Seven SCISA Storylines as Season Starts

Since October, we have released in-depth previews of every single team in the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). But, of course, those are not the only teams that make the Palmetto State's robust basketball scene what it is.    There are also teams that compete in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association (SCISA). Last season, its four girls basketball championships were claimed by Curtis Baptist (1A), Cross Schools (2A), Pee Dee Academy (3A) and Trinity Collegiate (4A).    A number of changes took place in the SCISA ranks as well over the offseason. Here are seven SCISA storylines to consider as play begins.   Heathwood Hall: Life After Lauren   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/eZy-Watermark_15-04-2024_07-00-47-7880PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-893535" style="width:635px;height:auto" /></figure>   Just as Heathwood Hall had to navigate life after A'ja Wilson following the 2013-14 season, the Highlanders find themselves in a similar situation once again.    Heathwood Hall's most recent run commenced in the 2022-23 season primarily at the expense of Cardinal Newman. After the Cardinals won their most recent state championship in 2021-22, Ashlyn Watkins went to the collegiate ranks with South Carolina and Lauren Jacobs and Sabreya Monsanto became Highlanders.    Two championships were brought to Heathwood Hall (both at the expense of Northwood Academy) as SCISA increased its number of classifications from three to four. The Highlanders' bid for a third consecutive championship was cut short in last season's 4A semifinal by way of First Baptist.   Now that core of Jacobs, Monsanto, Camillea Gore and Shamarie Hayes has graduated – including Jacobs playing at Division I Ole Miss.   One name to watch in the coming years with Heathwood Hall is Dakota Jacobs. As an eighth grader last season with the Highlanders, she averaged 5.6 points, five rebounds and a steal per contest. Those numbers will certainly increase as she is set to be among Heathwood Hall's featured players for the next several seasons.   Hammond: All Jazzed Up   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/eZy-Watermark_01-04-2025_12-05-58-3920PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1225831" style="width:598px;height:auto" /></figure>   Last season was an unusually difficult season for Hammond.    The Skyhawks went from 15 victories in 2023-24 to only one last season. That lone victory that Hammond earned in 2024-25 occurred on Jan. 17 at Cardinal Newman in a 42-38 decision.    To Hammond's credit, plenty of the games it played last season against teams such as Laurence Manning Academy, Curtis Baptist, Ben Lippen, Augusta Christian and Northside Christian were close contests.    Winning only one game in 17 tries will leave a sour taste in one's mouth. One can expect that number to increase as Hammond landed one of the premier transfers in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='324559' first='Jazzlyn' last='McMillan'].    Prior to this season, McMillan had played her entire high school career at 2A public Fairfield Central. Last season with the Griffins, McMillan averaged 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest.    Ben Lippen: Youth Movement   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_8077.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1263766" style="width:666px;height:auto" /></figure>   A different direction was needed for Ben Lippen following the 10-17 season it had in 2023-24. Cassie Sundell was hired as the new head coach of the Falcons.    The hire paid off. Ben Lippen concluded last season with a 16-11 record. The Falcons did finish 4-6 in its region but Ben Lippen's region included Heathwood Hall and Northside Christian which were juggernauts last season.    The Falcons may fare better against both the Highlanders and Crusaders this season because of changes both teams went through during the offseason. Heathwood Hall graduated its core four and Northside Christian lost much of its team (including its coach) to 5A Division 1 public River Bluff.    There are three intriguing young talents that will proudly sport the Falcons' green and gold colors this season – Laney McEntire, [player_tooltip player_id='1319000' first='Ariel' last='Summons'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1319008' first='NyLasia' last='Gipson'].    McEntire averaged nine points, 3.7 rebounds, three assists and two steals in 26 games. Summons nearly averaged a double-double (9.7 rebounds and 9.3 points) as a seventh grader. Gipson is a seventh grader this season.    When looking at 4A SCISA contenders, that list likely includes Trinity Collegiate, First Baptist, Northwood Academy, John Paul II and Porter-Gaud. Augusta Christian may also have something to say even with all of the seniors that graduated from the Lions from last season. Ben Lippen could be putting itself in that contenders' chat in a massive way.    Ben Lippen thrashed Lowcountry Wildcats by a final of 71-11 in its season opener.    First Baptist: Unfinished Business   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_16-12-2024_08-55-08-1570PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1111430" style="width:633px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1318986' first='Ellie' last='Blitch'] making that game-winning bucket in last season's SCISA 4A semifinal for First Baptist against Heathwood Hall was the highlight of highlights for what was a stellar Hurricanes season.    First Baptist advanced to the SCISA 4A championship game – and did so at the expense of the two-time defending champions. This was only to see Trinity Collegiate depart from the Sumter County Civic Center with the big prize the Hurricanes had coveted.    On top of this, one of the signature players of that team in Ava Rush transferred from First Baptist to 5A Division 1 public Wando. Rush averaged 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks and is a commit to East Carolina.    