously played at W.G. Sanders. Now at W.J. Keenan, Randall averaged 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.   Another of the seniors that comprise this year's Raiders assembling is [player_tooltip player_id='562110' first='Aareonna' last='Caughman'], a stalwart in the Keenan frontcourt. She played in all 26 games last season leading the team in rebounds with 7.3 per contest plus 5.8 points and 2.6 steals.   Fox Creek   (2024-25 Record: 9-14, 4-4)   It was yet to be seen how the Predators would fare following its reclassification from 2A into 3A. Fox Creek was one of two teams from the previous Region 3-AA that made the up to 3A – Silver Bluff was the other.    The Predators actually fared well in its home contests going 4-3 but struggled away from Fox Creek, dropping seven of its 11 matchups. Fox Creek's season came to a close in the first round of the 3A state tournament by way of Hanahan.    Last season was the first year of the Aaron Ray era for the Predators. Ray is more of a defensive-minded coach.    Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='992478' first='Mia' last='Price'] made her presence known for Fox Creek throughout her freshman season. Price played for the Predators in 22 games last season, averaging 10.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 2024-25.   Advancing to junior status for the Predators is [player_tooltip player_id='873915' first='Jada' last='Jennings']. She is a multi-sport athlete who competes in softball in addition to basketball. Throughout the 23 games she played, Jennings averaged 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.   Spearheading Fox Creek's efforts in the interior is Maya Kryshtalowych whose athletic career has also included swimming and cross country. Kryshtalowych led the team in rebounding last year averaging 10.9 boards per game. She also averaged 7.3 points and 3.2 blocks per contest.   Mariah Price is another freshman and she competed in 23 games last season. She averaged five points and 2.3 assists per contest. Price was second among Fox Creek players in assists and she also led the Preds in steals.   Newberry   (2024-25 Record: 10-17, 4-4)   Another school that was impacted by reclassification, the Bulldogs returned to 3A after competing the last four seasons among the 2A field.    The first season of Newberry's return to 3A yielded positive results. The Bulldogs not only increased its win total from seven (in 2023-24) to 10 but also improved its region fortunes.    Newberry even caused many eyebrows to raise during the 3A state tournament when it earned victories over North Charleston and Marlboro County only for its season to end at the hands of eventual 3A state runner-up Dillon.    Four seniors in total graduated from last season's Bulldogs team.    Swansea   (2024-25 Record: 7-11, 3-5)   The Tigers have been brought to us by the number seven the last couple of seasons. Last season's Swansea assembling matched the seven wins it won in 2023-24.    With reclassification, the Tigers maintained its 3A status but moved from Region 5-AAA to Region 4-AAA. Batesburg-Leesville and Pelion accounted for Swansea's non-region victories last season.    The Tigers faced off against Waccamaw in the first round of the 3A state tournament last season and a competitive contest went the way of the Warriors with the final score being 42-38.    For coach Zackery Green's Swansea team, an area to improve in is winning at home. The Tigers were road warriors, going 5-4 away from Swansea but only 2-7 in front of its home crowd.    Key Players:   A young core made up the nucleus of all things Swansea last season. That young core included Nylah Washington, a talented guard who is advancing into her junior season with the Tigers. Washington stands at 5-foot-4 and primarily plays the two.   While Washington spearheads what Swansea gets done in the backcourt, its frontcourt efforts are keyed by [player_tooltip player_id='805427' first='Iyanna' last='Butler']. She is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in softball alongside basketball.   Speaking of frontcourt forces, that description also applies to Tyrianna Jackson who is beginning her sophomore season at Swansea. Jackson typically plays as a power forward and stands at 5-foot-8.   Silver Bluff   (2024-25 Record: 6-18, 1-7)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/IMG_8186.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-924997" style="width:544px;height:auto" /></figure>   Last season was a full-scale season of change for Silver Bluff – much of it in the opposite direction.    The Bulldogs, who for the last few years were one of the top contenders in 2A were reclassified into the 3A field. Also, Silver Bluff graduated much of its core that had made the team contenders and former coach Chasen Redd took a job as an assistant with the boys' team at 4A Aiken.    Silver Bluff did earn one of the 32 3A tournament berths after its lone win in region occurred via a Swansea forfeit. Oceanside Collegiate eliminated the Bulldogs in the first round of last season's playoffs.    Key Players:   Junior shooting guard Kaylynn Walker wore Silver Bluff's blue hue in 19 games this season. In her sophomore campaign, she averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds which led her Bulldogs in both categories.   The 2024-25 season will be the final one for Zy'rionna Lewis who stands at 5-foot-7 and primarily operates in the backcourt at the point. Lewis averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 steals per contest.   As is the case with Walker, Fantasia Smith is also embarking on her junior journey at Silver Bluff. Walker played in 18 games last season and averaged 5.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.

November is always a transitionary month on the high school sports calendar. It is a month where state playoffs in volleyball and football are reaching their respective apexes and the opening stanza of the basketball season takes place.