This also occurring at the time when the Titans added [player_tooltip player_id='444370' first='Logan' last='Murray'] to its team from Wilson – a 4A public. Trinity Collegiate also has senior [player_tooltip player_id='369800' first='Autumn' last='Kind'] on its roster.   Nonetheless, the Hurricanes still present one of the premier squads in all of SCISA. That team includes Blitch, [player_tooltip player_id='748211' first='Madison' last='Pojani'], [player_tooltip player_id='257989' first='Paige' last='Pouyat'], [player_tooltip player_id='403039' first='Gabby' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='387006' first='Dyarri' last='Braddick'] who is a commit to Clemson. The Hurricanes will still be a force to be reckoned with and certainly have the talent to return to Sumter in late February.    Pojani was the Hurricanes' leading scorer last season averaging 17.3 points along with four steals, 3.7 rebounds and three assists per game in 2024-25. She played in all 32 games for First Baptist as did Moore who averaged 9.4 points, six assists, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game.    Pouyat, in her junior season, averaged 8.9 points and 1.9 steals per contest last season. Braddick, a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor in her own right, averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.    First Baptist's season commenced at the Battle of the Lowcountry which saw the Hurricanes earn a 17-point, 59-42 victory over 5A Division 1 James Island.    Who Wins SCISA 3A?   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_0319-crop-3226x2118-1740299821.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202143" style="width:641px;height:auto" /></figure>   Pee Dee Academy may have prevailed over Orangeburg Prep last season in the SCISA 3A championship game. The primary player that powered the Golden Eagles all season – including in that win over Orangeburg Prep was a senior in Rebecca Hammond.    On paper, this may have created an opening for Spartanburg Christian which went from five wins in 2023-24 to 18 victories last season. The Warriors also earned a berth to the SCISA 3A semifinals.    [player_tooltip player_id='1131791' first='Delaney' last='Caldwell'] was the primary catalyst driving that Warriors success last season. She nearly averaged a double-double of 23 points and 9.9 rebounds plus 4.3 steals and two blocks per contest. Except she transferred and is now at 2A public Landrum.    These two developments likely create a lane for someone else to ascend to the top of SCISA 3A. The 3A playoff field from last season also included Greenwood Christian, Thomas Sumter Academy, Orangeburg Prep, Florence Christian, Calhoun Academy, Hilton Head Prep, Shannon Forest, Colleton Prep, Patrick Henry Academy and Spartanburg Day.    SCISA 2A: Cross Schools' To Lose?    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_0101-crop-3463x2274-1740298338.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1202125" style="width:649px;height:auto" /></figure>   All of the turbulence Cross Schools experienced at one point during last season appeared to mean that another team would claim the 2A SCISA crown – possibly Laurens Academy, Dorchester Academy, Andrew Jackson Academy or Lee Academy.   Instead, the Stingrays played its best basketball when it mattered most and prevailed over Laurens Academy in the 2A final with the final score being 45-29.    A roster than includes [player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers'], [player_tooltip player_id='1318943' first='Reyannah' last='Maldonado'], [player_tooltip player_id='856286' first='Lexann' last='Maldonado'], [player_tooltip player_id='1319120' first='Caroline' last='Wheat'] and seventh grader Charlotte Moore is looking to ensure another successful title defense for the Stingrays.    Mayers and [player_tooltip player_id='1318943' first='Reyannah' last='Maldonado'] headline Cross Schools' 2026 graduating class. [player_tooltip player_id='856286' first='Lexann' last='Maldonado'] along with Mayers were All-Tournament team recipients from last season's 2A tournament.    Mayers was the team's leading scorer from last season. She averaged 14.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 steals per game. Hollings is entering her junior campaign following a sophomore season where she averaged 8.4 points, four rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.8 assists per matchup.    Reyannah, as did Hollings, played in 27 games last season while averaging 7.6 points and two steals per game. As for Lexann, she averaged 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 points, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks in 2024-25.    SCISA 1A: What's Next for Curtis Baptist?     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_9320-crop-4032x2648-1740229811.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1200998" style="width:703px;height:auto" /></figure>   Throughout the Tim Johnson era at Curtis Baptist, it was defined by near misses.    Three seasons ago, Curtis Baptist was a quarterfinalist but lost to Cathedral Academy in a tournament that was won by Newberry Academy.    Two seasons ago, the Crusaders advanced to the semifinals but were on the receiving end of a defeat to eventual champion Cambridge Academy.    In 2023-24, Curtis Baptist advanced to the state championship game but the Crusaders were denied by way of Cross Schools.    Last season, the Crusaders finally struck championship paydirt in Sumter by virtue of a 56-36 victory over Wardlaw Academy.    The obvious question awaiting Curtis Baptist is if the Crusaders can repeat its 2024-25 feat this season. With last season's team graduating three seniors, its featured player will be senior Maci Butler who nearly averaged a double-double of 11.5 points, 9.7 points and 3.4 steals per contest.    Curtis Baptist opened its 2025-26 season with a loss to Wardlaw Academy but bounced back with wins over Andrew Jackson Academy and Ridge Christian Academy.

Since October, we have released in-depth previews of every single team in the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). But, of course, those are not the only teams that make the Palmetto State's robust basketball scene what it is.